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First PHP script

In this tutorial, we are going to dive into the world of PHP by writing our very first PHP script. But before we start, let's get a brief understanding of what PHP is.

What is PHP?​

PHP, an acronym for "Hypertext Preprocessor", is a server-side scripting language primarily used for web development. PHP can be embedded within HTML code and it is compatible with various web servers and platforms. One of the major advantages of PHP is its ease of use for beginners but at the same time offering numerous advanced features for more experienced programmers.

Setting Up PHP Environment​

Before we can write our first PHP script, we need to set up our PHP environment. PHP scripts are executed on the server, so you need to have a server that can interpret PHP. You can set up a local server on your computer using software like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP which includes PHP, MySQL, and Apache.

  1. Download and Install a Local Server Software: Choose a local server software according to your operating system. XAMPP is a good choice for all major operating systems. You can download it from the official website. After downloading, follow the instructions to install it.

  2. Start the Services: Once installed, open the control panel of the software and start Apache and MySQL services.

Once your local server is running, you're ready to start writing PHP scripts.

Creating Your First PHP Script​

To create your PHP script, you'll need a text editor. You can use any text editor you are comfortable with such as Notepad++, Sublime Text, or Visual Studio Code.

Let's create our first PHP script:

  1. Create a new file: Open your text editor and create a new file. Save it as index.php in the htdocs or www directory of your local server software (the exact directory depends on the software you're using).

  2. Write your PHP code: In your index.php file, write the following PHP code:

<?php
echo "Hello, World!";
?>

<?php and ?> are PHP tags. They tell the server to interpret the enclosed content as PHP code. echo is a PHP command that outputs strings.

  1. Run your PHP script: Save your index.php file and open a web browser. In the address bar, type localhost/index.php and press enter.

You should see "Hello, World!" displayed on your screen. Congratulations, you've just written and executed your first PHP script!

Conclusion​

PHP is a powerful language for web development, and getting started with it is fairly straightforward. This tutorial showed you how to set up a PHP environment and write your first PHP script. Practice writing and executing PHP scripts to become more familiar with the language. Happy coding!