Using PHP for Web Design
PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) is free software researched, developed and released by The PHP Group. The program's primary purpose is to create scripting language for web development. The program is in use by over 2.1 million servers.
The Netcraft service which provides statistical information such as user numbers for programs indicates that over 100 million host names show PHP use. Almost 100 million active sites have implemented PHP. Over 1 million IP addresses and computers respectively show PHP usage. The number of users implementing PHP has been on the rise since January of 2012 and continues to show an increasing number of users to this day.
PHP does not need an external source file to process information or execute functions. PHP uses code to read and produce the web server by use of a processor module. The module then creates the web page. PHP scripting is easy to use via a simple command line interface. PHP is also versatile and can build graphical applications.
The scripting program is compatible with most web servers. It can function as a standalone for use with various operating systems. PHP is free software originally created in 1994 and has advanced over the years to provide a wide array of functions to users.
The software provides a basic package which features hundreds of functions. PHP can be customized by adding extensions to the software which are provided by the PHP web site. As a useful feature, The PHP Group has included a built-in library to the package as well which defines additional functions and provides the user helpful information.
PHP supports multi-process software programming on other systems like the POSIX. Developers can customize the PHP software package by defining or adding additional functions using pre-existing content or by developing new features through coding or scripting.
The most recent version of the software is PHP 5. The software is similar to other programming languages like C++ in implementation. The most recent version of PHP also added various user interfaces so users could choose the best fitting interaction suitable to their needs.
PHP provides web designers with the option of special interfaces to manipulate objects in a runtime system. PHP functions by the use of keywords including public, private and protected.
While PHP can run off of standalone computers its design renders it well suited for the development of server-side web design and execution. Web servers integrate well with the functionality of the PHP program.
PHP can be implemented for use on the client-side of a web site. The PHP software is highly adaptable to almost all web servers, operating systems and database management platforms. PHP software users are the recipient of plenty of support from web hosting entities and by the development team at the program's development website.
The software program's compatibility arises from the process it uses to filter and receive incoming data streams from other files. The program then outputs the information received which is frequently displayed as HTML. Its ability to process incoming information and then implement it in web displays mirrors other programs like ASP.NET by Microsoft, Java Server Pages by Sun Microsystems as well as mod perl.
Because of PHP functionality, the program has been used in the development of frameworks used for various software programs in the improvement of design and to support rapid application development. Web designers looking to use PHP will find that it integrates well with other web design framework programs like CodeIgniter, Yii and Zend Framework, Symfony and CakePHP.
PHP is frequently used in the LAMP design utilized by the web design market. LAMP stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL and Python or Perl. Python or Perl is easily replaced by PHP. Other users familiar with WAMP or MAMP which substitute the Windows or Mac operating system in place of Linux are also compatible with using PHP in the P spot. PHP provides a less complex component to the web design structure and is easily updated without problems.
Examples of web content designed and implemented for millions of users include eZ Publish, WordPress, Drupal, Moodle, Digg, MediaWiki and Joomla. Facebook also has incorporated PHP in its design by way of the Facebook users. The existing popularity of PHP means that it can easily be used by many web content designers as well as integrate with existing content.
Web designers who use PHP's script writing capabilities will find that as long as they use the best practice programming rules PHP provides a very secure, stable platform for web creation and launch. PHP has very few technical security flaws in the language it operates within and its core library of functions and information rarely have issues with fewer than 1% of user found security flaws reported in 2008.