Modern enterprises are no longer constrained by geographical boundaries, owing to the websites that enable them to conduct business in any region of the world. Having a website has become very important for any business looking to expand and remain competitive. 

The first step in establishing a great website is selecting the appropriate technical foundation. Numerous technologies and methods for developing websites have been developed over the last few years, but PHP has emerged as the industry standard.

It is the preferred platform for constructing websites and online applications. PHP dominates the web, accounting for about 79 percent of websites that make use of a server. Additionally, it is the primary underlying technology of a large number of content management systems available today. Numerous organizations use PHP website development as their platform of choice.

If you follow Core PHP Tutorial online you will be able to learn PHP easily. 

Here we will dive deep into PHP and learn about its uses and disadvantages. 

What is PHP, and How Did it Gain Such Popularity?

PHP, an abbreviation for Hypertext Preprocessor, is a free and open-source server-side programming language. It is a multipurpose programming language that is created and maintained by a large community. PHP is all about managing the back-end, or server-side, architecture of a website or online application. Because of which PHP code is executed on the server, while the client-side receives just the plain HTML code presented to users via a web browser.

PHP is capable of retrieving data from a server and inserting it into the HTML DOM, but it lacks control over HTML. It is capable of connecting to many databases, applying scripts to HTML, initiating sessions, and doing a variety of other functions.

PHP enables you to do a great deal and develop attractive online apps. This is the primary reason for the server-side scripting language’s popularity. PHP is frequently used for the following purposes:

  • Add/modify data in the database.
  • Create dynamic content.
  • On a server, you may create, write, open, delete, read, and close files.
  • Cookies can be sent or received.
  • Receipt of data from forms.
  • Encrypt data.

PHP creates not only HTML output but also PDF, XML, Flash, and other file types.

Thus, depending on your demands and goals, PHP may be the best choice for developing a fantastic website. You may easily employ a PHP developer to construct an unmatched website for your organization.

  • Benefits of PHP
  • It is Completely Free and Open-Source

As a free server-side language, it is a cost-effective alternative for developing any form of online solution, whether it is a website, an eCommerce store, or a web application. The community is responsible for ensuring that the language is both current and relevant in terms of web development trends. 

Due to PHP’s popularity in the field of website creation, there is no shortage of competent developers in the market. Additionally, the community works tirelessly to maintain the language’s brilliance.

  • Compatible with all Operating Systems

The following benefit of PHP is its compatibility with a variety of operating systems, including Mac, Windows, Linux, and Unix, as well as its seamless integration with Apache and MySQL servers. As a result, it supports all major operating systems and is executable on a wide variety of platforms. 

Additionally, PHP is an excellent choice for developing cross-platform web apps. It simplifies cross-platform web development. Such a web application may operate on any system, regardless of the operating system.

  • Adaptable and Dynamic

PHP-based websites and apps are extremely secure due to their usage of foolproof encryption. The encryption and scalability capabilities enhance the value of this outstanding server-side language, transforming it into a dynamic and flexible technology. 

PHP-based web applications and webpages may be loaded automatically without manual intervention. It is more flexible than any other server-side language in its industry and may be customized to meet any business flexibility or need. Because PHP is an open-source language, it may be written using any code editor. It may be used with other libraries to create a variety of effects.

  • Numerous Resources

PHP has an abundance of information and tools available to developers who wish to add certain features or functionality to their web applications. Whether a developer wants editors, dependency managers, or frameworks, PHP provides high-quality, ready-to-use tools. 

By using the internet resources, one may both learn PHP and discover new techniques to construct a web solution. There is an ocean of information accessible on the internet for PHP programming that covers practically every aspect of the subject. PHP has a plethora of extensions that enable developers to tailor solutions to specific customer requirements.

The flexibility of the Database

PHP is a highly flexible language in terms of database connectivity as well. It is compatible with a variety of databases, including:

  • MySQL
  • MongoDB
  • PostgreSQL

Although MySQL is the most often used database with PHP, you may construct a web application with PHP using any database. 

PHP’s database flexibility enables it to be utilized in a variety of application settings to create bespoke web apps or websites.

  • Compatible with CMS

A significant advantage of using PHP as your web development technology is that it is extensively utilized in a variety of content management systems. Numerous popular content management systems (CMSs), including WordPress, Drupal, Magento, PrestaShop, and Joomla, are built-in PHP or are powered by a PHP-based foundation. 

Thus, if you pick PHP as the primary technology for your PHP website development project, you may work with a variety of CMSs. A PHP-based content management system may be used to construct highly customizable websites.

  • Best Features Of PHP
  • Simplicity

PHP is renowned for its simplicity. It is well-structured and simple to learn.

Even complete beginners will have no difficulty learning and using PHP. It is a highly well-organized programming language that includes a large number of pre-defined functions, which simplifies the programmer’s job. There is no requirement to include libraries in PHP, as there is in C. PHP is very easier to optimize due to its large number of pre-defined functions.

  • Flexibility

PHP scripts may be executed on any device, including smartphones, tablets, and personal computers. It is extremely compatible with a wide variety of databases. It integrates seamlessly with HTML, XML, and JavaScript.

Additionally, it is compatible with practically all servers in use today, including Apache, IIS, and others.

  • Object-Oriented

PHP has characteristics associated with object-oriented programming, such as:

  • Data encapsulation
  • Inheritance
  • Abstraction
  • Polymorphism

PHP5 introduced object-oriented programming functionality.

This capability enables the creation of sophisticated reusable web pages and elevates PHP to the level of strong object-oriented languages such as Java and Python.

PHP’s Disadvantages

  • Due to its open-source nature, it is not very secure, as ASCII text files are frequently available.
  • It is incompatible with large-scale content-based web applications.
  • It has a weak type, which might result in the user receiving inaccurate data and information.
  • Utilizing more features of the PHP framework and tools results in a decrease in the performance of web applications.
  • PHP does not permit modification or alteration of an online application’s essential functionality.
  • PHP frameworks differ in their behaviour, as well as their performance and functionality.
  • While PHP is a strong tool with a sizable community and extensive reference documentation, there are simpler web application programming languages available.

PHP Developer Salaries in India: Experience-Based

An entry-level PHP developer in India earns an average of Rs. 172,000 per year.

The average annual salary for a mid-level PHP developer in India is Rs. 264,000.

A PHP developer with 5–9 years of experience earns an average of Rs. 546,000 a year in India. A PHP developer with 10-19 years of experience earns an average annual salary of Rs. 850,000.

Conclusion

PHP is a popular web technology that is utilized in a wide variety of online solutions, whether it’s a basic website, eCommerce stores, or web applications. PHP, being an open-source and free coding language, is a cost-effective and easy-to-learn language that is ideal for developing a variety of online applications. 

Whether you’re building a website or a web application, it provides you with complete control over how you build a web solution. It is a highly competitive server-side scripting language that excels at constructing feature-rich online applications. PHP developers are readily available, which means you may easily hire one and create the website or web application that suits your unique requirements.