What is PHP?
PHP (recursive acronym for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) is an open source general-purpose scripting language for web development which can be embedded into HTML. The PHP language interprets in real-time and is not built into the code of the machine it’s running on.
PHP produces dynamic content and is usually embedded within working HTML code. It provides a powerful and free tool to create dynamic websites. PHP files can be identified by the “.php” extension that follows the filename.
For more details on the language, you can check PHP.net which is the support and knowledge center for PHP developers around the globe.
PHP and Web Hosting
PHP being a server-side language, the source code is processed by the server, unlike plain HTML sites where the end users have access to the code. PHP sites are usually built into the regular HTML and CSS, and the PHP part of the code is executed on the server, and generated output is sent to the client.PHP is hence used to generate dynamic sites where the content can vary depending on the client accessing the site.
If you need to host your website that contains PHP content, the web host must support a PHP environment. Without that support, the website will be rendered as plain HTML.
PHP can help to perform a lot of complex features like:
- Scale the website for the chosen screen size.
- Manage cookies.
- Create interactive pages like blogs, forums, etc.
- Create interactive websites that require user input.
- Create a dynamic content site using a database.
Benefits of PHP Hosting
Some of the most common benefits of PHP hosting are below:
1.Compatibility
Websites created with PHP are compatible with almost every new device, including iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. Scaling websites based on the screen size of different devices is a requirement for almost all modern businesses.
2. No additional costs
There are no additional costs associated with hosting PHP source since PHP is a free, open source, scripting language. Other commercial programming languages/environments might not have this benefit.
3. Simple to use
Since PHP can be integrated easily with HTML and CSS, without needing any additional plugins or software to make it work, it can be easily adopted and used to upgrade existing websites also. Plus, it’s a must-have if your site runs on a popular CMS like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal.
4. Incredible Speed
PHP being very light on server resources, websites perform much faster and won’t put a strain on loading times or overall site performance. When your site consumes a ton of server resources to load a page, this will not only increase hosting costs, but it will diminish your overall user experience.
5. Easy Integration with Databases
PHP’s ability to easily integrate with databases like MySQL is its biggest power. Again, this is a core requirement for most CMS, blogs, online stores, and forums.
