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Starting with the PHP language (90 views)
An article to explain how, and why you would want to learn the PHP language. Explaining SQL, Apache, and of course PHP itself.
So you want to start learning PHP ha? Well you've come to the right place, in this article i will inform you of the easy and hard parts of learning this language.
First of all.. Do you know basic webdevelopment? PHP is an advanced language, you cannot start PHP without knowing HTML. (Well you can.. but it wouldn't be smart)
Ok, so you know HTML? Good!
Then lets start with the PHP part.. What is it? What can it do? Why should i want to learn it?
What is PHP?
PHP is a server side language. This means the PHP code is generated on your server. When using PHP, you should have the PHP module installed in the Apache HTTP server (Or another HTTP server), or else you wont be able to turn PHP files into the magic. When you have a script that uses PHP, you need to change the extension of the file into .php, or else the PHP module wont understand what file has PHP in it. It is also able to let .html files contain PHP and generate it. If you want this (why?) you need to add it in your PHP config file.
What can it do?
With PHP you are able to lift your website to a new level. Simple examples are: Login system, Guestbook, CMS, forum etc.. Really explain how to make it wouldn't be appropriate in this article right? So lets go to the next block.
Why would i want to learn PHP?
Because you can make your website dynamic. You can make your website more then just good looking and informative. You can let your guests do all kinds of wicked things, like let them respond on your new news article, or what about a simple very nice working email system?
Well actually you should check it out yourself if you really want to know why you would want to learn this language.
Lets talk about some other features that work well in combination with PHP.
SQL
SQL stands for Structured Query Language. With this language you are able to store data into a database. You may find this quite useless when you don't know much about it, but in fact most websites are powerless without an SQL database. Most websites store about 95% of their info into the database. Combined Minds is the same. All articles, news, tutorials, reactions from users, the users them self, their all stored into the SQL database.
There are quite much SQL databases you could choose from when make a website. I will talk about 3 of them.
PostgreSQL. Is a very powerful database, mostly wanted for it's ability to store a huge amount of data.
MySQL. Is again a quite powerful database. Not as powerful as PostgreSQL, but definitely powerful enough to run a very big website on.
SQLite. Is a small database, specially made for small websites.
Most websites use MySQL. Combined Minds also runs under MySQL. When you search for a webhost with SQL, you will most likely find MySQL installed on the servers.
Apache
Well, actually Apache has not much to do with PHP. But i do want to let you know of the powerful tools Apache brings with it. The tool i like most, is the mod_rewrite tool. With this module installed on your webserver, you can manipulate the browser by making false URLs. Simply said, you can make a file on your website, that says: When the user types in "www.example.com/tutorials/" i want it to redirect to show "www.example.com/tutorials.php". This will look useless from the start. But actually it's a very powerful module that again, Combined Minds uses.
Of course Apache can also do other things. Also one interesting one, is create your own 404 errors (and other codes). This means when a user tries to open a file on your server that doesn't exist, you can show your own specially made error page. What is also quite handy, is that you are able to create a simple login system by using Apache, lets say you don't want anyone to download a file unless he's logged in? With PHP you can make a login system, but you cannot prevent people downloading your files. With apache you can make a file that asks for a login code, or else you will not be able to download a file.
Well you know how a dynamic website works right? Well then, start learning PHP (I know you want to), and when you know the basics.. Come back to Combined Minds to learn some other nice advanced PHP.
First of all.. Do you know basic webdevelopment? PHP is an advanced language, you cannot start PHP without knowing HTML. (Well you can.. but it wouldn't be smart)
Ok, so you know HTML? Good!
Then lets start with the PHP part.. What is it? What can it do? Why should i want to learn it?
What is PHP?
PHP is a server side language. This means the PHP code is generated on your server. When using PHP, you should have the PHP module installed in the Apache HTTP server (Or another HTTP server), or else you wont be able to turn PHP files into the magic. When you have a script that uses PHP, you need to change the extension of the file into .php, or else the PHP module wont understand what file has PHP in it. It is also able to let .html files contain PHP and generate it. If you want this (why?) you need to add it in your PHP config file.
What can it do?
With PHP you are able to lift your website to a new level. Simple examples are: Login system, Guestbook, CMS, forum etc.. Really explain how to make it wouldn't be appropriate in this article right? So lets go to the next block.
Why would i want to learn PHP?
Because you can make your website dynamic. You can make your website more then just good looking and informative. You can let your guests do all kinds of wicked things, like let them respond on your new news article, or what about a simple very nice working email system?
Well actually you should check it out yourself if you really want to know why you would want to learn this language.
Lets talk about some other features that work well in combination with PHP.
SQL
SQL stands for Structured Query Language. With this language you are able to store data into a database. You may find this quite useless when you don't know much about it, but in fact most websites are powerless without an SQL database. Most websites store about 95% of their info into the database. Combined Minds is the same. All articles, news, tutorials, reactions from users, the users them self, their all stored into the SQL database.
There are quite much SQL databases you could choose from when make a website. I will talk about 3 of them.
PostgreSQL. Is a very powerful database, mostly wanted for it's ability to store a huge amount of data.
MySQL. Is again a quite powerful database. Not as powerful as PostgreSQL, but definitely powerful enough to run a very big website on.
SQLite. Is a small database, specially made for small websites.
Most websites use MySQL. Combined Minds also runs under MySQL. When you search for a webhost with SQL, you will most likely find MySQL installed on the servers.
Apache
Well, actually Apache has not much to do with PHP. But i do want to let you know of the powerful tools Apache brings with it. The tool i like most, is the mod_rewrite tool. With this module installed on your webserver, you can manipulate the browser by making false URLs. Simply said, you can make a file on your website, that says: When the user types in "www.example.com/tutorials/" i want it to redirect to show "www.example.com/tutorials.php". This will look useless from the start. But actually it's a very powerful module that again, Combined Minds uses.
Of course Apache can also do other things. Also one interesting one, is create your own 404 errors (and other codes). This means when a user tries to open a file on your server that doesn't exist, you can show your own specially made error page. What is also quite handy, is that you are able to create a simple login system by using Apache, lets say you don't want anyone to download a file unless he's logged in? With PHP you can make a login system, but you cannot prevent people downloading your files. With apache you can make a file that asks for a login code, or else you will not be able to download a file.
Well you know how a dynamic website works right? Well then, start learning PHP (I know you want to), and when you know the basics.. Come back to Combined Minds to learn some other nice advanced PHP.
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