Learn PHP Programming

Master PHP programming from basics to advanced concepts with our comprehensive tutorial series. Perfect for beginners and web developers.

Start Learning Try PHP Online
Tutorial Contents
Getting Started
Fundamentals
Arrays & Control Flow
Functions
Web Development
Object-Oriented Programming
Advanced Topics

Hello World Program in PHP

Let's create your first PHP program! The "Hello World" program is a simple program that displays "Hello, World!" on the screen.

Basic Hello World Program

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

PHP in HTML

PHP can be embedded directly into HTML:

hello.php 
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>My First PHP Page</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1><?php echo "Hello, World!"; ?></h1>
    <p>Today is <?php echo date("Y-m-d"); ?></p>
</body>
</html>

Understanding the Code

PHP Tags
  • <?php - Opening PHP tag
  • ?> - Closing PHP tag
  • PHP code goes between these tags
Echo Statement
  • echo - Outputs text to the browser
  • Strings are enclosed in quotes
  • Statements end with semicolon (;)

Running Your PHP Code

Command Line

You can run PHP from the command line:

php hello.php
Web Browser

Place the file in your web server directory and access it via browser:
http://localhost/hello.php

Pro Tip

PHP files must have a .php extension to be processed by the PHP interpreter. HTML files with .html extension won't execute PHP code.

Explanation

  • echo outputs text; each statement ends with a semicolon.
  • PHP inside HTML runs on the server and returns plain HTML to the browser.
  • date("Y-m-d") is evaluated on the server at request time.
Tip: Keep PHP logic minimal in HTML files; move logic into functions or classes as apps grow.
Keywords: echo, PHP tags, server-side rendering, date function
Previous: Getting Started
Next: PHP Syntax

Frequently Asked Questions

PHP is a server-side scripting language designed for web development. It powers over 75% of websites on the internet, including Facebook, Wikipedia, and WordPress. Learning PHP opens doors to web development careers and freelance opportunities.

No, PHP is beginner-friendly with simple syntax. However, basic understanding of HTML and CSS will be helpful since PHP is often used to create dynamic web pages.

With PHP, you can build dynamic websites, web applications, content management systems, e-commerce platforms, APIs, and much more. Popular platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and Magento are built with PHP.

Basic PHP can be learned in 2-4 weeks with consistent practice. To become proficient and learn advanced concepts like frameworks and best practices, it typically takes 3-6 months of regular learning and practice.

You need a web server (Apache/Nginx), PHP interpreter, and a database (MySQL). The easiest way is to install XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP which includes all these tools. You'll also need a text editor like VS Code or PhpStorm.

Master PHP Programming with Our Comprehensive Tutorial

Our PHP programming tutorial is designed to take you from a complete beginner to an advanced PHP developer. Whether you're looking to build dynamic websites, create web applications, or start a career in web development, this tutorial series provides everything you need to succeed.

What You'll Learn

  • PHP fundamentals and syntax
  • Variables, data types, and operators
  • Control structures and loops
  • Functions and arrays
  • Object-oriented programming
  • Database integration with MySQL
  • Web forms and user input handling
  • Security best practices

PHP remains one of the most popular programming languages for web development, powering millions of websites worldwide. Our tutorial includes practical examples, real-world projects, and best practices to ensure you learn not just the syntax, but how to write clean, efficient, and secure PHP code.

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