PHP Home & Introduction

This Rishtaara PHP course teaches you step by step — from your first echo to MySQL, OOP, and AJAX.

PHP HOME — what this course covers

This Rishtaara PHP course teaches you step by step — from your first echo to MySQL, OOP, and AJAX.

PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) runs on the server. It builds HTML pages, talks to databases, handles forms, and powers sites like WordPress and Laravel apps.

Real-life example: Learning PHP is like learning to cook in a restaurant kitchen. HTML/CSS set the table. PHP prepares the meal before guests arrive.

Basics: syntax, variables, loops, functions, arrays
Forms, validation, sessions, and file handling
OOP: classes, inheritance, interfaces, traits
MySQL, XML, AJAX, and real project patterns

Tip: Install XAMPP or use Docker with PHP + Apache + MySQL. Save files as .php and open them through localhost, not as file://.

Introduction — what is PHP?

PHP is a server-side scripting language. The browser never sees your PHP source code — only the HTML output PHP sends back.

PHP can read form data, save to MySQL, send emails, create files, and return JSON for mobile apps.

Real-life example: PHP is like a waiter. The customer (browser) orders food. The waiter (PHP) goes to the kitchen (server + database) and brings back the finished plate (HTML/JSON).

Runs on Apache, Nginx, and built-in PHP server
Works with MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and more
Free, open source, huge community and job market

HTTP request cycle

PHP vs HTML — who does what?

HTML describes page structure. CSS styles it. JavaScript runs in the browser. PHP runs on the server before the page is sent.

A .php file can mix HTML and PHP tags. The server processes <?php ... ?> blocks and sends plain HTML to the browser.

Real-life example: HTML is the menu card. PHP is the chef who reads orders and writes today's specials on the board.

Mixed HTML and PHP

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8" />
  <title>Rishtaara PHP</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1><?php echo "Welcome to Rishtaara!"; ?></h1>
  <p>Today is <?php echo date("l, F j, Y"); ?>.</p>
</body>
</html>