PHP is a server-side HTML-embedded scripting language. This contrasts with non-embedded languages such as C or Perl, where you have to write lots of commands to output HTML. In PHP, like JavaScript, you enclose the code within special start and end tags within the html program. Unlike JavaScript, however, the code is executed on the server. The client then receives the results of running the script, but cannot see the code. PHP can do the same things as other CGI scripts, such as collecting data from forms, generate dynamic page content, or send and receive cookies. A major feture is that it supports a variety of databases, such as Adabas D, dBase, Empress, FilePro, Informix, InterBase, mSQL, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Solid, Sybase, Velocis, and Unix dbm. It also supports the HTTP, IMAP, NNTP, POP3, and SNMP protocols for talking to other services, and you can also open raw network sockets.
PHP stands for Personal Home Page tools, as that was the original use of its inventor, Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994. He also invented a Form Interpreter, which was included in PHP/FI Version 2. Others began to contribute code, and it was completely overhauled to form PHP3. It is shipped with commercial products including RedHat Linux, greatly expanding its user base, and the next version will include the powerful Zend scripting engine and support for running under web servers other than Apache as a native server module.
If you have a suitable server, you can download PHP3 from http://www.php.net/, where there are instructions for installation and configuration. If you don't have your own suitable server, you will need access to one. The configuration chosen affects the degree of security.
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