PHP Basics — Build Dynamic Web Pages the Right Way

PHP powers a huge slice of the web (WordPress alone runs on PHP). If you want to make web pages that talk to databases, handle forms, or serve personalized content, PHP is a simple and practical choice. This page gets you up and running with the essentials you’ll use every day.

Getting set up

First, pick an easy local stack: XAMPP (Windows/Mac) or a LAMP stack (Linux). Install it, put your .php files into the web folder (htdocs or /var/www/html), and open http://localhost/yourfile.php. You can also use a cheap shared host to test live. Use PHP 8+ if possible — it’s faster and has cleaner features.

Start files with the basic tag and a quick test:

<?php
  echo "Hello PHP!";
?>

Core PHP concepts you’ll use every day

Variables: start with $ and no need to declare a type. Strings, numbers, arrays — PHP figures it out.

<?php
  $name = "Asha";
  $age = 28;
?>

Arrays: simple lists and associative arrays (maps).

<?php
  $list = ["apple", "banana"];
  $user = ["name" => "Asha", "email" => "[email protected]"];
?>

Functions: package logic you’ll reuse.

<?php
  function greet($name) {
    return "Hi, " . htmlspecialchars($name);
  }
?>

Forms and POST data: PHP reads form input through $_GET and $_POST. Always validate and sanitize user input.

<?php
  if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] === 'POST') {
    $email = filter_var($_POST['email'], FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL);
    echo $email ? "Valid: $email" : "Invalid email";
  }
?>

Database basics: use PDO with prepared statements to avoid SQL injection:

<?php
  $pdo = new PDO('mysql:host=localhost;dbname=test', 'user', 'pass');
  $stmt = $pdo->prepare('SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = ?');
  $stmt->execute([$email]);
  $row = $stmt->fetch();
?>

Quick security tips: escape output with htmlspecialchars(), use prepared statements for SQL, never trust client-side input, and keep PHP and extensions updated.

Debugging tips: enable error display in development (display_errors=On) and use var_dump() or print_r() for quick checks. For larger projects, use Xdebug with your editor for step-through debugging.

Where to go next: follow a short project — a contact form, a small task list, or a simple blog backend. Learn Composer for dependency management and explore a lightweight framework (Slim, CodeIgniter) or jump into Laravel when you’re ready for structure and tools.

If you want, I can give a step-by-step mini project plan (contact form or todo app) with code you can copy and run locally.