Why Doesn\'t PHP Code Execute When a Button is Clicked?

Clarifying the Role of PHP as a Preprocessor

In web development, it's crucial to grasp the fundamental differences between PHP and JavaScript. PHP, as a preprocessor, plays a specific role before a web browser renders a page. Contrastingly, JavaScript functions as a client-side scripting language that operates after a page has been generated.

To illustrate this distinction, consider the following PHP code that attempts to execute a function when a button is clicked:

<code class="html"><a href="<?php runCommand(); ?>"></a></code>

In JavaScript, this code would trigger the runCommand function upon clicking the button. However, in PHP, this won't work because PHP is processed before the page is rendered and doesn't intercept button events.

For a comprehensive explanation of PHP's role as a preprocessor, consider referencing these resources:

• Wikipedia's Article on Server-side Scripting:
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server-side_scripting
• Wikipedia's Article on Client-side Scripting:
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Client-side_scripting

These articles provide clear distinctions between the two scripting languages and illustrate their respective roles in the web development process.

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