PHP can do anything. PHP is mainly used for server-side scripts, so PHP can be used to complete any work that other CGI programs can do, such as collecting form data, generating dynamic web pages, or sending/receiving Cookies. But PHP’s capabilities go far beyond that.
PHP is mainly used for website development. Many small websites are developed with PHP. PHP is open source, which is what makes PHP enduring.
In terms of e-commerce, community, etc., PHP has very mature open source codes and templates, which makes PHP extremely widely used. (Recommended learning: PHP video tutorial)
PHP can complete any task that a CGI script can complete, but its functionality depends on its compatibility with various databases .
PHP scripts are mainly used in the following three areas:
Server-side scripts (website development). This is the most traditional and main target area of PHP.
To carry out this work, you need the following three points: PHP parser (CGI or server module), web server and web browser. You need to install and configure PHP when running the web server. Then, you can use a web browser to access the output of the PHP program, that is, browse the PHP page on the server.
If you are just experimenting with PHP programming, all of this can be run on your home computer. Please consult the Installation chapter for more information.
Command line script. You can write a PHP script and don't need any server or browser to run it.
In this way, only the PHP parser is needed to execute. This usage is ideal for daily running scripts that rely on cron (Unix or Linux environments) or Task Scheduler (Windows environments). These scripts can also be used to process simple text. See PHP's command line mode for more information.
Write desktop applications.
For desktop applications with graphical interfaces, PHP may not be the best language, but if the user is very proficient in PHP and wants to use some advanced aspects of PHP in client applications Features, you can use PHP-GTK to write these programs.
Using this method, you can also write cross-platform applications. PHP-GTK is an extension of PHP that is not included in the commonly distributed PHP packages. If you are interested in PHP-GTK, please visit its official website for more information.
The above is the detailed content of What does php mainly do?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!