PHP Questions, lots Options

[starlette]

Okay before you yell at me for makin a topic that has already been made, I can't search for php cuz its only 3 letters, and I don't have 3 years to go thru 67 pages of topics. So yeah. :D


Anyway!

I've been running around the web looking at sites and their source codes. I'm about to get a domain and redo my current website completely and I'm thinking I should use php. However, I've been searching and reading all on the web and I can't get any answers in plain english. I'm using Yahoo! Small business solutions to host my site and they support php, perl, dreamweaver, mysql and all this other stuff. But I don't know how to apply all this crap. So let me ask you guys.

Whats EXACTLY does php do?

What makes php easier and more useful than its alternatives?

what are phps alternatives?

What tools do I need to use php?

Do I need a server?

Why is MySQL and do I need it for php?

What is perl and is it for use instead of or with php?

What are the perks to using php in terms of useability and function for the visitors?

How should I go about learning php and implementing into my web page?

Any other important factors that should be noted. I'm just trying to get some answers here. Because I'm getting frustrated because of all these things that are listed out there but I don't know any of them. I am very familiar with html as well as css and a little javascript, plus flash and dreamweaver. And I know dreamweaver creates php files. I'm just trying to get a grip on all this crap so I can move forward. Any answers are very greatly appreciated!!

[*mipadi*]

Whats EXACTLY does php do?
In the end, PHP just outputs the HTML/XHTML coding necessary for building a webpage. But it does it in a more powerful way. PHP is a server-side scripting language, and allows webpages to be made dynamic. You can do everything from simply changing the date and time at the bottom of the page, to story nearly all your content in a database and allowing it to be pulled dynamically, while still keeping your layout the same across the site.

What makes php easier and more useful than its alternatives?
Assuming the alternatives are straight HTML, PHP allows a web designer to make a page that is easily updateable, with the ability to collect information from the user, or change states based on user interaction.

what are phps alternatives?
Technically, a scripting language such as Microsoft's ASP, or ColdFusion, could be used, but both can only be used on certain servers. PHP has wider support.

What tools do I need to use php?
Nothing but a server to run the PHP interpreter, and a text editor to edit the scripts.

Do I need a server?
Yes. You can get PHP for a personal machine, but you need a server to share your pages anyway, so it should have PHP support.

Why is MySQL and do I need it for php?
MySQL is a piece of database software. You don't need it for PHP, but together, MySQL and PHP creates a powerful combination.

What is perl and is it for use instead of or with php?
Unlike PHP, which is a scripting language, Perl is a full-fledged programming language. It's a bit more powerful in some respects than PHP. It can be used for producing webpages, but PHP is generally a better option, as it is designed expressly for that purpose and has better support.

What are the perks to using php in terms of useability and function for the visitors?
Basically as noted above—dynamic control of webpages, collection of information, that sort of thing.

How should I go about learning php and implementing into my web page?
There are many books available. w3schools.com might be helpful, too. To be honest, when I learned it, I just went to php.net and looked stuff up in the function list. (Of course, it helped that I already knew C. PHP uses a C-like syntax, so if you don't know any C-style languages already, you'll have to learn the syntax first, which isn't that hard.)

[starlette]

wow thank you soooo so so so much. I'm still a little fuzzy, but I think that would really help. Thanks for taking the time answer all of those. Maybe this topic should be pinned cuz thats a lot of helpful information. :D

[Mulder]

i agree.

ill pin this for now, but mods, feel free to overrule me on this. i think we need to link to this though, as questions like these come up a lot.

topic pinned

[starlette]

okay, since you so brilliantly answered all of my questions, theres still one thing I'm trying to get a grasp on. Heres exactly what I'm trying to do. On my website, for example where the content is, I want to make that php instead of html typed out. So if you click the news button it will display like news.php in that space and then if you click bio it will display bio.php. From my understanding thats pretty simple. I know that dreamweaver will help me create .php files, my only thing is, I'm not sure where they go. I'm sure I can figure out how to get them into my site, but I don't know if my web host (yahoo e.g.) would be my server, or would I have to set my computer up as as a server, and if so, how do I do that and does it cost a lot of money? and if I have to do that would I have to keep my computer on all the time? Or is this just something I'm over complicating? because this is where the connection isn't being made in my head.

[starlette]

ack, I quoted instead of edited sorry for double post

[*mipadi*]

okay, since you so brilliantly answered all of my questions, theres still one thing I'm trying to get a grasp on. Heres exactly what I'm trying to do. On my website, for example where the content is, I want to make that php instead of html typed out. So if you click the news button it will display like news.php in that space and then if you click bio it will display bio.php. From my understanding thats pretty simple.

You can use PHP includes. We have a tutorial here.

I know that dreamweaver will help me create .php files, my only thing is, I'm not sure where they go. I'm sure I can figure out how to get them into my site, but I don't know if my web host (yahoo e.g.) would be my server, or would I have to set my computer up as as a server, and if so, how do I do that and does it cost a lot of money? and if I have to do that would I have to keep my computer on all the time? Or is this just something I'm over complicating? because this is where the connection isn't being made in my head.

They should be uploaded to your server (Yahoo!). You could use your own computer as a server, but you'd need to get a high-speed Internet connection (and probably a commercial one at that—most residential connections don't allow you to set up a server, according to the contract) and you'd have to leave your computer on all the time.

[starlette]

w00t! I get it now. No more fuzziness!! I'm so releived now!! Thank you, I love you, we're getting married.

[*mipadi*]

w00t! I get it now. No more fuzziness!! I'm so releived now!! Thank you, I love you, we're getting married.

You're making me .

[micron]

im moving this to developers cubicle

[YourSuperior]

Stop Spamming. It's against the Createblog Community Guidelines. What does your income tax return and Fun House have to do with PHP Questions?

Refer to these posts:

POINTLESS POSTS
To enhance the experience of these forums, please do not post just for the sake of posts counts. We care more about what you say than how many times you can hit the "add reply" button. This includes repeated posts (even in different threads), and anything unrelevant to the topic at hand.

A separate post should be give to explain spam. You can also find these definitions in the Forum Rules in the Lounge.

Spam is/are:

• One or two word posts (unless it is in the Sandbox)
  
• A post with smilies (unless it is in the Sandbox)
  
• Anything not pertaining or contributing to the topic (i.e., "South Park is the bestest show ever, no?" in a topic about, say, Myspace codes)
  
• Chatting --> Some is tolerated, if it relates to the topic, but personal conversations and chatroom-like talking is in no way allowed. Use the chatroom. That's what it's there for.
  
• Blatant ignorance of forum/topic rules (i.e., Member Photos: there's a rule that you must thumb pictures that stretch out the forums, and if you keep doing it after you're warned, it is considered spam, or warning-worthy)
  
• Repetitive posts (i.e., in Introductions, copying and pasting "Welcome to cB, and enjoy your stay!" for each thread)
  
• Repetitive topics (Clubs topics. It's pretty obvious when they're serious clubs and when they're just spammy, chattering clique-y clubs)
  
• Posting the same topic in more than one forum. There is a place for everything.

[Clashing]

Ok, I have a question relating to PHP. I just installed PHP onto my server. And I need to put a stylesheet in and so on... So, where do i put those stuff in?? Do I need to make a new file or put in those files they gave me?

[*tripvertigo*]

php vs. perl



php is a server side scripting language that can be easily embedded into html documents. a webserver that supports php sort of "scans" html documents and looks for php code, processes it and then brings back the results to your browser.

perl is a scripting language that is very similar to C, and is actually slower than php more often than not (in terms of loading time).

php is easier to use than perl from a designer's perspective because basic functions will allow you to do a lot of different things. You can do the same thing in PHP with a much simpler and shorter code than if you used perl.

[1angel3]

How do you install php on your sever?

I'm hosted Now and my host support php so is there any good tutorials to help me install it (I perfere a video one)?

Is there some kind of wizard to help you through this process?

[Clashing]

Find a PHP program that you like. There are different PHP programs. You need to pick one. After you do that, they will have a site where you download the zip file of it. Then you upload the zip file onto your server but before that, make a new folder with the zip file in it.

[michellerrific]

If you prefer, you can always just code it manually. As hard as it sounds, is isn't that much work, especially when you get used to it. I'm still experiencing myself and I've almost got it all down but I know it will just take some time, patience, effort.

You can create a CSS first. Then you can create Header and Footer pages (header=everything that is universal for all pages, footer=content that is different for each page.) That's basically it, and I recommend you search around a lot for different tutorials til you find one that really helps.

[*tripvertigo*]

php is already installed on your server. that's what it means when your host says they support php.

all THAT means is that you can, if you so choose, run different php scripts on your domain, and the server, having already had php installed on it, will understand how to process your code.

we cant tell you exactly how to install php scripts on your domain. different scripts and applications have different installation methods. most php scripts come with documentation that will tell you what to do to install it.

[1angel3]

Thanks this help a lot