Definition and history of PHP
PHP Script Definition and History.
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server-side scripting programming language used in web development, webpage, or website, page, post design development. PHP scripting language is commercially used in web development and web app designing. Mostly, PHP scripts are used to create dynamic interactive webpages that interact with databases and database users in a live system. PHP scripts are executed on the server, and the result of its source code is previewed in simple HTML form in compatible web browsers, which means that this source code previews the webpage in graphical format to every internet user and backend script source code cannot be viewed by web visitors.
PHP script source code can be created and inserted or embedded directly into HTML code in any webpage, or advanced web apps can be created by combining it with currently popular web frameworks such as jQuery, Angular, Node.js and other JavaScript libraries. PHP scripts can be connected or interacted with popular database software MySQL, SQL in the backend and can be used with content management systems (CMS) WordPress, Shopify, Wix, or other popular CMS platforms to design, develop and create e-commerce websites and other database-compatible websites or web apps.
History of PHP web development scripts.
PHP/FI Personal Home Page 1994 – PHP web development script was first designed and developed by Rasmus Lerdorf in the year 1994. It was first versioned as PHP/FI (Personal Home Page/Forms Interpreter), Rasmus Lerdorf developed PHP script for his personal website design development needs. PHP script was a designed set of CGI (Common Gateway Interface) source scripts created in high level language C programming, which allowed a user to fill out a form, track a visit, and provide basic website operation features.
PHP Version 3 – In the year 1997, the PHP scripting language was re-developed by Rasmus and two other developers, Andy Gutmans and Zeev Suraski, where Andy Gutmans and Zeev Suraski played an important role in the redesign and redevelopment of the PHP script language. Where PHP was recreated and PHP 3 version was released in the year 1998. Whereas PHP 3 version became globally popular due to its advanced working capability and multiple licenses and open-source database support and advanced security features.
PHP Version 4 – PHP 4 scripting language was officially released in the year 2000. PHP 4 version was launched in the name of both PHP developers of Zend Engine, where both these developers made robust improvements in the performance and processing speed of the existing PHP version. Advanced features like C++ object-oriented programming (OOP) concept and multiple session handling were also added in PHP 4 scripting version, due to which PHP now provided a better framework for web development.
PHP Version 5 – PHP 5 version was officially released in the year 2004. While PHP version 5 made major improvements in PHP’s support for C++ object-oriented programming concepts, it added program exception handling, advanced connectivity support for MySQL databases, and improved XML scripting language built-in support. PHP 5 gave web developers a more universal scripting language for developing complex web pages, websites, or web applications. PHP 5 was adopted globally by web developers of the time.
PHP Version 7 – PHP 6 web development script was released in the year 2015, where it was not adopted globally earlier than the previous PHP 5 version and where the initial PHP 6 version had many issues and problems, due to this PHP 7 version was released in the year 2015. PHP 7 version made major improvements in PHP 7 version performance and speed compatibility and other issues compared to all the old PHP versions and the memory consumption of PHP 7 version was reduced compared to the previous version. In the same PHP 7 version, new features like scalar type data declaration, return type declaration and operators like null coalescing were also added, which made PHP 7 version faster, powerful and compatible or more responsive than other previous versions.
PHP Version 8 – Currently the latest PHP version is PHP 8, which was officially released in November 2020. PHP version 8 introduced JIT (Just-in-Time) compilation features for the first time, which brought major improvements in the performance, speed, database connectivity, source code embeds of PHP 8 scripting language. New features like match expression, attribute and union type were added to PHP 8 scripting. These PHP 8 scripting updates improved the default performance, speed and working capability of the existing PHP 8 scripting language, so that the need for PHP script in modern advanced web development still remains.
PHP Version 8.1 – PHP 8.1 version has been launched as the stable version of the year 2021, which was officially introduced on 25 November 2021. Currently, PHP 8.2, PHP 8.3 and PHP 8.4 versions are also available for use, which is the latest stable version of today’s time, this version is equipped with read-only properties, disjunctive normal form type, better performance and web search engine optimization features in the existing PHP scripting language.
Evolution and Impact of PHP Web Development Scripts.
In the last few years, PHP web development scripts have been updated a lot in design and development according to the web development needs and modern web design web apps, creating e-commerce platforms, complex websites and mobile apps modern needs. Today, PHP web development script is one of the most globally used programming scripting languages to create more dynamic, database-managed websites and web application design development. The PHP scripting language has a strong community, large ecosystem mechanism, and a global use in WordPress, Wix, Shopify, Joomla, and other popular content management systems that keep it highly relevant.
