PHP, combined with Apache, or another web server handles all the "standard" web serving side of development; it watches for requests, it hands them off to the appropriate handlers, it sends the required headers, and it finalizes the job.
On it's own, PHP is a language capable of many simple things: date functions, file manipulation, mathematics, logic, all the traditional programming language stuff (including some very feature-filled mechanics for topics such as string manipulation and date manipulation) - but it doesn't expand in to the power given by database driven web applications. Luckily, there are standard libraries such as the MySQL library, which allow you to easily integrate databases in to your project.
A database is simply that, a collection of data. MySQL is both a relational database server, and query language. It allows users to easily create tables of information, which are sortable by a number of columns, and capable of handling millions of rows of information. Rather impressive when you look at it's simplicity.
MySQL (pronounced My Sequel) is an implementation of the popular SQL - "structured query language" - don't worry if you've never heard of SQL before - we'll get there in a later lesson. Information can be stored in a SQL database, and accessed in a range of different ways, manipulated, modified, and stored rapidly.
But wait, why the heck do we want to store our content in a database? Why not just store it in flat files? That's an easy question. If by flat files, you mean storing it in plain text files and loading it in to a PHP-powered templating system - the database is faster. Being quite similar to ASP in many ways, chances are a change from ASP to PHP would not be all that difficult for a seasoned developer who was experienced in a C-style language.If by flat files, you mean storing it in HTML files and linking them around, you've probably already answered your own question. HTML-only websites are messy, frequently ending up with hundreds of files, each with their own copy of the template, among other things. A simple change for an HTML-only site could take days to implement, where in a PHP-MySQL-powered site it would take minutes.
On top of that, by integrating PHP + MySQL in to your project you open a range of new uses. Being quite similar to ASP in many ways, chances are a change from ASP to PHP would not be all that difficult for a seasoned developer who was experienced in a C-style language.In the future you could set up a web-service for a software application to contact your database server and get the content, you could sell your database of content, or you could further manipulate the way the content is stored.
The advantages to a database driven, scripting language powered site are numerous, and you shall realize them more and more as you get deeper in to web development.
Add comment
- Author Articles
- More From This AuthorPHP is a server side scripting language that allows you to create some of the most beautifully dynamic and interactive websites out there, and if you can use it, you can go straight to the top when it comes to...Hundreds die in Britain and the USA each year from construction industry related deaths. Great heights and falling rubble are just some of the daily threats to a construction worker's life. The tricky part...If you're seeking training tracks certified by Microsoft, it stands to reason you'll want training organisations to supply a good number of the best training courses on the market today. It's a good idea to...The manufacturing of products requires specific knowledge in the operation, management, and repair of technical systems. The process of production requires individuals that understand the technology behind...PHP, which is an open source scripting language for developing web applications, is a much appreciated development platform all over the world. According to recent estimates, PHP has already captured around...
- Related Articles
- Related ArticlesDid you know that the longest someone has gone without sleeping is nearly 19 days? Sounds crazy , however this test of alertness occurred during a record attempt to see who could go without sleep whilst sat in...Fashion is changing en every second. The item liked now may or may not be liked after few hours or day! Looking fashionable and fab is wish of every individual. People try out hundreds way to look...Fashion is changing every second. The item liked now may or may not be liked after few hours or day! Looking fashionable and fab is wish of every individual. People try out hundreds 9way to look...It is very important, methods selection on successful online business with the use of successful marketing business, in this computer age most of internet marketing search terms are prove the qualities of...You know the brand JEANNE EN PROVENCE, Because I've Talked about it on my blog in the past, but I remind you That it is a company located in Grasse (France), que was established in 1978 and offers different...
- Latest Articles
- Latest ArticlesGemini people will find sound health along with some happy and quality times. You are spiritual and will find some more spirituality interest. You may feel confusion and self doubt regarding the matters of...If you want to watch movies or listen to music on your Apple devices like iPhone, iPod, iPad or AppleTV, you need to sync videos and audios from your iTunes library to your devices. And your iTunes could only...Did you know that the longest someone has gone without sleeping is nearly 19 days? Sounds crazy , however this test of alertness occurred during a record attempt to see who could go without sleep whilst sat in...Please don't rush the photographer, as your end result may not be exactly what you are looking for.Yes, we all have the same experience that we really don"t know what we have or what we want.The best way to...Fashion is changing en every second. The item liked now may or may not be liked after few hours or day! Looking fashionable and fab is wish of every individual. People try out hundreds way to look...
