Mastering PHP: A Beginner to Advanced Guide

**PHP** (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a powerful, server-side scripting language designed for web development. It is widely used to build **dynamic websites and APIs** and integrates seamlessly with databases like MySQL.

Why Use PHP?

PHP offers a wide range of benefits:

Easy to Learn - Simple syntax and fast development.
Server-Side Execution - Generates dynamic content.
Database Integration - Works with MySQL, PostgreSQL, and more.
Framework Support - Laravel, Symfony, and CodeIgniter.
Cross-Platform - Runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Installing PHP

Download and install PHP from the official website:

sudo apt install php

Check if PHP is installed:

php -v

Writing Your First PHP Script

Create a basic **Hello, World!** script:


<?php
echo "Hello, World!";
?>

Run the script in your terminal:

php script.php

Connecting to a Database

Use PHP to connect to a MySQL database:


<?php
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "root";
$password = "";
$dbname = "my_database";

$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}
echo "Connected successfully!";
?>

Using PHP with Laravel

Laravel is a PHP framework that simplifies web development:

composer create-project laravel/laravel my-project

Conclusion

PHP remains one of the **most versatile** and widely used languages for web development. Whether you’re building simple websites or complex applications with Laravel, PHP provides the flexibility and power needed.