Why PHP and SQL?

The Internet is in a continual state of flux, change and evolution. From the static HTML pages that were so popular in the early days of the Internet, webpages have evolved into more dynamic pages using PHP and SQL., To get an idea of PHP’s growth, five years ago, PHP was used on 2 million sites, and today PHP is used on over 20 million.

What is PHP and why is it so popular?

PHP or Hypertext PreProcessor is a programming language that enables webmasters to add dynamic content and interactivity to webpages using information stored in databases. One of the advantages of PHP is that it can work with many different types of databases, and external libraries, however, SQL is the most common.

PHP is a Sever-Side Language, which means the server performs some actions, such as extracting and formatting information from a database, before the web page is displayed.

Compared with other languages such as Cold Fusion, PERL or ASP, their functionality is very similar, if not identical. However PHP has some very important advantages.

  • PHP is simple and easy to learn. When programming simple is definitely better. And for novice programmers, the simple syntax and powerful features is unbeatable. Partly because PHP is Open Source, there are numerous online tutorials for all levels of programmers from novice to advanced.
  • Open Source. An Open Source language ensures that a literal army of programmers is always refining, debugging and adding new features. Open Source languages keep up with rapid technological developments.
  • Cross Platform. PHP runs on any platform including Microsoft and Apache. In fact, PHP can even run inside HTML pages.
  • Integration with SQL. PHP integrates directly with SQL, with built in commands. In addition, PHP can access commercial databases such as Informix.
  • Online Support. Another advantage of an Open Source language is the unparalleled support offered by the Open Source Community. If you are having a problem, even a very advanced and technical one, other programmers have almost certainly had the same problem. You can access professional help through online Forums and a network of websites.

These features combined and especially the backing of the Open Source community, have combined to make PHP and SQL the language of choice for web applications. PHP is used on many high visibility and high traffic websites.

What is SQL and why is it so Popular?

SQL or Structured Query Language, pronounced ‘sequel’ also has many interesting properties which have helped fuel PHP's explosive growth. SQL is a comprehensive language for interacting with databases. SQL is the primary database language that is used in tens of billions of dollars of applications. There are thousands of applications running SQL from mainframe computers to cell phones.

SQL is not really a programming language in the same way that PHP is a programming language. SQL is a sublanguage, which contains specialized commands for managing databases.

SQL also differs from PHP in that it is not a structured language. SQL closely resembles English sentences and follows a loose structure, with build in safeguards to prevent inconsistencies.