About PHP Hosting
PHP Hosting
will be explained in this article. But first, let's describe PHP itself:
PHP (PHP: Hypertext
Processor) is an open source scripting language that borrows from the
likes of C, Java, and Perl, and can be HTML-embedded. The goal in its
creation was to streamline the process of creating dynamic web pages and
expediting their publication online.
PHP is a server-side
language meaning it can be run on any platform (Unix,
Linux,
Windows) because your PHP hosting server, and NOT the client's
computer, is the one reading and interpreting the code. The PHP hosting
server merely inserts the results of the PHP code into the HTML file
sent to the client.
PHP pages are treated by
your PHP web hosting server just as any other HTML encoded pages are
treated. It is highly recommended that, if you plan to use PHP in your
web design, you use a PHP web hosting provider that has
activated support for all files with the extension ".php" at
the end. A PHP hosting provider's server can recognize PHP code embedded
in HTML by its start tag "<?" and end tag "?>"
Using a PHP hosting
provider rather than any old generic host save you loads of trouble,
including not having to parse and compile your files or install and
learn any additional web publishing tools.
If your web host is not
PHP web hosting enabled, your site's visitors will not be able view the
results of any PHP code embedded in your HTML, and therefore your pages
will not load properly and will have serious, gaping holes in its
functionality.
PHP is simple enough for
a newbie to learn yet expansive enough to handle a staggering array of
professionals' needs. Among the more advanced tasks one can perform with
PHP is webcrawling, GIS mapping, and database crawling.
PHP can be used to
connect with over 19 different types of databases, including Microsoft
Access and Oracle. The most popular database used with PHP, however, is
MySQL (see our
article on MySQL hosting). PHP has
support for MySQL built in, and any PHP hosting provider will most
likely also be MySQL hosting enabled.
You can use PHP to set up
cookies which is a fantastic way to personalize your relationship with
each of your site visitors. Using cookies on your site saves your
visitors from having to reenter the same information into your various
forms and fields over and over again.
With PHP Sessions, you
can store data generated during one period of access for retrieval
during future accesses. This allows you to offer users an even more
customized, personal experience at your site.
To use PHP you will need
to install a PHP «parser» (CGI or server module), a PHP-enabled web
server (such as a PHP hosting provider), and a web browser (who doesn't
have one of these?) Then you can peruse the web's wealth of free
information on how to use this prolific tool.
Taken from
Hosting Review
|
| Apdo.