How can you hire a professional PHP Web developer?
Why Learn PHP?
PHP is a widely used server-side programming language that’s become increasingly fast and powerful over the years. PHP works well with HTML and databases, making it a great language for anyone interested in building dynamic web applications.
Why is PHP Still So Widely Used?
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is known as a general-purpose scripting language that can be used to develop dynamic and interactive websites. It was among the first server-side languages that could be embedded into HTML, making it easier to add functionality to web pages without needing to call external files for data. Its use has evolved over the years, with regular upgrades (version 8.0 was released in November 2020) adding features and unlocking new capabilities.
3 Reasons Why PHP Is Still So Important for Web Development
PHP, a server-side language that has been around for more than 25 years, tends to evoke some strong opinions among developers today. Whenever a new programming language or tool emerges, you’ll probably find a discussion over where PHP is ‘dead’. It is true that PHP has slipped down the rankings of the most popular programming languages, from 5th in 2017 to 8th in 2020 as per the Stack Overflow annual developer survey.
- It’s easy to learn and use: One of the main reasons PHP became so commonplace is that it is relatively simple to get started with. Even without extensive knowledge or experience in web development, most people could create a web page with a single PHP file in a relatively short period of time. The syntax is simple and command functions are easy to learn, meaning the barriers to entry with PHP are lower than with many other languages.
- It’s open source (and therefore free!): This also helps developers get started with PHP - it can be installed quickly and at zero cost. There is also open access to a wide range of PHP frameworks, such as Laravel and Symfony. This feature is also appealing to companies as it helps control the costs of web development.
- It is tried and tested: One major benefit of being around for a quarter century is that PHP code has been put to the test in all kinds of real-life environments. The main bugs have been found and fixed, making the language more stable and trusted by developers. Moreover, many frameworks and tools have been built over time, helping to make PHP web development more secure, efficient and effective.