Your First PHP Script: A Practical Introduction
How to start writing your first PHP script? First, set up the local development environment, install XAMPP/MAMP/LAMP, and use a text editor to understand the server's running principle. Secondly, create a file called hello.php, enter the basic code and run the test. Third, learn to use PHP and HTML to achieve dynamic content output. Finally, pay attention to common errors such as missing semicolons, citation issues, and file extension errors, and enable error reporting for debugging.
So you've decided to try writing your first PHP script — good choice. PHP might not be the newest language on the block, but it's still widely used, especially for web development. If you're aiming to build dynamic websites or interact with databases, PHP is a solid tool to have in your kit.
Let's cut to the challenge and walk through what you actually need to get started with your first working PHP script.
Setting Up Your Environment
Before you write any code, make sure your system is ready. PHP runs on a server, so unlike HTML or JavaScript, you can't just open a .php file in your browser and expect it to work.
Here's what you need:
- A local server environment : Tools like XAMPP (Windows/Mac), MAMP (Mac), or LAMP (Linux) let you run PHP locally without needing an actual web host.
- A text editor or IDE : VS Code, Sublime Text, or PHPStorm are popular choices.
- Basic understanding of how servers work : You'll place your PHP files in a specific folder
htdocslikehttp://localhost/your-file.php.
Once installed, test your setup by creating a simple PHP file and loading it in your browser.
Writing Your First Script
Now that your environment is ready, let's write something basic but useful. This script will display a message and show how PHP handles variables and basic logic.
Create a file called hello.php inside your server directory and add this:
<?php $name = "World"; echo "<h1>Hello, $name!</h1>"; ?>
Open your browser and go to http://localhost/hello.php . You should see “Hello, World!” in heading style.
What's happening here:
- The
<?php ... ?>tags tell the server to treat everything inside as PHP code. -
$nameis a variable holding the string"World". -
echooutputs HTML content back to the browser.
This may seem simple, but it demonstrates two key concepts: storing data and outputting it dynamically.
Mixing PHP with HTML
One of PHP's strengths is its ability to seamlessly mix with HTML. You don't have to choose between generating HTML or processing logic — you can do both in the same file.
Here's an example where PHP decides what message to show based on the time of day:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><title>Greeting</title></head>
<body>
<?php
$hour = date('G');
if ($hour < 12) {
echo "<p>Good morning!</p>";
} else {
echo "<p>Hello there!</p>";
}
?>
</body>
</html>This script does a few things:
- Uses
date()to get the current hour. - Checks if it's before noon and displays a different greeting accordingly.
- Outputs HTML from within PHP blocks.
You can switch back and forth between HTML and PHP as needed — just remember to close and reopen the PHP tags properly.
Common Pitfalls and Tips
Even small mistakes can break your script. Here are a few common issues beginners run into:
- Forgetting semicolons at the end of each PHP statement.
- Mixing up quotes and variables — double quotes allow variable interpolation; single quotes don't.
- Not checking error logs — when something doesn't work, look at your server's error log. It often tells you exactly what went wrong.
- Using incorrect file extensions — save files with
.php, not.html.
Also, enable error reporting during development by adding this line at the top of your script:
<?php ini_set('display_errors', 1); error_reporting(E_ALL); ?>
This helps catch mistakes early.
And that's basically it. With these basics down, you're ready to explore more powerful features like forms, databases, and user authentication. It's not complicated, but it does require attention to detail — especially around syntax and server behavior.
The above is the detailed content of Your First PHP Script: A Practical Introduction. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!
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