Hello World

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The simplest way to step into the world of PHP is by creating a "Hello World!" program. This introduces you to how PHP interacts with a server to generate dynamic web content. If you testing your setup with a basic PHP echo hello world statement or starting with the structure of a PHP hello world program, this example lays the groundwork.

In this introduction, you will see how to write, run, and understand the code behind a PHP hello world example, making it a perfect starting point for anyone new to PHP.

Before we get started, you should ensure your PHP environment is properly set up. This includes installing a server like XAMPP or configuring your system to handle PHP scripts. If you are not sure how to do this, check out this detailed guide on installing PHP to get everything ready.

Understanding the "Hello World" in PHP

Here is an example of a basic PHP hello world script:

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

In this script, we used the echo statement to display the text Hello, World! in your browser.

Once you save this code in a file named hello.php and place it in your server’s root directory (commonly htdocs for XAMPP), you can see the result in the browser in this URL localhost/hello.php.

PHP Hello World Program

The PHP language offers multiple techniques to display results on a webpage. The most common and beginner-friendly method is the echo statement, as used in this example. Here are a few key output techniques you can use:

  • Using of echo statement.
  • The print function.
  • Embedding HTML.
  • Outputting Variables.

Let's move on to the section below to understand how to print "Hello world" in the command line.

Running PHP in the Command Line

To execute a PHP hello world from the command line, you just need to ensure PHP for CLI is installed on your system and accessible from the command line. If you are using XAMPP, the PHP executable is usually located in the PHP folder within the XAMPP directory.

Here is how to verify PHP in your command:

php -v

once you ensure everything is good, create a file with the name hello-world.php and save it in any location on your desktop with the following code:

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

Then open your terminal and navigate to the same file directory of hello-world.php. Then run the following command.

php hello-world.php

You should see the text "Hello World!" printed on the command line.

php hello world program on cli or terminal

Let's see another example with Embedding HTML

PHP Hello World Program Embedded in HTML

You can use embedding PHP in HTML to create dynamic web pages. As you know, PHP scripts are executed on the server, and the result is sent to the browser as plain HTML. Here is a quick example using a PHP hello world program embedded within HTML:

embedded php hello world in html

Here, the interpreter separates HTML from PHP and executes the PHP code to generate the dynamic content embedded in the HTML output.

Wrapping Up

The perfect way to start learning PHP is to try the "PHP Hello World!" program. By following this tutorial, you learned how to set up your environment, write your first PHP hello world code, and run it on both the browser through localhost/hello.php and the command line. Along the way, you saw basic PHP syntax, output techniques, and how to embed PHP into HTML for dynamic content creation.

Start with such a simple example gives you a strong basis for understanding how PHP works behind the scenes. From this point, you can move on to more advanced areas such as interacting with databases, and integrating APIs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • How do I write a "Hello World" program in PHP?

    To write a Hello World program in PHP, follow these steps: Open your code editor (like VS Code or Sublime Text). 1. Create a new file and name it hello.php. 2. Add the following PHP code inside the file: 
    <?php echo "Hello, World!";?>
    3. Save the file and place it in the root folder of your local web server (e.g., htdocs for XAMPP) 4. Open your browser, go to localhost/hello.php, and you'll see "Hello, World!" displayed

  • How do I run a PHP script in my browser?

    To run a PHP script in your browser, you need to install a local server like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP: 1- Install XAMPP or WAMP on your computer. 2- Save your PHP file (e.g., hello.php) in the htdocs folder (for XAMPP) or the appropriate directory for your server. 3- Open your web browser and type localhost/hello.php in the address bar. 4- The browser will display the output of your PHP script. If you have web hosting with PHP installed, you can also upload the PHP file to your hosting server and run it by visiting your domain (e.g., www.yoursite.com/hello.php).

  • Do I need to install PHP to run PHP scripts?

    Yes, to run PHP scripts locally, you need to install PHP on your computer. The easiest way to do this is by using a local server environment like XAMPP or WAMP, which includes PHP, Apache (the web server), and other tools. 1- XAMPP is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. 2- WAMP is specifically for Windows users. 3- MAMP is a popular choice for Mac users. These packages simplify the process of setting up PHP on your computer, so you don't need to manually install and configure PHP yourself.

  • Why is my PHP code not working?

    If your PHP code isn't working, here are some common reasons why and how to fix them: - Blank page or no output: This usually happens when your PHP server isn't running, or PHP is not installed correctly. Make sure you've installed a local server like XAMPP and started the Apache service. - PHP code shows up in the browser: If your PHP code is being displayed as plain text in your browser, it means the server isn't interpreting it as PHP. Make sure the file has a .php extension and is placed in the correct directory (like htdocs for XAMPP). - File not found: Double-check that your file is saved in the right directory and that you're typing the correct URL in the browser (e.g., localhost/hello.php).

  • Can I run PHP on my computer without a web server?

    No, PHP is a server-side language, which means it needs a web server to process the code. If you don’t have a web server installed, your PHP code won’t run. This is why you need to install local servers like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP to run PHP scripts on your computer. Once installed, the web server will process the PHP code, and you can see the results in your browser by navigating to localhost/filename.php.

  • How do I check if PHP is installed on my computer?

    To check if PHP is installed on your computer, follow these steps: 1- Open the command line (Command Prompt for Windows or Terminal for Mac/Linux). 2- Type the following command: 
    php -v
    3- If PHP is installed, you’ll see a version number and other details. If not, you’ll get an error message indicating that PHP isn’t recognized. If you see an error, you can install PHP by downloading XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP, as they include PHP and set everything up for you.

  • Can I run PHP without XAMPP or WAMP?

    Yes, you can run PHP without using XAMPP or WAMP, but you'll need to install and configure PHP manually, which is more complicated. XAMPP and WAMP are just easier because they package PHP with other tools like Apache (the server) and MySQL (the database) into one simple installer. If you prefer, you can install just PHP and use it directly from the command line for things like scripts and backend tasks, but for web development, you’ll still need a server to process the PHP code.

  • What is the difference between echo and print in PHP?

    Both echo and print are used to output text in PHP, but there are a few differences: - echo is slightly faster and can take multiple arguments separated by commas. It’s a language construct, not a function, so you don't need to use parentheses. Example: 
    echo "Hello, ", "World!";
    - print can only take one argument and returns a value of 1, which means it can be used in expressions. It’s a little slower than echo, but the difference is almost unnoticeable in most cases. Example: 
    print("Hello, World!");
    For most tasks, you'll likely use echo because it's quicker and easier to write.

  • Can PHP be embedded in HTML?

    Yes, PHP can be embedded directly inside HTML code. This makes it really easy to create dynamic web pages where PHP does all the server-side work, and the rest of the page is structured with HTML. Here’s an example of PHP embedded in HTML: 
    <!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <body>
    <h1><?php echo "Hello, World!"; ?></h1>
  </body>
</html>
    When this file is processed by the server, it will display an HTML page with Hello, World! inside an <h1> tag.

  • How do I run a PHP script in the command line?

    To run a PHP script from the command line (also called the terminal), follow these steps: 1- Open your terminal or command prompt. 2- Navigate to the folder where your PHP file is saved using the cd command. 3- Type the following command to run the PHP file: 
    php filename.php
    For example, if your file is called hello.php, you would run: 
    php hello.php
    You’ll see the output directly in your terminal.
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