Is PHP a powerful tool?

[adriantalon585]

I need to learn more about PHP. I need help from you guys. My knowledge is too much limited. Can you explain bit more about PHP.

[Akainu]

Of course PHP is a Powerful tool but its next version there would be some silly changes in name spaces and others....anyhow till now php is the best and i hope it will be the best for ever but below i am providing some advantages and disadvantages of php.

Advantages:
- Open Source, readily available (you can be using it today) and dual-
licensed - if you are doing non-profit work or not licensing, there is no cost.
- Very Easy to understand Syntax, some really cool features (arrays
are something else!)
- Interfaces very easily with Apache/MySQL
- Server side (no need to futz with client installs - only with
rendering issues if you use CSS).
- Lots of good source code out there to use and/or learn from, as well
as many useful libraries for working with PDFs, graphics, etc.
- Lots of good books and on-line help (php.net is great)
- Platform agnostic, can run on Windows Linux or Mac servers. Also
very scalable.
- Lots of hosting services have it ready to use, no special
configuration (except if you have special security needs)
- Pretty easy to access other web-based tools through PHP (i.e. google
maps, etc.)

Disadvantages
- If you want to do more than just HTML/CSS pages on the client you
need to also add javascript, java or other client-side language in
your output (goes for Perl and some other languages).
- The way browsers work make handling data and coding programs more
interesting (technically each page is a new run on the system, so you
have to manage your variables coming in and going out and between
pages. Not hard, just different.)
- Web programming (regardless of language) is open to security flaws
due to unimplemented or unknown vulnerabilities, takes a bit more
caution.
.

Advantages:
- Open Source, readily available (you can be using it today) and dual-
licensed - if you are doing non-profit work or not licensing, there is no cost.
- Very Easy to understand Syntax, some really cool features (arrays
are something else!)
- Interfaces very easily with Apache/MySQL
- Server side (no need to futz with client installs - only with
rendering issues if you use CSS).
- Lots of good source code out there to use and/or learn from, as well
as many useful libraries for working with PDFs, graphics, etc.
- Lots of good books and on-line help (php.net is great)
- Platform agnostic, can run on Windows Linux or Mac servers. Also
very scalable.
- Lots of hosting services have it ready to use, no special
configuration (except if you have special security needs)
- Pretty easy to access other web-based tools through PHP (i.e. google
maps, etc.)

Disadvantages
- If you want to do more than just HTML/CSS pages on the client you
need to also add javascript, java or other client-side language in
your output (goes for Perl and some other languages).
- The way browsers work make handling data and coding programs more
interesting (technically each page is a new run on the system, so you
have to manage your variables coming in and going out and between
pages. Not hard, just different.)
- Web programming (regardless of language) is open to security flaws
due to unimplemented or unknown vulnerabilities, takes a bit more
caution.
Thanks.

Thanks for the comparison and pros and cons

[pauldrake447]

You be familiar with the answer previous to you asked, you are right PHP is an influential tool, or more exactly a influential encoding language.

[vinodvyas]

PHP is the most powerful tool.

[OneScripts]

php is practically, because you can learn it fast and it's easier to make scripts than whole programs.

[jodyblack784]

PHP is really one of those things that have come of the age and now there are things that can help you understand it in the best of the ways.

[tylerzeller591]

PHP is the best web programming language and it is best known for the development of web applications in different social networking and social bookmarking sites.

[rafaeldane98]

Can you clarify bit further about PHP. Or can you pole any article linked to that? My information is too much inadequate. I have got the php gears but don't know how to make use of them.

[connorbrock65]

Can you now clarify bit further around PHP. Or can you stake any item interconnected to that? My facts are too much some degree of. I use it really.