PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a popular open-source server-side scripting language designed primarily for web development but also used as a general-purpose programming language. It is especially suited for creating dynamic and interactive web pages. PHP is embedded into HTML and executed on the server, generating HTML or other content that is sent to the client’s browser.

Key Features:

1. Server-Side Execution: PHP scripts are executed on the server, and the result is sent to the client’s web browser.
2. Integration with Databases: It works seamlessly with databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite, making it ideal for database-driven websites.
3. Cross-Platform: Runs on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
4. Easy to Learn: Designed with simplicity in mind, making it accessible to beginners.
5. Extensive Community: PHP has a vast ecosystem of libraries, frameworks (e.g., Laravel, Symfony), and community support.

Common Use Cases:

Content Management Systems (e.g., WordPress, Joomla, Drupal)

E-commerce platforms

RESTful APIs and backend services

Dynamic websites and applications

Example Code:

This script outputs “Hello, World!” to the browser when run on a PHP-enabled server.