WDS 4

PHP Database Interaction Functions

If you have been around through some of my other assignments for my 235 class, you a probably aware that PHP is one of the main scripting languages that I am implementing this year. PHP stands for Hypertext Preprocessor which is a general-purpose scripting language that can be embedded into html for web development purposes. Its funcation basicly allows web developers to write web pages that invlove user interaction, but quicker.

I will explain in part some syntax and descriptions of PHP and how it interacts with databases and forms. For more information or source coding, you can go to a demo site for class called PHP Motors Contacts page to see PHP in action with forms.

Basic Syntax and Commands

If you are familiar with Javascript, C++, or any other language like it, PHP is similar in form. You just write in a series of commands or statements which tells the server instructions on what to do before it goes the next step. A PHP include is an example of this type of statement.

Here is an example of my footer include saved as a .png: PHP statement syntax

Variables and Operators

The book Build Your Own Database Drive Website Using PHP and MySQL by Kevin Yank - whom most of this study is credited - explains it pretty clearly that a varible can be thought of as the name of an invisible box that any type of variable can be placed in.

Variables start with a "$" and then are followed with a "_"

Here is an example of a string of a variable taken from PHP Motors Contacts page that deals with the function of email: PHP variable syntax

Arrays

An array is similar to that of a variable except for the fact that it contains multiple values; Yank describes it silimar to a variable but with compartments.

Get vs. Post

$_GET is an array that contains any value passed in a query string and $_POST is basiclly the same but instead of having a situation where the URL is bajillion of characters long, POST will hide them and operate in the background. This is good so that sensative materials that are passed to the server are not showing up in the URL like passwords and such.

This is just a little drop of what PHP really is and what it can do. It is really best to get the book Build Your Own Database Drive Website Using PHP and MySQL by Kevin Yank and visit a PHP online manual to get the best instruction on how to manage the PHP language.