# PHP

> scripting language focused on web development

**Wikidata**: [Q59](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PHP)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/php

## Summary

PHP is a softwareapplication.It was influenced by C++, Java, Tcl, HTML, and JavaScript.[1][2].

## Summary
PHP is a server-side scripting language primarily designed for web development. It is an interpreted, multi-paradigm language, meaning its instructions are executed directly without prior compilation and it supports multiple programming styles, including object-oriented, procedural, and functional. Originally created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1995, PHP code is typically embedded into HTML.

## Key Facts
- **Inception Date:** June 8, 1995
- **Creator:** Rasmus Lerdorf
- **Full Name:** PHP Hypertext Preprocessor (originally Personal Home Page Tools)
- **Primary Use:** Server-side scripting for web development
- **Classification:** Multi-paradigm, interpreted, object-based, and scripting language
- **Typing Discipline:** Features weak and dynamic typing, with support for gradual typing added in 2016.
- **License:** PHP License
- **Platforms:** Runs on Unix-like operating systems and Microsoft Windows.

## FAQs
### Q: What does PHP stand for?
A: PHP is a recursive acronym that stands for "PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor." It was originally known as "Personal Home Page Tools."

### Q: Who created PHP?
A: PHP was created by Danish programmer Rasmus Lerdorf in 1995. Other key developers who later contributed include Andi Gutmans and Zeev Suraski.

### Q: Is PHP an object-oriented language?
A: Yes, PHP supports object-oriented programming. It is a multi-paradigm language, which means it also supports other programming styles, including procedural, functional, and imperative programming.

## Why It Matters
PHP's significance lies in its role as one of the foundational technologies of the modern, dynamic web. As a free, open-source scripting language specifically focused on web development, it dramatically lowered the barrier to creating interactive websites with database connectivity. Its simple integration with HTML and wide compatibility with various operating systems and web servers led to massive adoption.

This widespread use is most evident in the content management system (CMS) ecosystem; a vast number of popular platforms, such as CMSimple, Claroline, and BookStack, are built using PHP. By powering a substantial portion of websites, from personal blogs to complex e-commerce and e-learning platforms, PHP has been a crucial and accessible tool for developers, shaping much of the internet's infrastructure for decades.

## Notable For
- **Web-Centric Design:** PHP was created from the ground up with a focus on web development, allowing developers to embed code directly into HTML, which simplifies the creation of dynamic web pages.
- **Multi-Paradigm Support:** The language is flexible, supporting a variety of programming paradigms, including imperative, functional, object-oriented, procedural, and reflective programming.
- **Dominance in CMS:** PHP is the underlying technology for a vast number of popular open-source content management systems and web applications, including e-learning platforms like Claroline and wiki software like PukiWiki.
- **Official Mascot:** The language has a distinct and recognizable mascot known as the "ElePHPant," an elephant logo that is a key part of the PHP community's identity.

## Body
### History and Development
- **Creator:** PHP was designed and created by Rasmus Lerdorf.
- **Inception:** The first version was released on June 8, 1995.
- **Key Developers:** While Lerdorf created the language, other significant developers include Andi Gutmans (starting in 1997), Zeev Suraski, and the collective known as the PHP Group.
- **Influences:** The design of PHP was influenced by several other programming languages, including C, Perl, C++, Java, Tcl, and HTML.
- **Successors:** The programming language Hack was developed as a successor to PHP.

### Technical Specifications
- **Language Type:** PHP is classified as an interpreted, multi-paradigm, object-based scripting language.
- **Programming Paradigms:** It supports imperative, functional, object-oriented, procedural, and reflective programming.
- **Typing System:** PHP uses weak and dynamic typing. Support for gradual typing was introduced in 2016.
- **Operating Systems:** It is cross-platform and officially runs on Unix-like operating systems and Microsoft Windows.
- **File Extensions:** Common file extensions for PHP files include `.php`, `.phtml`, `.php3`, `.php4`, `.php5`, and `.php7`. The `.phar` extension is used for PHP Archive files.

### Ecosystem
- **License:** The language is distributed under the PHP License, a non-copyleft free software license.
- **Official Website:** The official website is `https://www.php.net`.
- **Mascot:** The official mascot is the "ElePHPant".
- **Software Examples:** A wide range of software is written in PHP, including:
    - **Content Management Systems:** CMSimple, PHPBoost
    - **Learning Management Systems:** eFront, Claroline
    - **Network Monitoring:** Cacti
    - **Wiki Software:** BookStack, PukiWiki
    - **File Sharing:** Jirafeau
- **Competitors:** In the server-side scripting space, PHP's main alternatives include Active Server Pages (ASP), Python, and JavaScript (via Node.js).

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "ComputerLanguage",
  "name": "PHP",
  "description": "A scripting language focused on web development.",
  "url": "https://www.php.net",
  "license": "http://php.net/license/",
  "dateCreated": "1995-06-08",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Rasmus Lerdorf"
  },
  "alternativeName": [
    "PHP Hypertext Preprocessor",
    "Personal Home Page Tools"
  ],
  "operatingSystem": [
    "Unix-like operating system",
    "Microsoft Windows"
  ]
}

## References

1. [Source](http://php.net/)
2. Integrated Authority File
3. Den Store Danske Encyklopædi
4. [PHP: History of PHP - Manual](http://php.net/manual/en/history.php.php)
5. [Source](http://php.net/manual/en/history.php.php)
6. [Source](https://www.technotification.com/2018/04/best-php-frameworks.html)
7. [Source](http://php.net/license/)
8. [The php Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page. Open Hub](https://www.openhub.net/p/php/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
9. [2025](https://github.com/EvanLi/Github-Ranking/blob/master/Data/github-ranking-2025-07-06.csv)
10. [Source](http://lerdorf.com/bio/)
11. [Source](http://php.net/ChangeLog-5.php#5.3.29)
12. [Source](http://php.net/ChangeLog-5.php)
13. [Source](http://php.net/ChangeLog-7.php)
14. [Source](http://us3.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php#5.6.27)
15. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2016.php#id2016-12-01-3)
16. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2016.php#id2016-11-10-1)
17. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2016.php#id2016-11-10-3)
18. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2016.php#id2016-12-08-1)
19. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2016.php#id2016-12-08-2)
20. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2017.php#id2017-02-17-1)
21. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2017.php#id2017-03-16-2)
22. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2017.php#id2017-04-13-2)
23. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2017.php#id2017-05-11-2)
24. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2017.php#id2017-06-08-3)
25. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2017.php#id2017-07-06-3)
26. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2017.php#id2017-08-03-3)
27. [Source](https://secure.php.net/archive/2017.php#id2017-09-01-1)
28. [Source](https://secure.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.1.10)
29. [Source](https://secure.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.1.11)
30. [Source](https://secure.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.2.0)
31. [Source](http://php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.2.1)
32. [PHP: PHP 7 ChangeLog](https://secure.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.2.2)
33. [PHP: PHP 7 ChangeLog](https://secure.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.2.3)
34. [Source](https://git.php.net/?p=php-src.git;a=tag;h=refs/tags/php-7.2.4)
35. [Source](http://php.net/archive/2018.php#id2018-04-26-1)
36. [Source](https://www.php.net/releases/7_2_6.php)
37. [Source](https://www.php.net/releases/7_2_7.php)
38. [Source](https://www.php.net/releases/7_2_8.php)
39. [Source](https://php.net/releases/7_2_9.php)
40. [Source](https://www.php.net/releases/7_1_11.php)
41. [Source](https://www.php.net/releases/7_1_12.php)
42. [Source](https://www.php.net/releases/7_1_24.php)
43. [Source](http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.3.0)
44. [Source](https://secure.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php)
45. [Source](http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.3.2)
46. [Source](http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.3.3)
47. [Source](https://www.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.3.4)
48. [Source](https://www.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.3.5)
49. [Source](https://www.php.net/ChangeLog-7.php#7.3.6)
50. [Source](https://www.php.net/archive/2019.php#id2019-06-13-1)