Why PHP is a good choice for you?
If you are a student, a fresher or someone who wants to change career, you may ask: should I learn PHP? This article gives an honest answer, with the good points and also the limits, so that you can decide yourself.
What is PHP?
PHP is a server-side language made for web development. It runs on the server, talks with databases like MySQL, and sends HTML to the browser. It is free, and it powers a very large part of the web, including WordPress. If you are new, read the PHP Introduction first.
Good reasons to learn PHP
- Easy to start. You can write a working page in the first hour. The syntax is simple, and there are free tutorials and exercises everywhere.
- Runs everywhere. Almost every web hosting supports PHP, even the cheap ones, so you can publish your work easily.
- WordPress and CMS. WordPress, WooCommerce, Drupal and many other systems are written in PHP. If you know PHP, you can build plugins and themes, and fix problems of existing websites.
- Modern frameworks. With frameworks like Laravel and Symfony you can build serious applications and APIs in a clean way.
- Active language. PHP gets a new version every year. PHP 8 is fast, and has modern features like the match expression and named arguments and more.
- Free and open source. There is no cost for the language, the tools or the learning material.
Limits you should know
- PHP is mostly for web development. For AI, machine learning and data science, Python is the common choice.
- Many people learn PHP, so the competition for jobs is real. Only PHP is not enough, you also need HTML, CSS, JavaScript, MySQL and Git.
- Old PHP code on the internet is often insecure. Learn the safe way from the start, see PHP Security Tips.
Is PHP dead?
No. You will often read that PHP is dead, but the language is updated regularly, big websites run on it, and a large number of businesses still need PHP developers, mostly for WordPress, e-commerce and Laravel projects. What changed is that you should learn modern PHP (version 8), not the old style.
Common questions
I am a beginner. Can I start PHP?
Yes. It helps to know HTML and a little programming, but it is not required. Start with HTML, then PHP basics, and practice every day.
Can I get a job with PHP?
Yes, many companies and agencies hire PHP developers, and freelancers find a lot of WordPress and Laravel work. But no course gives a job automatically. You get a job with skills and proof: a few real projects, clean code and good basics. Prepare with our PHP interview questions.
Should I choose PHP, Python or JavaScript?
It depends on your goal. For websites, CMS and e-commerce, choose PHP. For AI and data, choose Python. For front end and modern web apps, JavaScript is needed anyway. Read the comparison in Python vs PHP vs JavaScript Trends.
A simple roadmap to learn PHP
- Learn HTML and basic CSS.
- Learn PHP basics: variables, decisions, loops, functions and arrays.
- Practice with PHP exercises.
- Learn forms, sessions and files: PHP Advanced.
- Learn MySQL with PHP and build a small CRUD project: PHP Simple CRUD Application.
- Then learn OOP, Composer and a framework like Laravel.
Start today, and be regular. Even 30 minutes every day is better than a long study once in a month.
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