The document provides an introduction to PHP basics including:
- PHP code is embedded in HTML using tags and the server executes the PHP code and substitutes output into the HTML page.
- PHP supports variables, data types, operators, control structures like if/else statements and loops. Useful built-in functions allow working with forms, cookies, files, time and date.
- Server-side programming alternatives like CGI, ASP, Java Servlets, and PHP are discussed. PHP was created in 1995 and is now widely used as a free, open-source scripting language for server-side web development.
2. GoalGoal
ïNot to teach everything about PHP, but provide
the basic knowledge
ïExplain code of examples
ïProvide some useful references
3. PHP Basics:
Introduction to PHP
âą a PHP file, PHP workings, running PHP.
ï§ Basic PHP syntax
âą variables, operators, if...else...and switch, while, do
while, and for.
ï§ Some useful PHP functions
ï§ How to work with
âą HTML forms, cookies, files, time and date.
ï§ How to create a basic checker for user-entered data
4. Server-Side Dynamic Web Programming
âą CGI is one of the most common approaches to server-side programming
ï§ Universal support: (almost) Every server supports CGI programming. A great deal of
ready-to-use CGI code. Most APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) also allow CGI
programming.
ï§ Choice of languages: CGI is extremely general, so that programs may be written in
nearly any language. Perl is by far the most popular, with the result that many people
think that CGI means Perl. But C, C++, Ruby, and Python are also used for CGI
programming.
ï§ Drawbacks: A separate process is run every time the script is requested. A distinction is
made between HTML pages and code.
5. Other server-side alternatives try to avoid the drawbacks
ï§ Server-Side Includes (SSI): Code is embedded in HTML pages, and evaluated on the
server while the pages are being served. Add dynamically generated content to an
existing HTML page, without having to serve the entire page via a CGI program.
ï§ Active Server Pages (ASP, Microsoft) : The ASP engine is integrated into the web server
so it does not require an additional process. It allows programmers to mix code within
HTML pages instead of writing separate programs. (Drawback(?) Must be run on a
server using Microsoft server software.)
ï§ Java Servlets (Sun): As CGI scripts, they are code that creates documents. These must
be compiled as classes which are dynamically loaded by the web server when they are
run.
ï§ Java Server Pages (JSP): Like ASP, another technology that allows developers to
embed Java in web pages.
6. PHP
âą developed in 1995 by Rasmus Lerdorf (member of the Apache Group)
ï§ originally designed as a tool for tracking visitors at Lerdorf's Web site
ï§ within 2 years, widely used in conjunction with the Apache server
ï§ developed into full-featured, scripting language for server-side programming
ï§ free, open-source
ï§ server plug-ins exist for various servers
ï§ now fully integrated to work with mySQL databases
âą PHP is similar to JavaScript, only itâs a server-side language
ï§ PHP code is embedded in HTML using tags
ï§ when a page request arrives, the server recognizes PHP content via the file extension
(.php or .phtml)
ï§ the server executes the PHP code, substitutes output into the HTML page
ï§ the resulting page is then downloaded to the client
ï§ user never sees the PHP code, only the output in the page
7. What do You Need?
ïOur server supports PHP
ïYou don't need to do anything special! *
ïYou don't need to compile anything or install any extra
tools!
ïCreate some .php files in your web directory - and the
server will parse them for you.
* Slightly different rules apply when dealing with
an SQL database (as will be explained when we get to that
point).
8. ï Most servers support PHP
ïDownload PHP for free here:
http://www.php.net/downloads.php
ïDownload MySQL for free here:
http://www.mysql.com/downloads/index.html
ïDownload Apache for free here:
http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi
(Note: All of this is already present on the CS servers, so you
need not do any installation yourself to utilize PHP on our
machines.)
9. What is PHP?What is PHP?
ïPHP == âHypertext Preprocessorâ
ïOpen-source, server-side scripting language
ïUsed to generate dynamic web-pages
ïPHP scripts reside between reserved PHP tags
ïThis allows the programmer to embed PHP scripts
within HTML pages
âą The acronym PHP means (in a slightly recursive definition)
ï§ PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor
10. What is PHP (contâd)What is PHP (contâd)
ïInterpreted language, scripts are parsed at run-
time rather than compiled beforehand
ïExecuted on the server-side
ïSource-code not visible by client
ïâView Sourceâ in browsers does not display the PHP
code
ïVarious built-in functions allow for fast
development
ïCompatible with many popular databases
11. What does PHP code look like?What does PHP code look like?
ïStructurally similar to C/C++
ïSupports procedural and object-oriented
paradigm (to some degree)
ïAll PHP statements end with a semi-colon
ïEach PHP script must be enclosed in the reserved
PHP tag
<?php
âŠ
?>
12. Comments in PHPComments in PHP
ïStandard C, C++, and shell comment symbols
// C++ and Java-style comment
# Shell-style comments
/* C-style comments
These can span multiple lines */
13. Variables in PHPVariables in PHP
ïPHP variables must begin with a â$â sign
ïCase-sensitive ($Foo != $foo != $fOo)
ïGlobal and locally-scoped variables
ïGlobal variables can be used anywhere
ïLocal variables restricted to a function or class
ïCertain variable names reserved by PHP
ïForm variables ($_POST, $_GET)
ïServer variables ($_SERVER)
ïEtc.
14. Constants
A constant is an identifier (name) for a simple value. A constant is case-sensitive
by
default. By convention, constant identifiers are always uppercase.
<?php
// Valid constant names
define("FOO", "something");
define("FOO2", "something else");
define("FOO_BAR", "something more");
// Invalid constant names (they shouldnât start
// with a number!)
define("2FOO", "something");
// This is valid, but should be avoided:
// PHP may one day provide a âmagicalâ constant
// that will break your script
define("__FOO__", "something");
?>
You can access
constants anywhere
in your script
without regard to
scope.
17. Basic PHP syntax
A PHP scripting block always starts with <?php and ends with ?>. A PHP scripting block
can be placed (almost) anywhere in an HTML document.
<html>
<!-- hello.php -->
<head><title>Hello World</title></head>
<body>
<p>This is going to be ignored by the PHP interpreter.</p>
<?php echo â<p>While this is going to be parsed.</p>â; ?>
<p>This will also be ignored by the PHP preprocessor.</p>
<?php print(â<p>Hello and welcome to <i>my</i> page!</p>');
?>
<?php
//This is a comment
/*
This is
a comment
block
*/
?>
</body>
</html>
The server executes the print and echo statements, substitutes output.
print and echo
for output
a semicolon (;)
at the end of each
statement
// for a single-line comment
/* and */ for a large
comment block.
18. Scalars
All variables in PHP start with a $ sign symbol. A variable's type is determined by the
context in which that variable is used (i.e. there is no strong-typing in PHP).
<html><head></head>
<!-- scalars.php -->
<body> <p>
<?php
$foo = true; if ($foo) echo "It is TRUE! <br /> n";
$txt='1234'; echo "$txt <br /> n";
$a = 1234; echo "$a <br /> n";
$a = -123;
echo "$a <br /> n";
$a = 1.234;
echo "$a <br /> n";
$a = 1.2e3;
echo "$a <br /> n";
$a = 7E-10;
echo "$a <br /> n";
echo 'Arnold once said: "I'll be back"', "<br /> n";
$beer = 'Heineken';
echo "$beer's taste is great <br /> n";
$str = <<<EOD
Example of string
spanning multiple lines
using âheredocâ syntax.
EOD;
echo $str;
?>
</p>
</body>
</html>
Four scalar types:
boolean
true or false
integer,
float,
floating point numbers
string
single quoted
double quoted
19. EchoEcho
ïThe PHP command âechoâ is used to output
the parameters passed to it
ïThe typical usage for this is to send data to the
clientâs web-browser
ïSyntax
ïvoid echo (string arg1 [, string argn...])
ïIn practice, arguments are not passed in
parentheses since echo is a language construct
rather than an actual function
20. Echo exampleEcho example
ï Notice how echo â5x5=$fooâ outputs $foo rather than replacing it with 25
ï Strings in single quotes (â â) are not interpreted or evaluated by PHP
ï This is true for both variables and character escape-sequences (such as ânâ or
ââ)
<?php
$foo = 25; // Numerical variable
$bar = âHelloâ; // String variable
echo $bar; // Outputs Hello
echo $foo,$bar; // Outputs 25Hello
echo â5x5=â,$foo; // Outputs 5x5=25
echo â5x5=$fooâ; // Outputs 5x5=25
echo â5x5=$fooâ; // Outputs 5x5=$foo
?>
21. Arithmetic OperationsArithmetic Operations
ï$a - $b // subtraction
ï$a * $b // multiplication
ï$a / $b // division
ï$a += 5 // $a = $a+5 Also works for *= and /=
<?php
$a=15;
$b=30;
$total=$a+$b;
Print $total;
Print â<p><h1>$total</h1>â;
// total is 45
?>
22. ConcatenationConcatenation
ïUse a period to join strings into one.
<?php
$string1=âHelloâ;
$string2=âPHPâ;
$string3=$string1 . â â .
$string2;
Print $string3;
?>
Hello PHP
23. Escaping the CharacterEscaping the Character
ïIf the string has a set of double quotation marks that
must remain visible, use the [backslash] before the
quotation marks to ignore and display them.
<?php
$heading=ââComputer Scienceââ;
Print $heading;
?>
âComputer Scienceâ
24. PHP Control StructuresPHP Control Structures
ï§ Control Structures: Are the structures within a language that allow
us to control the flow of execution through a program or script.
ï§ Grouped into conditional (branching) structures (e.g. if/else) and
repetition structures (e.g. while loops).
ï§ Example if/else if/else statement:
if ($foo == 0) {
echo âThe variable foo is equal to 0â;
}
else if (($foo > 0) && ($foo <= 5)) {
echo âThe variable foo is between 1 and 5â;
}
else {
echo âThe variable foo is equal to â.$foo;
}
25. If ... Else...If ... Else...
ïIf (condition)
{
Statements;
}
Else
{
Statement;
}
<?php
If($user==âJohnâ)
{
Print âHello John.â;
}
Else
{
Print âYou are not John.â;
}
?>
No THEN in PHP
26. Conditionals: if else
Can execute a set of code depending on a condition
<html><head></head>
<!-- if-cond.php -->
<body>
<?php
$d=date("D");
echo $d, â<br/>â;
if ($d=="Fri")
echo "Have a nice weekend! <br/>";
else
echo "Have a nice day! <br/>";
$x=10;
if ($x==10)
{
echo "Hello<br />";
echo "Good morning<br />";
}
?>
</body>
</html>
if (condition)
code to be executed if condition
is true;
else
code to be executed if condition
is false;
date() is a built-in PHP function that
can be called with many different
parameters to return the date
(and/or local time) in various formats
In this case we get a three letter
string for the day of the week.
28. Looping: for and foreach
Can loop depending on a "counter"
<?php
for ($i=1; $i<=5; $i++)
{
echo "Hello World!<br />";
}
?>
loops through a block of code a
specified number of times
<?php
$a_array = array(1, 2, 3, 4);
foreach ($a_array as $value)
{
$value = $value * 2;
echo â$value <br/> nâ;
}
?>
loops through a block of code for each
element in an array
<?php
$a_array=array("a","b","c");
foreach ($a_array as $key => $value)
{
echo $key." = ".$value."n";
}
?>
29. Conditionals: switch
Can select one of many sets of lines to execute
<html><head></head>
<body>
<!â- switch-cond.php -->
<?php
$x = rand(1,5); // random integer
echo âx = $x <br/><br/>â;
switch ($x)
{
case 1:
echo "Number 1";
break;
case 2:
echo "Number 2";
break;
case 3:
echo "Number 3";
break;
default:
echo "No number between 1 and 3";
break;
}
?>
</body>
</html>
switch (expression)
{
case label1:
code to be executed if
expression = label1;
break;
case label2:
code to be executed if
expression = label2;
break;
default:
code to be executed
if expression is different
from both label1 and label2;
break;
}
30. Date DisplayDate Display $datedisplay=date(âyyyy/m/dâ);
Print $datedisplay;
# If the date is June 25th, 2012
# It would display as 2012/25/6
2012/25/6
$datedisplay=date(âl, F m, Yâ);
Print $datedisplay;
# If the date is June 25th
,2012
# Monday, June 25th
,2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
31. Arrays
An array in PHP is actually an ordered map. A map is a type that maps values to keys.
array() = creates arrays<?php
$arr = array("foo" => "bar", 12 => true);
echo $arr["foo"]; // bar
echo $arr[12]; // 1
?>
key = either an integer or a string.
value = any PHP type.
<?php
array(5 => 43, 32, 56, "b" => 12);
array(5 => 43, 6 => 32, 7 => 56, "b" => 12);
?>
if no key given (as in example), the PHP
interpreter uses (maximum of the integer
indices + 1).
if an existing key, its value will be
overwritten.
<?php
$arr = array(5 => 1, 12 => 2);
foreach ($arr as $key => $value) { echo $key, â=>â,
$value); }
$arr[] = 56; // the same as $arr[13] = 56;
$arr["x"] = 42; // adds a new element
unset($arr[5]); // removes the element
unset($arr); // deletes the whole array
$a = array(1 => 'one', 2 => 'two', 3 => 'three');
unset($a[2]);
$b = array_values($a);
can set values in an array
unset() removes a
key/value pair
*Find more on arrays
array_values() makes
reindexing effect (indexing numerically)
32. Month, Day & Date Format SymbolsMonth, Day & Date Format Symbols
M Jan
F January
m 01
n 1
Day of Month d 01
Day of Month J 1
Day of Week l Monday
Day of Week D Mon
33. FunctionsFunctions
ïFunctions MUST be defined before then can be called
ïFunction headers are of the format
ïNote that no return type is specified
ïUnlike variables, function names are not case
sensitive (foo(âŠ) == Foo(âŠ) == FoO(âŠ))
function functionName($arg_1, $arg_2, âŠ, $arg_n)
34. Functions exampleFunctions example
<?php
// This is a function
function foo($arg_1, $arg_2)
{
$arg_2 = $arg_1 * $arg_2;
return $arg_2;
}
$result_1 = foo(12, 3); // Store the function
echo $result_1; // Outputs 36
echo foo(12, 3); // Outputs 36
?>
35. User Defined Functions
Can define a function using syntax such as the following:
<?php
function foo($arg_1, $arg_2, /* ..., */ $arg_n)
{
echo "Example function.n";
return $retval;
}
?>
Can also define conditional
functions, functions within functions,
and recursive functions.
<?php
function square($num)
{
return $num * $num;
}
echo square(4);
?>
<?php
function small_numbers()
{
return array (0, 1, 2);
}
list ($zero, $one, $two) = small_numbers();
echo $zero, $one, $two;
?>
Can return a value of any type
<?php
function takes_array($input)
{
echo "$input[0] + $input[1] = ", $input[0]+$input[1];
}
takes_array(array(1,2));
?>
36. Variable Scope
The scope of a variable is the context within which it is defined.
<?php
$a = 1; /* limited variable scope */
function Test()
{
echo $a;
/* reference to local scope variable */
}
Test();
?>
The scope is local within functions,
and hence the value of $a is
undefined in the âechoâ statement.
<?php
$a = 1;
$b = 2;
function Sum()
{
global $a, $b;
$b = $a + $b;
}
Sum();
echo $b;
?>
global
refers to its
global
version.
<?php
function Test()
{
static $a = 0;
echo $a;
$a++;
}
Test1();
Test1();
Test1();
?>
static
does not lose
its value.
37. Including Files
The include() statement includes and evaluates the specified file.
vars.php
<?php
$color = 'green';
$fruit = 'apple';
?>
test.php
<?php
echo "A $color $fruit"; // A
include 'vars.php';
echo "A $color $fruit"; // A green apple
?>
*The scope of variables in âincludedâ files depends on where the âincludeâ file is added!
You can use the include_once, require, and require_once statements in similar ways.
<?php
function foo()
{
global $color;
include ('vars.phpâ);
echo "A $color $fruit";
}
/* vars.php is in the scope of foo() so *
* $fruit is NOT available outside of this *
* scope. $color is because we declared it *
* as global. */
foo(); // A green apple
echo "A $color $fruit"; // A green
?>
39. PHP - FormsPHP - Forms
âąAccess to the HTTP POST and GET data is simple in PHPAccess to the HTTP POST and GET data is simple in PHP
âąThe global variables $_POST[] and $_GET[] contain theThe global variables $_POST[] and $_GET[] contain the
request datarequest data
<?php
if ($_POST["submit"])
echo "<h2>You clicked Submit!</h2>";
else if ($_POST["cancel"])
echo "<h2>You clicked Cancel!</h2>";
?>
<form action="form.php" method="post">
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Submit">
<input type="submit" name="cancel" value="Cancel">
</form>
40. WHY PHP â Sessions ?WHY PHP â Sessions ?Whenever you want to create aWhenever you want to create a websitewebsite that allows you to store and displaythat allows you to store and display
information about a user, determine which user groups a person belongs to,information about a user, determine which user groups a person belongs to,
utilize permissions on yourutilize permissions on your websitewebsite or you just want to do something cool onor you just want to do something cool on
your site,your site, PHP's SessionsPHP's Sessions are vital toare vital to eacheach of these features.of these features.
Cookies are about 30% unreliable right now and it's getting worse every day.Cookies are about 30% unreliable right now and it's getting worse every day.
More and more web browsers are starting to come with security and privacyMore and more web browsers are starting to come with security and privacy
settings and people browsing the net these days are starting to frown uponsettings and people browsing the net these days are starting to frown upon
Cookies because they store information on their local computer that they doCookies because they store information on their local computer that they do
not want stored there.not want stored there.
PHP has a great set of functions that can achieve the same results ofPHP has a great set of functions that can achieve the same results of
Cookies and more without storing information on the user's computer. PHPCookies and more without storing information on the user's computer. PHP
Sessions store the information on the web server in a location that you choseSessions store the information on the web server in a location that you chose
in special files. These files are connected to the user's web browser via thein special files. These files are connected to the user's web browser via the
server and a special ID called a "Session ID". This is nearly 99% flawless inserver and a special ID called a "Session ID". This is nearly 99% flawless in
operation and it is virtually invisible to the user.operation and it is virtually invisible to the user.
41. PHP - SessionsPHP - Sessions
âąSessions store their identifier in a cookie in the clientâs browserSessions store their identifier in a cookie in the clientâs browser
âąEvery page that uses session data must be proceeded by theEvery page that uses session data must be proceeded by the
session_start()session_start() functionfunction
âąSession variables are then set and retrieved by accessing the globalSession variables are then set and retrieved by accessing the global
$_SESSION[]$_SESSION[]
âąSave it asSave it as session.phpsession.php
<?php<?php
session_start();session_start();
if (!$_SESSION["count"])if (!$_SESSION["count"])
$_SESSION["count"] = 0;$_SESSION["count"] = 0;
if ($_GET["count"] == "yes")if ($_GET["count"] == "yes")
$_SESSION["count"] = $_SESSION["count"] + 1;$_SESSION["count"] = $_SESSION["count"] + 1;
echo "<h1>".$_SESSION["count"]."</h1>";echo "<h1>".$_SESSION["count"]."</h1>";
?>?>
<a href="session.php?count=yes">Click here to count</a><a href="session.php?count=yes">Click here to count</a>
42. Avoid Error PHP - SessionsAvoid Error PHP - Sessions
PHP Example: <?php
echo "Look at this nasty error below:<br />";
session_start();
?>
Error!
PHP Example: <?php
session_start();
echo "Look at this nasty error below:";
?>
Correct
Warning: Cannot send session cookie - headers already sent
by (output started at
session_header_error/session_error.php:2) in
session_header_error/session_error.php on line 3
Warning: Cannot send session cache limiter - headers
already sent (output started at
session_header_error/session_error.php:2) in
session_header_error/session_error.php on line 3
43. Destroy PHP - SessionsDestroy PHP - Sessions
Destroying a Session
why it is necessary to destroy a session when the session will get
destroyed when the user closes their browser. Well, imagine that you
had a session registered called "access_granted" and you were using
that to determine if the user was logged into your site based upon a
username and password. Anytime you have a login feature, to make
the users feel better, you should have a logout feature as well. That's
where this cool function called session_destroy() comes in handy.
session_destroy() will completely demolish your session (no, the
computer won't blow up or self destruct) but it just deletes the session
files and clears any trace of that session.
NOTE: If you are using the $_SESSION superglobal array, you must
clear the array values first, then run session_destroy.
Here's how we use session_destroy():
44. Destroy PHP - SessionsDestroy PHP - Sessions
<?php
// start the session
session_start();
header("Cache-control: private"); //IE 6 Fix
$_SESSION = array();
session_destroy();
echo "<strong>Step 5 - Destroy This Session </strong><br />";
if($_SESSION['name']){
    echo "The session is still active";
} else {
    echo "Ok, the session is no longer active! <br />";
    echo "<a href="page1.php"><< Go Back Step 1</a>";
}
?>
45. PHP OverviewPHP Overview
ïEasy learning
ïSyntax Perl- and C-like syntax. Relatively easy to
learn.
ïLarge function library
ïEmbedded directly into HTML
ïInterpreted, no need to compile
ïOpen Source server-side scripting language designed
specifically for the web.
46. PHP OverviewPHP Overview
ïConceived in 1994, now used on +10 million web
sites.
ïOutputs not only HTML but can output XML,
images (JPG & PNG), PDF files and even Flash
movies all generated on the fly. Can write these
files to the file system.
ïSupports a wide-range of databases (20+ODBC).
ïPHP also has support for talking to other services
using protocols such as LDAP, IMAP, SNMP,
NNTP, POP3, HTTP.
48. Example of parameter reading
ï Consider:
ï contents of php_exec/form.php...
ï <html><body>
ï <h1>Hi there</h1>
ï <? if (!isset($_POST['foo'])): ?>
ï <h1>'foo' is not set</h1>
ï <? elseif (!is_array($_POST['foo'])) : ?>
ï <h1>'foo' has one value <?=
$_POST['foo'] ?> </h1>
ï <? else: ?>
ï <h1>'foo' has multiple values <?=
join(',',$_POST['foo']) ?> </h1>
ï <? endif ?>
ï </body></html>
ï ...end of php_exec/form.php
ï Call with form:
ï contents of php_exec/form01.txt... <form
action='php_exec/form.php'
method='post'> <ul> <li> <input
type='checkbox' name='foo[]'
value='raisins'> raisins. <li> <input
type='checkbox' name='foo[]'
value='cranberries'> cranberries. <li>
<input type='checkbox' name='foo[]'
value='plums'> plums. </ul> <input
type='submit'> </form> ...end of
php_exec/form01.txt
ï Here is what it looks like:
ï raisins.
ï cranberries.
ï plums.
49. Example â show data in the tablesExample â show data in the tables
ïFunction: list all tables in your database. Users can
select one of tables, and show all contents in this
table.
ïsecond.php
ïshowtable.php
50. second.phpsecond.php
<html><head><title>MySQL Table Viewer</title></head><body>
<?php
// change the value of $dbuser and $dbpass to your username and password
$dbhost = â codd.csâŠâŠ.. ';
$dbuser = 'nruan';
$dbpass = â*****************â;
$dbname = $dbuser;
$table = 'account';
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if (!$conn) {
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
if (!mysql_select_db($dbname))
die("Can't select database");
51. second.php (cont.)second.php (cont.)
$result = mysql_query("SHOW TABLES");
if (!$result) {
die("Query to show fields from table failed");
}
$num_row = mysql_num_rows($result);
echo "<h1>Choose one table:<h1>";
echo "<form action="showtable.php" method="POST">";
echo "<select name="table" size="1" Font size="+2">";
for($i=0; $i<$num_row; $i++) {
$tablename=mysql_fetch_row($result);
echo "<option value="{$tablename[0]}" >{$tablename[0]}</option>";
}
echo "</select>";
echo "<div><input type="submit" value="submit"></div>";
echo "</form>";
mysql_free_result($result);
mysql_close($conn);
?>
</body></html>
52. showtable.phpshowtable.php
<html><head>
<title>MySQL Table Viewer</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php
$dbhost = 'hercules.cs.kent.edu:3306';
$dbuser = 'nruan';
$dbpass = â**********â;
$dbname = 'nruan';
$table = $_POST[âtableâ];
$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if (!$conn)
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
if (!mysql_select_db($dbname))
die("Can't select database");
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM {$table}");
if (!$result) die("Query to show fields from table failed!" . mysql_error());
55. PHP Information
The phpinfo() function is used to output PHP information about the version
installed on the server, parameters selected when installed, etc.
<html><head></head>
<!â info.php
<body>
<?php
// Show all PHP information
phpinfo();
?>
<?php
// Show only the general information
phpinfo(INFO_GENERAL);
?>
</body>
</html>
INFO_GENERAL The configuration line,
php.ini location,
build date,
Web Server,
System and more
INFO_CREDITS PHP 4 credits
INFO_CONFIGURATION Local and master values
for php directives
INFO_MODULES Loaded modules
INFO_ENVIRONMENT Environment variable
information
INFO_VARIABLES All predefined variables
from EGPCS
INFO_LICENSE PHP license information
INFO_ALL Shows all of the above (default)
56. Server Variables
The $_SERVER array variable is a reserved variable that contains all server information.
<html><head></head>
<body>
<?php
echo "Referer: " . $_SERVER["HTTP_REFERER"] . "<br />";
echo "Browser: " . $_SERVER["HTTP_USER_AGENT"] . "<br />";
echo "User's IP address: " . $_SERVER["REMOTE_ADDR"];
?>
<?php
echo "<br/><br/><br/>";
echo "<h2>All information</h2>";
foreach ($_SERVER as $key => $value)
{
echo $key . " = " . $value . "<br/>";
}
?>
</body>
</html>
The $_SERVER is a super global variable, i.e. it's available in all scopes of a PHP script.
$_SERVER info
on php.net
57. File Open
The fopen("file_name","mode") function is used to open files in PHP.
<?php
$fh=fopen("welcome.txt","r");
?>
r Read only. r+ Read/Write.
w Write only. w+ Read/Write.
a Append. a+ Read/Append.
x Create and open for write only. x+ Create and open for read/write.
If the fopen() function is unable to open
the specified file, it returns 0 (false).
<?php
if
( !($fh=fopen("welcome.txt","r")) )
exit("Unable to open file!");
?>
For w, and a, if no file exists, it tries to create it
(use with caution, i.e. check that this is the case,
otherwise youâll overwrite an existing file).
For x if a file exists, this function fails (and
returns 0).
58. File Workings
fclose() closes a file. feof() determines if the end is true.
fgetc() reads a single character
<?php
$myFile = "welcome.txt";
if (!($fh=fopen($myFile,'r')))
exit("Unable to open file.");
while (!feof($fh))
{
$x=fgetc($fh);
echo $x;
}
fclose($fh);
?>
<?php
$myFile = "welcome.txt";
$fh = fopen($myFile, 'r');
$theData = fgets($fh);
fclose($fh);
echo $theData;
?>
fgets() reads a line of data
fwrite(), fputs ()
writes a string with and without n
<?php
$myFile = "testFile.txt";
$fh = fopen($myFile, 'a') or
die("can't open file");
$stringData = "New Stuff 1n";
fwrite($fh, $stringData);
$stringData = "New Stuff 2n";
fwrite($fh, $stringData);
fclose($fh);
?>
file() reads entire file into an array
<?php
$lines = file('welcome.txt');
foreach ($lines as $l_num => $line)
{
echo "Line #{$l_num}:â .
$line.â<br/>â;
}
?>
59. Form Handling
Any form element is automatically available via one of the built-in PHP variables (provided that
element has a ânameâ defined with it).
<html>
<-- form.html -->
<body>
<form action="welcome.php" method="POST">
Enter your name: <input type="text" name="name" /> <br/>
Enter your age: <input type="text" name="age" /> <br/>
<input type="submit" /> <input type="reset" />
</form>
</body>
</html>
<html>
<!â- welcome.php -->
<body>
Welcome <?php echo $_POST["name"].â.â; ?><br />
You are <?php echo $_POST["age"]; ?> years old!
</body>
</html>
$_POST
contains all POST data.
$_GET
contains all GET data.
60. Cookie Workings
setcookie(name,value,expire,path,domain) creates cookies.
<?php
setcookie("uname", $_POST["name"], time()+36000);
?>
<html>
<body>
<p>
Dear <?php echo $_POST["name"] ?>, a cookie was set on this
page! The cookie will be active when the client has sent the
cookie back to the server.
</p>
</body>
</html>
NOTE:
setcookie() must appear
BEFORE <html> (or
any output) as itâs part
of the header
information sent with
the page.
<html>
<body>
<?php
if ( isset($_COOKIE["uname"]) )
echo "Welcome " . $_COOKIE["uname"] . "!<br />";
else
echo "You are not logged in!<br />";
?>
</body>
</html>
use the cookie name as a
variable
isset()
finds out if a cookie is set
$_COOKIE
contains all COOKIE data.
61. Getting Time and Date
date() and time () formats a time or a date.
<?php
//Prints something like: Monday
echo date("l");
//Like: Monday 15th of January 2003 05:51:38 AM
echo date("l jS of F Y h:i:s A");
//Like: Monday the 15th
echo date("l the jS");
?>
date() returns a string
formatted according to the
specified format.
<?php
$nextWeek = time() + (7 * 24 * 60 * 60);
// 7 days; 24 hours; 60 mins; 60secs
echo 'Now: '. date('Y-m-d') ."n";
echo 'Next Week: '. date('Y-m-d', $nextWeek) ."n";
?>
time() returns
current Unix
timestamp
62. Required Fields in User-Entered Data
A multipurpose script which asks users for some basic contact information and then
checks to
see that the required fields have been entered.
<html>
<!-- form_checker.php COMP519 -->
<head>
<title>PHP Form example</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php
/*declare some functions*/
function print_form($f_name, $l_name, $email, $os)
{
?>
<form action="form_checker.php" method=âPOST">
First Name: <input type="text" name="f_name" value="<?php echo $f_name?>â /> <br/>
Last Name <b>*</b>:<input type="text" name="l_name" value="<?php echo $l_name?>â /> <br/>
Email Address <b>*</b>:<input type="text" name="email" value="<?php echo $email?>â /> <br/>
Operating System: <input type="text" name="os" value="<?php echo $os?>â /> <br/><br/>
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Submitâ /> <input type=âresetâ />
</form>
<?php
} //** end of âprint_fromâ function
Print Function
63. Check and Confirm Functions
function check_form($f_name, $l_name, $email, $os)
{
if (!$l_name||!$email){
echo "<h3>You are missing some required fields!</h3>";
print_form($f_name, $l_name, $email, $os);
}
else{
confirm_form($f_name, $l_name, $email, $os);
}
} //** end of âcheck_formâ function
function confirm_form($f_name, $l_name, $email, $os)
{
?>
<h2>Thanks! Below is the information you have sent to us.</h2>
<h3>Contact Info</h3>
<?php
echo "Name: $f_name $l_name <br/>";
echo "Email: $email <br/>";
echo "OS: $os";
} //** end of âconfirm_formâ function
64. Main Program
/*Main Program*/
if (!$_POST["submit"])
{
?>
<h3>Please enter your information</h3>
<p>Fields with a "<b>*</b>" are required.</p>
<?php
print_form("","","","");
}
else{
check_form($_POST["f_name"],$_POST["l_name"],$_POST["email"],$_POST["os"]);
}
?>
</body>
</html>
65. Recommended Texts for Learning PHPRecommended Texts for Learning PHP
ïLarry Ullmanâs books from the Visual Quickpro series
ïPHP & MySQL for Dummies
ïBeginning PHP 5 and MySQL: From Novice to
Professional by W. Jason Gilmore
ï(This is more advanced and dense than the others, but
great to read once youâve finished the easier books. One
of the best definition/description of object oriented
programming Iâve read)
66. PHP ReferencesPHP References
ï§http://www.php.net <-- php home page
ï§http://www.phpbuilder.com/
ï§http://www.devshed.com/
ï§http://www.phpmyadmin.net/
ï§http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/
ï§http://geocities.com/stuprojects/ChatroomDescription.htm
ï§http://www.academic.marist.edu/~kbhkj/chatroom/chatroom.htm
ï§http://www.aus-etrade.com/Scripts/php.php
ï§http://www.codeproject.com/asp/CDIChatSubmit.asp
ï§http://www.php.net/downloads <-- php download page
ï§http://www.php.net/manual/en/install.windows.php <-- php
installation manual
ï§http://php.resourceindex.com/ <-- PHP resources like sample
programs, text book references, etc.
ï§http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/forum17.html ï php
forums