PHP Basics 1-1

ADMTC-UCSC-University of Colombo
Basics of PHP - 1
Basics of PHP - 1
3. PHP basic syntax
IMPORTANT: PHP code is case-sensitive (like JavaScript) but HTML is not case-sensitive.
3.1 How to write PHP in HTML
Begin with <?php , and end with ?>.
<?php
........PHP code...........
?>
3.2 Where to insert PHP script in HTML?
You can insert PHP script basically anywhere in HTML page. There is no limitation of the
location.
<HTML>
<HEAD>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
</BODY>
</HTML>
Sometimes it is needed
to place PHP code
before <HTML> tag.
Basically you can insert PHP script anywhere
IMPORTANT: The file must be saved with the extension of .php, not .html
3.3 Basic structures

A statement
semi-colon: same as JavaScript
statement;
Variable declaration
There is no need to declare variables in PHP. You can just start using variables anywhere in
the code.
IMPORTANT: Variable name in PHP must begin with $.
Example) $age = 25;
Simple branch
if (condition) {
...
}
Same as JavaScript
Basics of PHP - 1
Multiple branch
if (condition1) {
...
} elseif (condition2) {
...
} else {
...
}
IMPORTANT: Different from JavaScript (else if)
Note: Condition can be as follows.

A == B, A != B, A < B, A > B, A <= B, A >= B
Loop
while (condition) {
...
}
Same as JavaScript
for (initial_procedure; condition; procedure_for_every_loop) {

...
}
Same as JavaScript
Function
function (variable_1, variable_2, , variable_n) {
...
}
Same as JavaScript
Comments
// one-line comment
/*
Multi-line comment
*/
Operators
$a = 5 + 2;
$a = 5 - 2;
$a = 5 * 2;
$a = 5 / 2;
$a = "Hello, " . "PHP";
// Add
// Subtract
// Multiply
// Divide
// String concatenation
$a is a variable
IMPORTANT: Do not use + for connecting string. You must use ..

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Basics of PHP - 1
4. Basic statement and functions

echo statement
Outputs text or variable onto the page. The most important function you will use in PHP!
IMPORTANT: If you dont output anything, then nothing will be shown on Web browser!
(Example 1)
<HTML>
<BODY>
<?php echo "<H1>Hello, PHP!</H1>"; ?>
</BODY>
</HTML>
You should output HTML tags
(Example 2)
<HTML><BODY>
<?php
variable
$age = 35;
echo "<H1>I am $age years old</H1>n";
?>
</BODY></HTML>
n means new line
date() function
Get current date and time as a string according to the specified format.
$now = date("d/m/Y h:m:s");
echo "<P>Current date and time is $now</P>n";
Some of the advanced formats for date() finction

echo date("F j, Y (l) h:i:s");
// See PHP help file for the detail
5. Arrays
Array is a special variable that can store multiple values. Array is very convenient in many
ways, and you must know how to use arrays when you access to database.
Traditional array (just like in other programming languages)

$a[0] = "Hello, ";
$a[1] = "My name is ";
$a[2] = "UCSC";
echo "<P>", $a[0], $a[1], $a[3], "</P>";
Use square brackets [ ] to indicate

the index of data stored in an array
Basics of PHP - 1
Associative array (the key is not a number, but a string)

$a["name"] = "UCSC";
$a["age"] = 41;
$a["office"] = "ADMTC";
echo "name: ", $a["name"], "<BR>";
echo "age: ", $a["age"], "<BR>";
echo "office: ", $a["office"], "<BR>";
You can mix string and number

for each item in an array
foreach loop
Special version of for loop that can be used with arrays. You dont have to specify index in
the loop.
$a["name"] = "UCSC";
$a["age"] = 41;
$a["office"] = "ADMTC";
foreach ($a as $key => $value) {
echo "$key: $value<BR> ";
}
6. Basic practical examples

6.1 Simple Access Counter
This example uses PHP functions regarding file access (open, read, write or close the file).
You need to create separate text file (count.txt) that contains only 1 character 0, then
upload the file onto the same directory as the following PHP file.
<HTML>
<BODY>
<?php
if ($f = fopen("count.txt", "r+")) {
// Open "count.txt" file
$count = fgets($f, 10);
// Read the number from the
file
$count = $count + 1;
// Increment the number
fseek($f, 0);
// Go to the beginning of file
fputs($f, $count);
// Write the new number
fclose($f);
// Close the file
}
?>
<p>You are the <?php echo $count; ?>-th guest to this page</p>
</BODY>
</HTML>
Basics of PHP - 1
6.2 Getting parameter values by URL

Standard URL can contain parameters to a dynamic page by using ? character as follows.
http://server_name/page_name.php?variable_name=value
You can use this parameter in PHP code to change the behavior.
setoption.html (Normal HTML page to send parameter to PHP page)
<HTML>
<BODY>
<p><a href="getoption.php?option=1">Click here for option 1</a>
<p><a href="getoption.php?option=2">Click here for option 2</a>
</BODY>
Add name of the variable and its value to URL
</HTML>
getoption.php (PHP page to receive the option from above page)
<HTML>
Name of the variable
<BODY>
<p>You click the option <?php echo $_GET["option"]; ?></p>
</BODY>
</HTML>
If you want to use many parameters, you can separate each parameter by & character as
follows.
http://server_name/page_name.php?
variable_name=value&variable_name=value
6.3 Getting the response from user using URL parameters
JavaPHP.php
<HTML>
<BODY>
<P>Enter the year you born</P>
<P>Year:<INPUT type="text" id="year"></P>
<INPUT type="button" value="OK" onClick="getAge();">
<HR>
<?php
if (isset($_GET["y"])) {
echo "Your age is ", date("Y") - $_GET["y"];
}
?>
</BODY>
<SCRIPT language="JavaScript">
function getAge() {
location.href = "JavaPHP.php?y=" + year.value;
}
</SCRIPT>
</HTML>
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Basics of PHP - 1
6.4 Guestbook using HTML form

You need to create blank text file (messages.txt), then upload the file onto the same
directory as the following PHP file.
<HTML>
<BODY>
<H1>Guest Book</H1>
<P>Write a message and click button</P>
<FORM method="POST">
<INPUT type='text' name='message' size=50>
<INPUT type='submit' value='send'>
</FORM>
<HR>
<?php
// Write new message to a file
if (isset($_POST["message"])) {
if ($f = fopen("messages.txt", "a")) {
fputs($f, htmlspecialchars($_POST["message"]) . "n");
fclose($f);
}
htmlspecialchars()
}
function converts special characters to
// Read existing messages from a file
a safe notation for HTML display. You
if ($f = fopen("messages.txt", "r")) {
should use this function whenever you
display user-input strings on HTML
while ($m = fgets($f)) {
echo "<P>$m</P>";
}
fclose($f);
}
?>
</BODY>
</HTML>

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ADMTC-UCSC-University of Colombo

Basically you can insert PHP script anywhere

3.3 Basic structures

semi-colon: same as JavaScript

IMPORTANT: Different from JavaScript (else if)

Note: Condition can be as follows.

for (initial_procedure; condition; procedure_for_every_loop) {

IMPORTANT: Do not use + for connecting string. You must use ..

4. Basic statement and functions

You should output HTML tags

n means new line

Some of the advanced formats for date() finction

// See PHP help file for the detail

Traditional array (just like in other programming languages)

Use square brackets [ ] to indicate

Associative array (the key is not a number, but a string)

You can mix string and number

6. Basic practical examples

6.2 Getting parameter values by URL

6.4 Guestbook using HTML form

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