---
title: 'PHP in 100 Seconds'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=a7_WFUlFS94'
video_id: 'a7_WFUlFS94'
date: 2026-06-15
duration_sec: 0
---

# PHP in 100 Seconds

> Source: [PHP in 100 Seconds](https://youtube.com/watch?v=a7_WFUlFS94)

## Summary

PHP is a dynamic, interpreted scripting language for server-side web development. Despite criticism, it remains popular, powering CMS like WordPress and sites like Wikipedia. Created in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf, it was one of the first languages embedded in HTML, making dynamic web development accessible.

### Key Points

- **PHP Overview** [0:00] — PHP is a dynamic interpreted scripting language for building interactive websites on the server. It powers content management systems like WordPress, top-tier websites like Wikipedia, and frameworks like Laravel and Symfony. Facebook uses it with a custom compiler.
- **History and Name** [0:24] — Created in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf to manage his personal homepage. Originally stood for 'Personal Home Page', now officially 'PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor'. It predates JavaScript and was one of the first languages embedded directly in HTML.
- **Getting Started with PHP** [0:56] — Create a PHP file with HTML. Use <?php tags to enter PHP mode. Use 'echo' to output values. Variables start with '$'. It's weakly typed. Predefined variables like $_GET, $_POST, $_COOKIE handle HTTP requests.
- **Features and Paradigms** [1:39] — Supports multiple programming paradigms: first-class functions, anonymous functions, built-in functions for web development, and a complete object model with classes and inheritance.
- **Current Version and Popularity** [1:59] — Current version is PHP 8 with modern features. 78.5% of websites use PHP, making it essential for web developers.

### Conclusion

PHP remains a foundational language for web development, powering a majority of websites. Its ease of use and extensive features make it a valuable skill for any web developer.

## Transcript

[Music]
PHP a dynamic interpreted scripting
language for building interactive
websites on the server despite the
haters pronouncing it dead it remains
one of the most popular languages for
back-end web development it Powers
content Management Systems like
WordPress top tier websites like
Wikipedia and countless others via
Frameworks like LVL and Symphony hell
man even Facebook uses it although they
built a custom compiler to convert it to
machine code on their servers it was
created in 1994 by Rasmus lerdorf to
manage his personal homepage clever
acronym but it sounds lame for a
language that powers multi-billion
dollar Enterprises so today we practice
cognitive dissonance to tell ourselves
PHP stands for hypertex pre-processor it
has a special place in history because
it predates JavaScript and was one of
the first languages to be embedded
directly in HTML allowing websites to be
built dynamically on a server it's open
source and was one of the technologies
that revolutionized the web by making
application development accessible to
the average person its interpreter is
implemented in C and has a syntax
inspired by Pearl to get started create
a PHP file and add some basic HTML to it
within this file you can go into PHP
mode by opening a question mark PHP tag
the code Within These tags will be
rendered on the server use Echo to
Output a value in the location of the
tag to declare a variable give it a name
that starts with a dollar sign followed
by a value it's a weekly type language
so no type annotations are necessary it
also comes with a large number of
predefined variables geared towards web
development like git post and cookie
which contain information about the
incoming HTTP request now when this code
is rendered on your server it will
output an HTML string with the PHP tags
being replaced by whatever you echoed
the language also supports multiple
programming paradigms you have first
class functions which can be assigned to
variables or used anonymously as
argument and it has tons and tons of
built-in functions to do pretty much
anything a web developer could ever
imagine doing it also has a complete
object model where you can Define
classes with inheritance to implement
objectoriented patterns we're currently
on PHP version 8 which has all the
features you would expect from a modern
pragmatic language every web developer
should be familiar with it because
statistically there's a 78.5% chance
that your client's website is running
the personal homepage language this has
been PHP in 100 seconds hit the like
button if you want to see more short
videos like this thanks for watching and
I will see you in the next one