PHP Web Hosting

PHP is the most widely used web programming language that allows users and developers to create dynamic websites with rich content and different functionalities. The abbreviation PHP was originally meant to be "Personal Home Page", but as the language developed, it was changed to "PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor".

PHP sites usually work with a database where content is stored. When a visitor opens a particular page, the PHP-driven site queries the database and displays certain content from it. This could be text or images, for example. The advantage of PHP sites over the static HTML ones is that the content that is displayed on the same URL is dynamic. If the website is a community portal, for example, two users that log in to their accounts can see totally different content based on the preferences that they have selected, the access level that they have and so on. This is by far one of the best scripting languages, and it is also easy to learn as long as you have some web programming and coding experience.

PHP websites can work on servers running on any Operating System, including the two most popular ones - Windows and Linux, and on any type of hosting, shared or dedicated. They can also use almost any type of database - MySQL, MSSQL, PostgreSQL, etc. The server environment for PHP websites is covered by probably more than 99% of the web servers around the world.

For inexperienced users, there are many script-driven platforms, which are managed through a graphic Control Panel that can be accessed using any web browser. In simple words, these are template-based websites, which can be edited by advanced users, but beginners can also manage them successfully through the back office, adding content, changing templates and so on.

Examples of PHP-driven scripts are most forums and discussion boards. All threads, usernames, avatars and so on are stored in a database. Every time a section is opened, for example "forum.com/sport", new content is displayed if somebody has replied to a certain topic, although the URL of this particular section is always the same.

If you are looking for an easy way to create a beautiful website, then you can try some of the most popular PHP-driven scripts such as Joomla, Mambo and Drupal. Millions of websites are created with these scripts as they are easy to install and with thousands of plug-ins available for download, you can create a wide variety of websites, adding a lot of new features. Some companies like NTC Hosting also have 1-click script installers that create a database and install the needed platform, saving you time and efforts.

Business enterprises can also use a PHP site. Some of the most popular online store scripts use this language - PrestaShop, Zen Cart and osCommerce. They can be used for selling goods, for processing online payments or for paid downloads, can come with a shopping cart, etc. This shows the large capabilities of PHP, so even without previous experience, you can create powerful and well-designed websites using a PHP-based script platform.