PHP, which stands for Hypertext Preprocessor, is a scripting language that is used to enhance web pages. It enables functions such as creating usernames and passwords, forums, and other necessary parts of the user experience.
How PHP—and other scripting languages—differ from programming languages lies in their execution: the former uses an interpreter to convert its language into machine code, while the latter uses a compiler to do so. This allows Web Developers to create dynamic sites that interact with databases, as opposed to the slower-loading sites that use Common Gateway Interface technology.
This particular scripting language is important to learn because it’s open-source, which makes it easily accessible and free. This means Web Developers skilled in PHP can provide efficient and cost-effective services to employers and clients while increasing their own value—according to Glassdoor, PHP Developers in the U.S. make an average of $81,428 per year.