How to start learning PHP for developing dynamic websites?

There are two types of website available on the internet.

1. Static Websites
2. Dynamic Websites

Static websites are those websites which are developed using HTML and CSS. They are those websites which gives you something but don't take anything from you. Dynamic websites are those websites which take information from user and use it to show concerned results. HTML and CSS cannot let you do that and you have to use some other language e.g. PHP.

PHP is a server-side scripting language which can be used for developing dynamic websites. You can use ASP.NET for developing dynamic websites but people prefer PHP because it is available for all three major platforms i.e. Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.

To start learning PHP, you should either have an online account on some web hosting website or you have to make your computer as local server. I prefer to make your computer as local server. Now, you need to install software to make your computer local server. The method one is:

1. Download and install Apache on your computer.
2. Download and install PHP on your computer
3. Download and install MySQL on your computer

This is a time consuming method so have a look at the method two.

1. Look what operating system you are using
2. Install web-server package for your operating system.
   1. WAMP for Windows
   2. LAMP for Linux
   3. MAMP for Mac OS X.

Their is another method where you have to just do one thing.

1. Download XAMPP for your operating system
2. Install it.

Reasons of downloading XAMPP are:

• Available for all three major platforms
• Same user interface available on all platforms

After installation, you will get XAMPP folder in your operating system's installation directory. Open XAMPP from there and you will see a window like this.

Click on Star button of required service and click Stop button when you want to stop them after finishing work.

If you want to just learn / practice PHP script then you should start Apache service if database is required then you may also want to start MySQL service.

The next step is to have a good editor. Notepad will work just fine but if you want to learn PHP then I will suggest you to use brackets software or bluefish software. Both are free software and will be available for all major platforms. Install both if you are not familiar with them. Then chose to work with one you like.

Last step is to find some resources to learn PHP scripts. w3schools is very good website for learning PHP as well as HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript.

Now you are all good to go. Learn PHP, create some awesome dynamic websites, sell it and earn money.