The fundamentals of building a web page haven’t changed much over the years, despite significant changes in web development. We can draft a document and publish it online for public viewing. Naturally, we must be familiar with the unique languages used on the internet in order to accomplish that. Yes, we are referring to the programming languages used to develop websites and web pages.

The two main web page languages that are examined in this article are HTML and PHP. PHP is a server-side scripting language, and HTML is a web page language in theory. Let’s examine it more closely:

PHP

One of the quickest methods for creating dynamic webpages for consumers is PHP. But in order for it to truly reply to requests for online pages, it requires a web server.

Numerous operating systems, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and others, work well with PHP. It can also function flawlessly with several web servers, such as Nginx and Apache. The HTTP Server from Apache is the web server that is used the most on the Internet.

HTML

The common markup language used to generate and design the structure of web pages is called HyperText Markup Language, or HTML. It serves as the cornerstone for all content found on the Internet. Document creation and formatting for web browser viewing is done with HTML. It provides instructions to the browser on how to show webpage content. HTML defines document elements via tags. Angle brackets (“<” and “>”) enclose the tags, which are presented in pairs: an opening tag and a closing tag. An element’s beginning and finish are indicated by the opening and closing tags, respectively. Because HTML is cross-browser compatible, web pages written in it ought to show up uniformly in various web browsers.

Difference between PHP and HTML

Language

Not a programming language, but a markup language is HTML. It does not have the capacity to carry out intricate calculations or reasoning; instead, it only offers a collection of tags to visually organize and show content.

A scripting language used for server-side programming is called PHP. It lets programmers insert code into HTML. It can be used to send emails to website visitors, connect databases, and more.

Functionality

The markup language HTML is used to organize content on the internet. It describes the fundamental components of a website, including links, headings, paragraphs, and graphics.

The server-side scripting language PHP, on the other hand, is used to create dynamic and interactive web sites. It is used to create dynamic online applications and has capabilities that facilitate web programming and design.

Client-Side/Server-Side

Scripts for websites can execute either on the client or server side. PHP is a server-side programming language that runs on the server and uses HTML code to translate it into a client-side format.

Run on a local PC, HTML is a client-side programming language. It provides the browser with information about the layout of text and other material on a page.

File Extension

HTML files typically have an “.html” or “.htm” file extension. These files contain the structure and presentation information of a web page. PHP files have a “.php” file extension. These files may contain a mix of HTML and PHP code.

Use Cases

Popular content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla are powered by PHP. Multimedia material, blog posts, articles, and dynamic web pages can all be made using it. PHP is frequently used as the template engine by these CMS systems.

Email templates, online forms, responsive web designs, interactive web pages, API documentation, instructional materials, and more are frequently made with HTML.

PHP vs. HTML: Comparison Chart

Summary

In brief, HTML is used to create and format pages that can be seen in online browsers, whereas PHP is a scripting language made exclusively for usage on the web. PHP is a powerful server-side programming language that may be used to handle forms, manage databases, and produce dynamic content. Semantic markup, interoperability, and providing a basic framework for web pages are the main goals of HTML.

FAQs

Is PHP the same as HTML?

No, they’re not the same. PHP is a scripting language used for server-side tasks, while HTML is a markup language for structuring web content.

Can I use PHP without HTML?

Although PHP is used in conjunction with HTML for creating dynamic web pages, you can use it without HTML.

Should I learn HTML or PHP?

If you’re just starting with web development, you should learn HTML first. It provides the basic structure of web pages. After that, you can learn PHP to add dynamic functionality.

Is PHP always in HTML?

PHP is a server-side scripting language that’s often embedded within HTML.

Can I write HTML in PHP?

Yes, you can write HTML within PHP code. You just have to write all the HTML snippet in the PHP file and save it using the ‘.php’ extension.

Why PHP is not HTML?

HTML gives structure to the content, while PHP handles server-side tasks like database handling and dynamic content generation.

Sharing is caring!