Why have a Dynamic Website?

When the Internet was created, it consisted mostly of static pages like HTM and HTML. Such static pages are not for large scale applications that require interaction between the server and the client.

Dynamic websites basically takes the user input and displays the output based on such input, most like C/C++ and Java. This is happening online instead of the desktop, better yet, web applications are independent from the user system. So a system built withPHP/MySQL will work the same on PC users using Internet Explorer, Opera or Firefox, users on Linux/Unix using Mozilla or users on Mac systems using a Mac browser.

Why PHP?

PHP is the most used web design scripting language. A scripting language is different from a programming language in that it creates web-based scripts and not desktop applications.

1. PHP is fast, efficient and starting from PHP 5 it easily supports Object Oriented Paradigm.
2. PHP can work efficiently along with almost all database systems.
3. PHP is free and Open Source.
4. PHP is easy to learn.
5. Those who know languages like C++ should easily pick-up on PHP programming, which is mostly similar except to certain syntax.

Sites like Yahoo1 handle over 3.5 billion hits a day with PHP. PHP can also be secure, we will discuss PHP security at a later chapter.

How Does PHP Work?

The server side consists of two parts, the scripting language engine (PHP) and the request from the user. The request is sent to PHP engine which returns pure HTML code. No PHP code is seen on the user side at any time.

Now lets proceed on installing PHP on your system. We will discuss several options and which ones are the best.

What is a Content Management System? (CMS)

A Content Management System (CMS) supports the creation, management, distribution and publishing of website information.

It covers the complete life cycle of the pages on your site, from providing simple tools to create the content, through to publishing and finally to archiving.

It also provides the ability to manage the archetectual layout of the site, the appearance of the published pages and the navigation provided to the users.

Why use a Content Management System? (CMS)

There is many reasons why you need a CMS for your website. Here are some of them:

1.)  No technical skills are needed – There’s no need for you or your colleagues to learn any new software. You simply make the changes to your website online as and when you need to and then view the changes instantaneously.

2.)  Update your website from anywhere – Update your website instantly from anywhere in the world on any PC! Make corrections and changes quickly and easily, add text, insert pictures or even place Word documents and PowerPoint presentations to your website as and when you wish at the click of a mouse. (access to the application via password and user name).

3.)  Instant corrections - Making corrections, adding copy or files is fast and easy with our completely browser-based, online HTML WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get) Editing, if you or your users can use Microsoft Word, then you can use Online CMS!

4.)  Access levels – Allow multiple users to work on your website by giving them different access levels and permissions.

5.)  Link Management - Create links to internal pages and external websites quickly and easily. Its user interface also allows simple browse and click to create hyperlinks.

6.)  Training – Is fast, easy and hassle-free!

7.)  Code Mode – If you have the coding skills, switch to code mode at the click of a button and directly edit your html code from your browser!