PHP, which stands for Hypertext Preprocessor, is a popular open-source scripting language that is widely used for web development. It is a server-side language, meaning that it is executed on the server before the web page is sent to the client’s browser. PHP was created in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf as a simple tool for managing his personal website. Originally known as “Personal Home Page Tools,” PHP was designed to help Lerdorf keep track of visitors to his site and other basic tasks. However, as the internet grew and the demand for dynamic and interactive websites increased, PHP evolved into a powerful web development language. In 1995, two developers, Andi Gutmans and Zeev Suraski, rewrote the original code and released PHP 3, which included more advanced features such as support for databases and the ability to create web applications. The release of PHP 4 in 2000 was a major milestone as it introduced a more stable and mature codebase, making it a popular choice for web developers. It also included new features such as improved support for object-oriented programming and better integration with databases. However, it was the release of PHP 5 in 2004 that truly solidified PHP’s position as a powerful web development language. It introduced a more modern and robust programming model, with features such as namespaces, improved error handling, and better support for web services. With each new release, PHP continued to evolve and improve, becoming a dominant force in the world of web development. Today, PHP powers over 79% of all websites that have a server-side language, making it the most widely used language on the internet. It is constantly being updated and improved, with the latest version, PHP 7, offering even faster performance and better security features. From a simple personal home page tool to a powerful and versatile web development language, PHP has come a long way, and its evolution shows no signs of slowing down.