PHP is one of the most popular programming languages used for web development today. But it was not always this way. In fact, PHP started out as a personal home page tool created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994. Originally, it was just a collection of Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripts used for tracking visits to Lerdorf’s online resume. But as the internet grew and the demand for dynamic websites increased, PHP evolved into a full-fledged programming language. The first version of PHP, released in 1995, was simply called Personal Home Page Tools (PHP Tools). It was a simple language with limited functionality, but it paved the way for the development of more advanced versions. In 1997, two developers, Andi Gutmans and Zeev Suraski, rewrote the codebase for PHP and released version 3, which introduced a more robust and modular architecture. This allowed for the creation of more powerful and complex web applications. However, it wasn’t until the release of PHP 4 in 2000 that PHP gained mainstream attention. This version included features such as a new engine, improved support for object-oriented programming, and better integration with databases. This made it a more versatile and efficient language for web development. PHP’s popularity continued to grow with the release of version 5 in 2004, which introduced a completely redesigned engine and added new features like exception handling and improved support for XML. It also became the foundation for popular content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. But PHP’s evolution didn’t stop there. In 2014, PHP 7 was released, which brought significant performance improvements and a more consistent and modern codebase. Today, PHP is used by millions of developers and powers over 79% of websites on the internet. It has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a personal home page tool and has solidified its place as a versatile and reliable language for web development. As technology continues to advance, it is safe to say that PHP will continue to evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of the web development industry.
