PHP, or Hypertext Preprocessor, has been around since 1994 when it was first created by Rasmus Lerdorf as a simple scripting language for tracking website visits. Originally called “Personal Home Page Tools,” it was designed to work with HTML and help developers create dynamic web pages. However, it wasn’t until the release of PHP 3 in 1998 that it became a server-side language and truly took off. This marked a turning point for PHP, as it was no longer just a scripting language, but a powerful tool for building complex web applications. With the added support for databases and the ability to handle more advanced programming tasks, PHP quickly became a dominant player in the world of server-side programming. In 2000, the release of PHP 4 further solidified its position as a top programming language, with improved performance and support for object-oriented programming. By this time, PHP had gained a large community of developers who were constantly creating new libraries, frameworks, and tools to enhance its capabilities. In 2004, the release of PHP 5 brought even more improvements, including better object-oriented programming and support for XML. This version also introduced the Zend Engine, which greatly improved the performance and stability of PHP. As the internet continued to evolve, so did PHP. With the rise of social media and e-commerce, PHP became even more essential for building dynamic and interactive websites. In 2014, PHP 5.6 was released, followed by PHP 7 in 2015, which brought significant performance improvements and new features such as type declarations and anonymous classes. Today, PHP is still one of the most popular server-side languages, powering over 78% of all websites on the internet. It has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a simple scripting language, and its continued evolution and widespread adoption are a testament to its versatility and usefulness in the world of web development. As technology continues to advance, it is certain that PHP will continue to adapt and remain a dominant force in the world of server-side programming.