PHP, also known as Hypertext Preprocessor, is a server-side scripting language that was first created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994. Originally, it was developed as a simple tool for Lerdorf to manage his personal website, but it soon evolved into a powerful web development language used by millions of websites today. In the early days, PHP was called “Personal Home Page Tools” and was designed to help Lerdorf keep track of visitors to his website. However, as more developers began using PHP, it quickly gained popularity and evolved into a more robust language. In 1997, two developers, Andi Gutmans and Zeev Suraski, rewrote the PHP parser, giving it the ability to handle more complex tasks and making it faster and more stable. This update, known as PHP 3, was a major turning point for the language and propelled it into the mainstream. As the internet continued to grow and new technologies emerged, PHP continued to evolve and adapt. In 2000, PHP 4 was released, introducing new features such as improved object-oriented programming capabilities and better support for web databases. Then in 2004, PHP 5 was released, which included even more advanced features such as improved error handling and a new engine that greatly improved performance. Today, PHP is used by millions of websites, from small personal blogs to large e-commerce platforms. Its popularity can be attributed to its ease of use, flexibility, and compatibility with various web servers and operating systems. It has also continued to evolve and improve over the years, with the latest version, PHP 7, offering even better performance and security. The evolution of PHP from a simple personal home page tool to a powerful web development language is a testament to the adaptability and growth of technology, and it will surely continue to evolve and shape the future of web development.