Alaa Amer

Lesson 2: PHP Syntax

PHP is one of the most popular programming languages for web development. It features a simple syntax and offers great flexibility. In this article, we’ll explore the basics of PHP syntax and how to write clean, readable code.

1. How to Start a PHP Code Block

Every PHP script must begin with:

<?php 
// your code 
?>

You can omit the closing tag ?> in pure PHP files. Doing so helps avoid unexpected output issues.

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2. Comments in PHP

Comments make your code easier to understand. PHP ignores them during execution.

• Single-line comment:

// This is a comment

• Multi-line comment:

/* This is a multi-line comment */

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3. Variables

Variables in PHP start with a $ symbol followed by the name:

$name = "Alaa"; 
$age = 30;

Rules:

• Must start with a letter or underscore

• Cannot start with a number

• Are case-sensitive

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4. Data Types in PHP

Common data types include:

• String

• Integer

• Float

• Boolean

• Array

• Object

• NULL

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5. Conditional Statements

Use conditions to make decisions:

if ($age > 18) { 
 echo "You are an adult."; 
} else { 
 echo "You are a minor."; 
}

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6. Loops in PHP

Loops allow you to repeat actions:

for ($i = 0; $i < 5; $i++) { 
 echo $i; 
}

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7. Functions

A function is a reusable block of code:

function sayHello($name) { 
  return "Hello, " . $name; 
}

To call the function:

echo sayHello("Alaa");

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Conclusion

Mastering PHP syntax is the first step to becoming a skilled web developer. Practice writing code and experiment with different features. The more you code, the better you'll get.

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