What Does a PHP Developer Do?
If you are a web developer, then you will be familiar with this 3-letter word: PHP. It is the most used language for the server. It can be used for all kinds of applications, from programs to websites to scripts.
A PHP developer works on the back-end team, programming the server. There are several things the PHP developer does. Following, I will describe the job tasks.
The developer analyzes code, developers, and manages databases, tests and implements the product, and maintains and improves the visibility.
- Analyzing code: The developer and the development teamwork on new ideas to create products. They analyze the new or existing requirements. If there is something to implement, or something to change. Here is where the website functionalities, design, and layout are decided.
- Developing and managing databases: in this stage, developers put their hands on the work and use their technical skills to begin developing the website or application. Here they ensure the dynamism of the website and the necessary scripts that have to be embedded so that it functions correctly.
- Testing and implementing: Developers test the website looking for past mistakes, errors and list them to be ready to start debugging.
- Maintenance and visibility: The work is not done after posting the product to the web. They regularly do updates and maintain the development. They improve the functionalities and user interface to be suitable for the users.
What does the developer have to know?
PHP developers are expected to know several things, not only PHP itself. Some are Computer Scientists, others are software engineers, some are technicians and very few are self-taught.
PHP developers must know: Computer architecture, algorithms, data structures, object-oriented programming, operating systems, and web programming. This are the basic requirements, the recommendation is to have a combination of knowledge between PHP and MySQL, and to know how to use the Laravel framework.
The requirements of the previous paragraph are the basic requirements to be a PHP developer. A complete PHP developer also knows APIs, Ajax, JQuery, and if the developer is Full-stack, then Javascript, HTML, and CSS will complement and complete the stack.
If you want to learn PHP but you are not sure where to start, there are a few places that are recommended. StackOverflow, Udemy, CodeCourse PHP manual are the most used sources to learn PHP either from scratch or to improve your skills.
Why use PHP?
There are many reasons why you should use PHP, and why it is the most server-side language used today. To begin with, PHP is open source and free. The learning curve is short, meaning that from being firstly introduced to being capable of using it and implementing it correctly is not a long time.
The community is huge, and they have daily posts on blogs, in the official page, and in tech forums. Almost all web hosting servers support PHP and not every server language.
The language is regularly updated. As it is a scripting language and not a programming language, it has to only be installed in the server, and not in the client too.
A web browser will run the script. PHP is cross-platform, you can use and build your application for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
What does it mean that PHP is a scripting language and not a programming language?
Well, in its root it is like a programming language, you program through the use of certain commands, functions, and essentially, code. But in definition, it is not the same. The scripting language is mostly used for routine tasks. There is no need to compile as it runs and executes without compiling, and it can be embedded into other software environments.
What attributes does a PHP developer have to have?
The PHP developer has to be very logical and based on reasoning. This kind of developer is a serial problem solver. It is not the kind of developer that is more into the design but more into making things work. This doesn't mean the PHP developer can´t help a designer, in fact, they work very closely together. But the type of mind a PHP developer usually has, is much different. Critical thinking allows the developer to test and analyze the more efficient ways to build. The PHP developer, as almost every developer, is a constant learner. As technology updates, one must always be up to date.
In conclusion, PHP is the most used server-side, back-end programming language. Technically it is not a programming language but a scripting language. It counts with a huge community, and it is one of the most talked-about programming languages both in forums and in blogs. PHP is updated very frequently, and it is part of the developer´s responsibility to know the latest version. It is cross-platform, meaning that the applications run on Windows, Mac, and Linux. PHP is free and open-source. It is the most recommended language to know for a back-end developer.
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If you are a web developer, then you will be familiar with this 3-letter word: PHP. It is the most used language for the server. It can be used for all kinds of applications, from programs to websites to scripts.
A PHP developer works on the back-end team, programming the server. There are several things the PHP developer does. Following, I will describe the job tasks.
The developer analyzes code, developers, and manages databases, tests and implements the product, and maintains and improves the visibility.
- Analyzing code: The developer and the development teamwork on new ideas to create products. They analyze the new or existing requirements. If there is something to implement, or something to change. Here is where the website functionalities, design, and layout are decided.
- Developing and managing databases: in this stage, developers put their hands on the work and use their technical skills to begin developing the website or application. Here they ensure the dynamism of the website and the necessary scripts that have to be embedded so that it functions correctly.
- Testing and implementing: Developers test the website looking for past mistakes, errors and list them to be ready to start debugging.
- Maintenance and visibility: The work is not done after posting the product to the web. They regularly do updates and maintain the development. They improve the functionalities and user interface to be suitable for the users.
What does the developer have to know?
PHP developers are expected to know several things, not only PHP itself. Some are Computer Scientists, others are software engineers, some are technicians and very few are self-taught.
PHP developers must know: Computer architecture, algorithms, data structures, object-oriented programming, operating systems, and web programming. This are the basic requirements, the recommendation is to have a combination of knowledge between PHP and MySQL, and to know how to use the Laravel framework.
The requirements of the previous paragraph are the basic requirements to be a PHP developer. A complete PHP developer also knows APIs, Ajax, JQuery, and if the developer is Full-stack, then Javascript, HTML, and CSS will complement and complete the stack.
If you want to learn PHP but you are not sure where to start, there are a few places that are recommended. StackOverflow, Udemy, CodeCourse PHP manual are the most used sources to learn PHP either from scratch or to improve your skills.
Why use PHP?
There are many reasons why you should use PHP, and why it is the most server-side language used today. To begin with, PHP is open source and free. The learning curve is short, meaning that from being firstly introduced to being capable of using it and implementing it correctly is not a long time.
The community is huge, and they have daily posts on blogs, in the official page, and in tech forums. Almost all web hosting servers support PHP and not every server language.
The language is regularly updated. As it is a scripting language and not a programming language, it has to only be installed in the server, and not in the client too.
A web browser will run the script. PHP is cross-platform, you can use and build your application for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
What does it mean that PHP is a scripting language and not a programming language?
Well, in its root it is like a programming language, you program through the use of certain commands, functions, and essentially, code. But in definition, it is not the same. The scripting language is mostly used for routine tasks. There is no need to compile as it runs and executes without compiling, and it can be embedded into other software environments.
What attributes does a PHP developer have to have?
The PHP developer has to be very logical and based on reasoning. This kind of developer is a serial problem solver. It is not the kind of developer that is more into the design but more into making things work. This doesn't mean the PHP developer can´t help a designer, in fact, they work very closely together. But the type of mind a PHP developer usually has, is much different. Critical thinking allows the developer to test and analyze the more efficient ways to build. The PHP developer, as almost every developer, is a constant learner. As technology updates, one must always be up to date.
In conclusion, PHP is the most used server-side, back-end programming language. Technically it is not a programming language but a scripting language. It counts with a huge community, and it is one of the most talked-about programming languages both in forums and in blogs. PHP is updated very frequently, and it is part of the developer´s responsibility to know the latest version. It is cross-platform, meaning that the applications run on Windows, Mac, and Linux. PHP is free and open-source. It is the most recommended language to know for a back-end developer.
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