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In the short and sweet definition of PHP it is a server sided script writing language usually written in HTML. It is a widely-used general purpose scripting language. Of course it is not like ordinary HTML language, PHP script is especially suited for web development and can be put into HTML.  PHP is now officially known as “PHP: HyperText Preprocessor”.

The long story is that PHP orginally derived from Personal Home Page tools, which is now known as PHP:HyperText Preprocessor.  It was created as an alternative to Microsofts Active Server Page (ASP) technology. PHP and ASP both are scripts that can be embedded into a web page with HTML. Before it can be viewed by a user, the web servers “calls” PHP to interpret and perform specific operations for the PHP script.PHP code can query databases, create images, read and write other files and of course talk to remote servers. The possibilites are endless.

PHP can support environments such as Apace and MySQL, this futhers its popularity. however, it is primarily used in Linux web servers.  It can also work in other environments and is supported by an extensive list of databases and web-servers.  PHP popularity has risen due to the different approaches we are taking now to publish sites (Web-publishing).

If you are curious as to how much money you are going to have to dish out for this specific language, the answer is none. PHP is free and offered under an open source license.  It is a great script for use, and if you can I would suggest trying it out.

When building a website, we are all faced with the big question, “Do I want to be able to update this site myself, or let someone else do it for me?” This is a hard decision, and sometimes can intimidate a person. Ultimately, if you have put up a site on a free web page server, you probably have had the capability to go onto your site and change information when and if you needed to. This is what content management really is. In a nutshell, the ability to update the site yourself is content management.

There are six phases and 5 roles and responsibilities for content management:

Phases:

1. Create
2. Update
3. Publish
4. Translate
5. Archive
6. Retire

Roles and Responsibilities:

1. Content - Responsible for creating and editing content ( phase 1)
2. Editor - Responsible for fine tuning the content and the style of the delivery, including translation and localization ( Phase 2)
3. Publisher - Responsible for releasing the content for use (phase 3)
4. Administrator - Responsible for managing access permission to folders and files (normally by assigning access rights to users groups and roles) as well as assit and support in various ways (phase 4 and 5)
5. Consumerm, Viewer, or Guest - Person who reads or otherwise takes in content after it is published or shared

The last two phases are the phases in which the content is changed, or saved and replaced by better more updated content. 

You may be asking yourself know “What may I need to update?” which is simple. If you are creating an e-commerce site, you may need to change information on pricing, availability, and/or styles. If your site is not an ecommerce site, but more of an informational site, you could need to change the information about your company like location, phone and fax numbers, products or services offered etc.

Updating a site youself, usually is very beneficial for changing and updating information about your company and its site. However, I do not suggest updating your site if you do not plan on making more than 2 changes a year. If you don’t, it would be a wise decision in my opion if you allow the company who build/hosts your site to do it for you. Not only would it be cost - effective, but it doens’t make sense to learn to do it just to do it a couple of times a year, if even at all.