HTML or PhP or JavaSript

[Terrytrysphp]

Hi as a total newcormer to PHP I'm trying to learn PHP web design from text books and online forums/tuturails but finding it hard to know when to us html ,when to use PhP and when to use JavaSript

my first assumtion was that using just PhP I would be able to create the homepage containing logos banners drop down links text and graphic areas, colours wherever needed on the pages.

then when homesite was working ok that I would be able to add any nice php extras such as guestbooks ,user feedbackforms etc.

Should I continiue to develop my sites using dreamweaver for site layout and then including PHP enabled scripts into the code.

Or do I need to develop my sites using JavaScript then including PHP enabled scripts into the code.

Or do I need to develop my sites using html then including PHP enabled scripts into the code.

Please advise an easy step way, to guide me from page layout to php includes

Thanks TerryTrysPhP

😕

[notionlogic]

Perhaps this will help sort out your confusion...

HTML is static, unchanging and so is used for all pages (or part thereof) that remains the same for every visitor and every time they visit.

Javascript is (generally) used for client side activity which means the action takes place on the user's browser. This is useful for providing some limited interaction for the user so long as that interaction doesn't need anymore information from your server once the page has loaded

PHP is used to dynamically produce web page content on the server side - i.e. BEFORE the page loads in the visitors browser. Common uses are to extract information from a database for display on the page or conditional actions depending on the users previous input.

Any better? 🙂

[Terrytrysphp]

I understand what your saying with regards to the difference between the languages, but think of my question this way. If I wanted to produce a completely new web site, could I set-up the default pages using html/dreamweaver/frontpage for the basic page layout, header,title,logo.gif and page colour . then use PHP to place things like interactive link buttons banner adverts and graphics

or is it only used for controlling form/data feed back objects

My first and only site was produced using only dreamweaver but I was thinking that PHP could give me an option to improve all aspects of page design?

[ahundiak]

There are a number of template engines available in php. So you can create html pages using the tool of your choice with special tags like #TITLE# in them. You can then use the php template engine to insert the actual text or graphics or whatever.

[Terrytrysphp]

Thanks I found a tutorial on the PHPBuilder.site that explains what you have said and I now have a better understanding

Kind Regards TerryTrysPhP