Where PHP Runs the Web
Install PHP and set up a local server to run PHP scripts.
Where PHP Runs the Web is a free PHP Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 3. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the PHP Academy learning path, one of 3 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
The web in one minute
Welcome back! 🌐 Let's see how a web page actually reaches you, and where PHP fits in.
Client and server
Your browser is the "client." It asks for a page. A computer called the "server" answers. PHP lives on that server.
Like ordering food
You (the client) order a meal. The kitchen (the server) cooks it. PHP is the chef putting your plate together. 🍽️
A page is born
When you click a link, PHP can grab data, make decisions, and build the exact page you need, right then.
Dynamic, not frozen
PHP makes pages "dynamic." Your feed, your cart, your profile, all freshly made for you, not a frozen copy.
It speaks HTML
PHP usually produces HTML, the language browsers read. So PHP writes the page, your browser displays it.
Talking to databases
PHP often chats with a database to fetch things like posts or prices, then drops them into your page.
Files end in .php
PHP code lives in files ending with .php. The server sees that and knows: "time to run some PHP!"
You don't install much
To run PHP you just need a server with PHP on it. Many free tools set this up in minutes. Easy. 😊
Look how far you've come!
You now understand how PHP powers real websites. 🎉 Next: your very first look at actual PHP code.
Quick Check
One quick question. What does PHP usually send back to the browser?
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Where PHP Runs the Web” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Where PHP Runs the Web” is free to read here on the web, and the PHP Academy course includes 3 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the PHP Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Where PHP Runs the Web”?
Install PHP and set up a local server to run PHP scripts. You practise PHP Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start PHP Academy?
No prior experience is required. PHP Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 3, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Where PHP Runs the Web” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this PHP Academy lesson?
Yes. Every PHP Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- What is PHP?
- Where PHP Runs the Web
- Your First Look at PHP Code