Web Development Concepts

Servers

A server is a computer system that provides resources, data, or services to other computers (clients) over a network.

• Web Server: Hosts websites and delivers web pages.
• Database Server: Stores and manages databases.
• Mail Server: Handles email communication.

Dynamic and Static Web Pages

Static Pages: Pre-built HTML documents that do not change unless edited manually. They are fast but not interactive.

Dynamic Pages: Generated by a server-side language at runtime. They adapt based on user input, database queries, or other conditions.

Client-side and Server-side Languages

Client-side languages (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript) run in the user’s browser. They manage structure, design, and interactivity.

Server-side languages (e.g., PHP, Python, Node.js) run on the server and generate dynamic responses, process forms, and access databases.

PHP

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely-used open-source server-side scripting language designed for web development. It can be embedded into HTML and is often used to manage forms, sessions, and databases.

Apache

Apache HTTP Server is one of the oldest and most popular open-source web servers.

• History: Released in 1995, Apache quickly became the most widely used web server worldwide.
• Features: Highly customizable, supports modules, cross-platform.
• Installation: Available on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

MySQL

MySQL is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) that uses SQL (Structured Query Language) for managing data.

• History: Created in 1995 by MySQL AB, later acquired by Sun Microsystems and Oracle.
• Distributions: Available in both community (free) and enterprise (paid) editions.

XAMPP and LAMP

XAMPP: Cross-platform package that includes Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Perl. Easy to install and use for local development.

LAMP: Stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP. It is a stack typically used in production environments.

Advantages

• Free and open-source.
• Combines essential tools for web development.

Disadvantages

• XAMPP is less secure by default (meant for local use).
• LAMP requires Linux knowledge for setup.

Installation of XAMPP

1. Download the installer from the official Apache Friends website.
2. Run the installer and select components (Apache, MySQL, PHP).
3. Follow the setup wizard until installation completes.
4. Launch XAMPP Control Panel and start Apache and MySQL.
5. Test by accessing http://localhost in your browser.