``Question Bank with keys Unit -I

Question:1 Describe the evolution of PHP from its inception to the current version.

Answer: PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) started as a simple set of Common Gateway Interface (CGI) binaries written in C by Rasmus
Lerdorf in 1994. It evolved into a server-side scripting language with rich functionality, database connectivity, and support for various
protocols. The key milestones include PHP/FI, PHP 3 (which introduced a formal scripting language), PHP 4 (powered by the Zend
Engine), PHP 5 (introduction of object-oriented programming), PHP 7 (performance improvements and new features), and PHP 8 (Just-in-
Time compilation).

Question:2 Compare PHP with other server-side scripting languages like Python and Ruby.

Answer: PHP is widely used for web development and is known for its simplicity and ease of deployment. Python, while also used for web
development (via frameworks like Django), is more versatile and used for general-purpose programming, scientific computing, and AI.
Ruby, with its Rails framework, focuses on developer happiness and productivity. PHP has a larger install base in shared hosting
environments, whereas Python and Ruby are often preferred for complex applications and startup ecosystems due to their rich feature sets
and readability.

Question: How does PHP interface with external systems like databases and APIs?

Answer: PHP interfaces with databases using extensions like PDO (PHP Data Objects) and MySQLi, providing a consistent interface to
different database systems. For APIs, PHP supports various protocols (HTTP, SOAP, REST) and can use cURL or built-in functions like
file_get_contents() to interact with external APIs. PHP can also handle XML and JSON data formats for API communication.

Question:3 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using PHP for interfacing with external systems.

Answer: Advantages of using PHP for interfacing include its ease of use, wide range of extensions, and robust support for various
databases and protocols. Disadvantages include potential performance bottlenecks for very high-traffic applications and security risks if
best practices are not followed, such as SQL injection and improper handling of user input.

Question: 4 What are the typical hardware requirements for running a PHP application?

Answer: The hardware requirements depend on the application's complexity and traffic. A basic PHP application can run on minimal
hardware, such as a server with a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, and minimal disk space. However, high-traffic or resource-intensive
applications may require multi-core processors, several GBs of RAM, and significant disk space, often configured in a load-balanced
environment.

Question:5 What software is required to run PHP scripts?

Answer: To run PHP scripts, you need a web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx), PHP itself, and a database server (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) if
the application requires database interaction. Development environments may also include additional tools such as PHPMyAdmin for
database management, Composer for dependency management, and various PHP extensions depending on the application's requirements.

Question:6 Explain the basic structure of a PHP script.

Answer: A basic PHP script starts with the opening <?php tag and ends with the closing ?> tag. Within these tags, you can write PHP code
to execute various tasks. For example:

php

<?php echo "Hello, World!"; ?>

This script outputs "Hello, World!" to the web browser.

Question7: Describe how PHP scripts are executed on a server.

Answer: When a PHP script is requested by a client (usually via a web browser), the web server (e.g., Apache) passes the request to the
PHP interpreter. The interpreter processes the PHP code, executes it, and returns the generated HTML (or other content) back to the web
server, which then sends it to the client. This process allows dynamic content generation based on the PHP script's logic.
Question: 8 What are the basic data types supported by PHP?

Answer: PHP supports several basic data types, including integers, floats (doubles), strings, booleans, arrays, objects, NULL, and
resources. These types cover a wide range of common data handling needs in PHP scripts.

Question:9 Provide an example of how to declare and use variables in PHP.

Answer: Variables in PHP are declared using the $ symbol followed by the variable name. For example:

php

<?php $integer = 10;

$float = 10.5;

$string = "Hello, PHP!";

$boolean = true;

echo $integer;

echo $float;

echo $string;

echo $boolean ? 'True' : 'False'; ?>

This script declares four variables of different types and outputs their values.

Question:10 How can you display the type and value of a variable in PHP?

Answer: You can use the var_dump() function to display the type and value of a variable. For example:

<?php

$var = 123;

var_dump($var); ?>

This script outputs int(123), indicating that $var is an integer with a value of 123.

Question:11 What functions can be used to test for specific data types in PHP?

Answer: PHP provides various functions to test for specific data types, such as is_int(), is_float(), is_string(), is_bool(), is_array(),
is_object(), is_null(), and is_resource(). These functions return a boolean indicating whether the variable is of the specified type.

Question:12 How can you change the type of a variable in PHP?

Answer: You can change the type of a variable using type casting or by using the settype() function. For example:

php

<?php $var = "10";

$int_var = (int)$var;

settype($var, "integer"); ?>

Both methods convert the string $var to an integer.

Question:13 Explain the concept of dynamic variables in PHP.

Answer: Dynamic variables in PHP refer to variable names that are created and referenced dynamically using variable variables. This is
done by using a variable's value as the name of another variable. For example:

php

<?php $varName = "dynamicVar"; $$varName = "This is a dynamic variable"; echo $dynamicVar; ?>
The output is "This is a dynamic variable".

Question:14 Describe the scope of variables in PHP.

Answer: The scope of a variable in PHP defines where the variable can be accessed. PHP has three main scopes: local, global, and static.
Local variables are accessible only within the function they are declared in. Global variables are accessible from any part of the script, but
to access them within functions, you need to use the global keyword or the $GLOBALS array. Static variables retain their value across
multiple function calls but are not accessible outside the function.
 Unit -II
Q 1.What is the purpose of the if statement in programming?

The if statement is used to execute a block of code only if a specified condition is true. It allows for conditional execution of code
segments.

Q 2.What does the ? operator do in a conditional statement?

The ? operator, also known as the ternary operator, provides a shorthand way to execute one of two expressions based on a condition.
Syntax: condition ? expr1 : expr2.

Q 3.Define a user-defined function in programming.

A user-defined function is a block of code created by the programmer to perform a specific task. It can be called upon as needed within the
program.

Q 4.What is a dynamic function?

A dynamic function is a function whose behavior can be determined at runtime, often involving the use of function pointers or similar
mechanisms to decide which function to execute.

Q 5.How do you create an associative array in most programming languages?

An associative array, or dictionary, is created by defining a collection of key-value pairs. Example in PHP: $arr = array("key1" =>
"value1", "key2" => "value2");.
Q 6. Explain the difference between while and do-while loops.
while Loop: Checks the condition before executing the loop's body. The loop body may not execute if the condition is false initially.
do-while Loop: Checks the condition after executing the loop's body. The loop body will execute at least once, regardless of the condition.
Practical Example
Using while Loop:
php
<?php$number = -1; while ($number <= 0) { echo "Enter a positive number: "; // Simulating user input (e.g., $number =
intval(trim(fgets(STDIN)));) $number = rand(-10, 10); // Random number for demonstration echo "$number\n"; } ?>
Using do-while Loop:
php

<?php $number = -1; do { echo "Enter a positive number: "; // Simulating user input (e.g., $number = intval(trim(fgets(STDIN)));)
$number = rand(-10, 10); // Random number for demonstration echo "$number\n"; } while ($number <= 0); ?>

Q 7.How does the switch statement work in PHP programming?

In PHP, the switch statement is used to perform different actions based on different conditions. It is a control structure that allows you to
compare a variable or an expression against multiple possible values (cases) and execute different blocks of code based on the matching
case. This is particularly useful for executing a block of code among many choices without writing multiple if-else statements.
Key Points
Expression: The value or variable you are evaluating.
Cases: Each case checks if the expression matches a specific value. If it does, the corresponding code block is executed.
Break Statement: The break statement is crucial as it prevents the execution from falling through to the subsequent cases. Without break,
PHP would continue executing the next case even if a match has been found.
Default Case: The default case is optional and will be executed if none of the case values match the expression.
Example
Here is an example that demonstrates the use of the switch statement in PHP:
<?php
$day = "Wednesday";
switch ($day) {
case "Monday": echo "Today is Monday.";
break;
case "Tuesday": echo "Today is Tuesday.";
break;
case "Wednesday": echo "Today is Wednesday.";
break;
case "Thursday": echo "Today is Thursday.";
break;
case "Friday": echo "Today is Friday.";
break;
case "Saturday": echo "Today is Saturday.";
break;
case "Sunday": echo "Today is Sunday.";
break;
default: echo "Invalid day."; } ?>

Q 8.What are default arguments in PHP functions? Provide an example.

Default arguments in PHP functions are values provided in a function definition that are used if no corresponding arguments are passed during the function
call. They allow functions to have optional parameters, enhancing flexibility and usability. When a function is called without providing values for these
parameters, the default values are used.

Q 9.Describe how string comparison is done in PHP programming languages.

String comparison typically involves comparing the characters in two strings lexicographically using functions or operators like strcmp in
C/C++, == in Python, or equals in Java. The comparison is case-sensitive by default.
Q 10.What is an index-based array, and how does it differ from an associative array?
An index-based array uses numerical indices to access elements, typically starting from 0. Example: arr[0]. An associative array uses
named keys to access values. Example in PHP: $arr["key"]. The former is ordered numerically, while the latter is key-based.
10-Mark Question
Discuss the anatomy of an array, including the creation, manipulation, and traversal using loops. Provide examples in a programming
language of your choice.
 Unit-III
Q1.Explain working with forms.
Working with forms in PHP involves creating an HTML form to collect user input and using PHP to process the submitted data. The form
can use the GET or POST method to send data to a PHP script, where it can be accessed using super global arrays like $_GET and
$_POST.
Q2.What are super global variables?
Super global variables in PHP are built-in variables that are always accessible, regardless of scope. They are predefined arrays that store
information such as form data, session variables, and server environment information.
Examples:-
$_GET; // Collects data sent via URL parameters.
$_POST; // Collects data sent via HTTP POST method.
These variables provide a convenient way to handle data from various sources in PHP applications.
Q3.What is super global array?
A super global array in PHP is a predefined array that is globally accessible, meaning it can be accessed from any scope within a script.
These arrays store data from various sources like form submissions, session data, and server environment variables.
Super global arrays are essential for handling input data and maintaining state in web applications.
Q4.How to import user input?
Importing user input in PHP is typically done using the $_GET and $_POST super global arrays, which collect data sent via HTTP GET
and POST methods, respectively. This data can be accessed directly from these arrays.
Q5.How to access user input?
User input in PHP can be accessed using the $_GET and $_POST super global arrays, depending on the form method used. $_GET is used
for data sent via URL parameters, and $_POST is used for data sent via HTTP POST method.
Q6.Combining HTML and PHP code.
Combining HTML and PHP code allows you to create dynamic web pages by embedding PHP code within HTML. This technique is useful
for displaying dynamic content, processing form data, and more.
Example:

Basic Combination:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>PHP and HTML Integration</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1><?php echo "Welcome to my website!"; ?></h1>
<p>Today's date is <?php echo date('Y-m-d'); ?></p>
</body>
</html>

Form Handling:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Form Handling</title>
</head>
<body>
 <form method="post" action="">
<label for="name">Name:</label>
<input type="text" id="name" name="name">
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>

<?php
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
$name = $_POST['name'];
echo "<h2>Hello, $name!</h2>";
}
?>
</body>
</html>

Dynamic Content:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Dynamic Content</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Product List</h1>
<?php
$products = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cherry"];

echo "<ul>";
foreach ($products as $product) {
echo "<li>$product</li>";
}
echo "</ul>";
?>
</body>
</html>

Explanation:
Basic Combination: This example shows how to embed PHP code within HTML to display a welcome message and the current date
dynamically.
Form Handling: This example demonstrates how to create a form and process its data using PHP. When the form is submitted, the PHP
code retrieves the input data and displays a greeting message.
Dynamic Content: This example illustrates how to generate a dynamic list of products using PHP within an HTML structure. The PHP
code loops through an array of products and creates an HTML list.
By combining HTML and PHP, you can create interactive and dynamic web pages that respond to user input and display data from various
sources.
Q7.Using hidden fields.
Using hidden fields in HTML forms allows you to include data that is not visible to users but is submitted with the form. This can be useful
for passing additional information to the server without user interaction.
Example:
HTML Form with Hidden Field:
html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Hidden Fields Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<form method="post" action="process.php">
<input type="hidden" name="userID" value="12345">
<label for="name">Name:</label>
<input type="text" id="name" name="name">
<input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>
</body>
</html>
PHP Script to Process Form Data:
<?php
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
$name = $_POST['name'];
$userID = $_POST['userID'];
echo "Name: " . $name . "<br>";
echo "User ID: " . $userID;
}
?>
Explanation:

HTML Form with Hidden Field:

The <input type="hidden" name="userID" value="12345"> element is used to include a hidden field in the form. The value "12345" is sent
to the server when the form is submitted.
The form also includes a visible text input field for the user to enter their name and a submit button.
PHP Script to Process Form Data:

The PHP script (process.php) checks if the form has been submitted using $_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST".
It retrieves the values of the name and userID fields from the $_POST array.
The script then outputs the values of the name and userID fields.
Q8. Redirecting the user.
Redirecting a user in PHP involves sending an HTTP header to instruct the browser to go to a different URL. This is commonly used after
processing form data, to direct users to a new page or to handle specific conditions in web applications.

Example:
Redirecting to a Different Page:
<?php
// Redirect to a different page
header("Location: http://www.example.com/newpage.php");
exit();
?>
Redirecting Conditionally:

<?php
// Check some condition
$loggedIn = true;

// Redirect based on condition

if ($loggedIn) {
header("Location: dashboard.php");
exit();
} else {
header("Location: login.php");
exit();
}
?>
Explanation:

Basic Redirect:

header("Location: http://www.example.com/newpage.php"); sends an HTTP header to the browser, telling it to redirect to

http://www.example.com/newpage.php.
exit(); is called immediately after header() to ensure that no further code is executed after the redirection header.
Conditional Redirect:

In this example, the script checks whether the user is logged in ($loggedIn). Depending on the condition, it redirects the user to different
pages (dashboard.php or login.php).
Important Notes:

Ensure that no output (like HTML, whitespace, or even echo statements) is sent to the browser before calling header(), as it may cause
errors.
Always use exit() or die() after header("Location: ...") to stop the script execution immediately after redirection.
Use Case:
Redirecting users is crucial for handling authentication, form submissions, or routing in web applications. It allows you to control user
navigation and provide a seamless user experience by directing them to appropriate pages based on conditions or actions.
Q9. Working with File and Directories.Understanding file & directory.
Understanding file and directory operations in PHP involves manipulating files and directories on the server's filesystem. This is essential
for tasks such as reading and writing files, managing directories, and performing file system operations like copying, renaming, and
deleting.

Key Concepts:
File Operations:
Opening and Closing Files: Files are typically opened using the fopen() function and closed with fclose() after operations are complete.
$file = fopen("example.txt", "r");
// Perform operations
fclose($file);

Reading and Writing Files: Data can be read from files using functions like fread() or written using fwrite().
$file = fopen("example.txt", "r");
$content = fread($file, filesize("example.txt"));
fclose($file);

$file = fopen("newfile.txt", "w");

fwrite($file, "This is some new content.");
fclose($file);

Copying, Renaming, and Deleting Files:

// Copy a file
copy("source.txt", "destination.txt");

// Rename a file
rename("oldname.txt", "newname.txt");

// Delete a file
unlink("filetodelete.txt");
Directory Operations:

Creating and Deleting Directories:

// Create a directory
mkdir("newdir");

// Delete a directory (only works if directory is empty)

rmdir("newdir");
Listing Directory Contents:

// Open a directory handle

$dir = opendir("somedir");

// Read directory contents

while (($file = readdir($dir)) !== false) {
echo "filename: $file<br>";
}

// Close directory handle

closedir($dir);
Q10. Opening and closing a file, Coping, renaming and deleting a file.
// Opening and Closing a File
$filename = "example.txt";
$file = fopen($filename, "r") or die("Unable to open file!");
$fileContent = fread($file, filesize($filename));
fclose($file);

echo "File content: $fileContent<br>";

// Copying a File
$sourceFile = "example.txt";
$destinationFile = "copy_example.txt";

if (copy($sourceFile, $destinationFile)) {
echo "File copied successfully.<br>";
} else {
echo "Failed to copy file.<br>";
}

// Renaming a File
$oldName = "copy_example.txt";
$newName = "renamed_example.txt";

if (rename($oldName, $newName)) {
echo "File renamed successfully.<br>";
} else {
echo "Failed to rename file.<br>";
}

// Deleting a File
$fileToDelete = "renamed_example.txt";

if (unlink($fileToDelete)) {
echo "File deleted successfully.<br>";
} else {
echo "Failed to delete file.<br>";
}
?>
Explanation:
Opening and Closing a File:
The fopen() function is used to open example.txt in read mode ("r"). If the file cannot be opened, an error message is displayed.
fread() reads the entire content of the file, and fclose() closes the file handle after reading.

Copying a File:
copy() function is used to copy example.txt to copy_example.txt. It returns true if successful, otherwise false.

Renaming a File:
rename() function renames copy_example.txt to renamed_example.txt. It returns true if successful, otherwise false.
Deleting a File:
unlink() function deletes renamed_example.txt. It returns true if successful, otherwise false.
Q11. File Uploading & Downloading.
File Uploading
File uploading in PHP involves creating a form that allows users to select and upload files to the server. Here's an example:

HTML Form (upload_form.html):

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>File Upload Form</title>
</head>
<body>
<h2>Upload a File</h2>
<form action="upload.php" method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data">
<input type="file" name="fileToUpload" id="fileToUpload">
<input type="submit" value="Upload File" name="submit">
</form>
</body>
</html>

PHP Script to Handle File Upload (upload.php):

<?php
$targetDir = "uploads/";
$targetFile = $targetDir . basename($_FILES["fileToUpload"]["name"]);
$uploadOk = 1;

// Check if file already exists

if (file_exists($targetFile)) {
echo "Sorry, file already exists.";
$uploadOk = 0;
}

// Check file size (max 5MB)

if ($_FILES["fileToUpload"]["size"] > 5 * 1024 * 1024) {
echo "Sorry, your file is too large.";
$uploadOk = 0;
}

// Allow certain file formats

$allowedTypes = array('pdf', 'doc', 'docx', 'txt');
$fileType = strtolower(pathinfo($targetFile, PATHINFO_EXTENSION));
if (!in_array($fileType, $allowedTypes)) {
echo "Sorry, only PDF, DOC, DOCX, and TXT files are allowed.";
 $uploadOk = 0;
}

// Check if $uploadOk is set to 0 by an error

if ($uploadOk == 0) {
echo "Sorry, your file was not uploaded.";
// If everything is ok, try to upload file
} else {
if (move_uploaded_file($_FILES["fileToUpload"]["tmp_name"], $targetFile)) {
echo "The file ". htmlspecialchars(basename($_FILES["fileToUpload"]["name"])). " has been uploaded.";
} else {
echo "Sorry, there was an error uploading your file.";
}
}
?>
File Downloading
File downloading in PHP involves sending a file stored on the server to the client's browser. Here's an example:
PHP Script to Handle File Download (download.php):

<?php
$filePath = 'files/document.pdf';

if (file_exists($filePath)) {
header('Content-Description: File Transfer');
header('Content-Type: application/octet-stream');
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="' . basename($filePath) . '"');
header('Expires: 0');
header('Cache-Control: must-revalidate');
header('Pragma: public');
header('Content-Length: ' . filesize($filePath));
readfile($filePath);
exit;
} else {
echo 'File not found.';
}
?>
Explanation:
File Uploading:
The HTML form (upload_form.html) allows users to select a file (<input type="file" name="fileToUpload">) and submit it to upload.php
for processing.
upload.php checks various conditions like file existence, size, and type before moving the file to the uploads/ directory using
move_uploaded_file().
File Downloading:
download.php checks if the specified file (files/document.pdf in this case) exists.
If the file exists, HTTP headers are set to initiate a file download (header() functions), and readfile() is used to output the file contents to the
client's browser.
Q12. Generating Images with PHP: Basics computer Graphics,Creating Image.
Basics of Computer Graphics in PHP
PHP provides several functions and libraries for generating and manipulating images, such as:
GD Library: A popular library in PHP for creating and manipulating images.
ImageMagick: Another powerful library for image processing and generation.

Creating an Image in PHP using GD Library

To create an image using PHP's GD library, you typically follow these steps:

Create a Blank Image:

Use imagecreatetruecolor() to create a new true color image.
$imageWidth = 400;
$imageHeight = 200;
$image = imagecreatetruecolor($imageWidth, $imageHeight);
Set Background Color (Optional):

Use imagecolorallocate() to set the background color of the image.

$backgroundColor = imagecolorallocate($image, 255, 255, 255); // White background
imagefill($image, 0, 0, $backgroundColor); // Fill the image with the background color

Draw Shapes and Text:

Use functions like imagefilledrectangle(), imageellipse(), imageline(), imagettftext() to draw shapes, lines, text, etc., on the image.
$textColor = imagecolorallocate($image, 0, 0, 0); // Black text color
imagettftext($image, 20, 0, 100, 100, $textColor, 'arial.ttf', 'Hello, World!');

Output the Image:

Use header() and imagepng() (or imagejpeg(), imagegif() depending on the desired format) to output the image to the browser or save it to
a file.
header('Content-Type: image/png');
imagepng($image);
imagedestroy($image); // Free up memory

Example:
Here's a basic example that creates a PNG image with text using GD library:
<?php
// Create a blank image
$imageWidth = 400;
$imageHeight = 200;
$image = imagecreatetruecolor($imageWidth, $imageHeight);

// Set background color

$backgroundColor = imagecolorallocate($image, 255, 255, 255); // White
imagefill($image, 0, 0, $backgroundColor);

// Set text color

$textColor = imagecolorallocate($image, 0, 0, 0); // Black

// Add text
imagettftext($image, 20, 0, 100, 100, $textColor, 'arial.ttf', 'Hello, World!');

// Output the image

header('Content-Type: image/png');
imagepng($image);

// Free up memory
imagedestroy($image);
?>
Explanation:
Creating a Blank Image: imagecreatetruecolor() creates a new true color image with the specified dimensions.
Setting Background Color: imagecolorallocate() allocates a color for the image.
Adding Text: imagettftext() adds TrueType text to the image.
Outputting the Image: header('Content-Type: image/png') sets the content type header to PNG, and imagepng() outputs the image to the
browser.
Freeing Memory: imagedestroy() frees up memory allocated to the image resource.