A PHP debugger checks for syntax and logical errors in PHP code, with varying quality, cost, and complexity. PHP is a server-side scripting language that adds code segments to HTML. Features include stepping, checkpoints, and redo/undo, and a stack trace function. A full PHP debugger IDE includes real-time output and the ability to switch code between development test computers and Internet servers. A PHP profiler can also be included.
A PHP debugger is a software program that evaluates PHP code for syntax and logical errors to enable a PHP script writer to work more efficiently. There are many such debuggers, and they vary in quality, cost, and complexity. Some work within a complete integrated development environment (IDE) with several sophisticated development tools, while others maintain a single function in a simple interface.
PHP Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) is a server-side scripting language that improves web page experience by providing dynamic content to the page in response to user input or other signals. PHP is a recursive acronym, which means the abbreviation is part of the name. The first letter, P, stands for PHP in the abbreviation.
Server-side software resides on the server, the computer that hosts the web page, and handles data manipulation and storage on the server as opposed to the user side, which is called the client side. It is a scripting language as PHP is not a fully developed language with a compiler to create executable files but rather adds code segments into the source code of the web page. The source code of the web page is written in hypertext markup language (HTML). PHP code can be thought of as specialized HTML code. For this reason, a PHP debugger must also include an HTML debugger.
PHP is popular because it is easy to learn and interfaces with Structured Query Language (SQL) databases and Apache, common server software, and is readily available for free to any developer. Because PHP is so accessible, new programmers are taking up the language and helping drive the market for a PHP debugger. Many of these programmers are familiar with WYSIWYG (WYSIWYG) web development tools such as Microsoft FrontPage® and want the same ease of use when developing PHP applications.
Features that a PHP debugger might see include stepping, checkpoints, and redo/undo. A debugger could keep a history of changes and allow the user to resume execution where desired. A stack trace function allows the developer to see the lines that have been executed and the value of variables before an error. A program’s ability to recognize syntax errors, which are often typos or simple misuse of commands, is a key to its usefulness. An intelligent debugger will anticipate what the syntax should be and automatically fix the error or suggest the fix to the user.
In a full PHP debugger IDE, parts of the display will be dedicated to real-time output from the running web page. It is possible for multiple scripts to run concurrently. The ability to switch code between development test computers and Internet servers without code changes is very useful. A PHP profiler can be included with a PHP debugger. This software tracks web page metrics, such as the number of open queries or the time it takes for the program to run.
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