Why php is called hypertext preprocessor?

Answer 1

Why is PHP called Hypertext Preprocessor?

The name "Hypertext Preprocessor" means that PHP processes hypertext (like HTML) before it’s sent to the browser.

PHP code runs on the server.

It generates HTML dynamically.

Then, it "preprocesses" the page — meaning the PHP code is executed first, and the result (usually HTML) is sent to the browser.

So it’s called a preprocessor because it processes code before delivering it to the user’s browser.

💡 Fun fact:

Originally, PHP stood for "Personal Home Page", but as the language evolved, it was renamed to "PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor" — a recursive acronym!

Answer 2

PHP is called Hypertext Preprocessor because it is a server-side scripting language designed specifically for web development, enabling the generation of dynamic web content. The term "hypertext" refers to the way web pages are linked and displayed in browsers, while "preprocessor" indicates that PHP code is executed on the server before the resulting HTML is sent to the client. This allows developers to create interactive and personalized web experiences by embedding PHP code within HTML. The acronym itself is a recursive one, as "PHP" stands for "PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor."