Many websites are developed using PHP, JavaScript, and HTML. HTML and JavaScript are the front-end languages, while PHP is the back-end language that makes a website dynamic. An example of a website developed using PHP is WordPress.org and WordPress.com. The content management system demonstrates the features of a PHP-based website and has long been used by businesses, individuals, and non-profits to develop other websites. Through the use of plugins created by others to improve functionality, it has become much easier to design a website nowadays. If you want to develop a website using WordPress, you can visit WordPress.org to download it as a developer or use drag-and-drop tools for simpler site creation.

If you want to develop a website from scratch, follow the steps below.


1. Setting Up Your Development Environment

Before writing code, you need a local server that supports PHP. Popular tools include XAMPP (Windows, Linux, Mac), WAMP (Windows), and MAMP (Mac).

  • Download and install one of these programs.

  • Start Apache and MySQL from the control panel.

  • Open your browser and visit http://localhost.

  • Create a database using PhpMyAdmin if your site will collect visitor data. This allows you to create tables for storing information.

  • Create your project folder inside htdocs (XAMPP) or www (WAMP).

  • Open your site in a browser like Chrome to begin working.

2. Project Folder Structure

Keeping your project organized is essential. A typical folder structure for a website might include:

  • index.php – Homepage

  • about.php – About page

  • contact.php – Contact page

  • includes/ – Reusable PHP components (e.g., header, footer)

  • assets/ – Design and media files

    • css/ – Stylesheets

    • js/ – JavaScript files

    • images/ – Image files

  • database/ – Optional folder for database files (e.g., db_connect.php)

3. Creating the Main Page

The main page is usually called index.php. Web servers automatically look for this file when someone visits your site.

The page structure includes:

Document Type and HTML Structure

Every page starts by defining the document type and main HTML elements. This sets the framework and tells the browser how to interpret the page.

Head Section

Contains metadata such as the page title and character set. 

Header Section

Usually contains the main site heading or navigation.

Main Content Area

The primary content goes here.

Footer Section.

 Appears at the bottom and may include copyright information or additional links.

4. Styling with CSS

To control the appearance of your page, you can use internal or external CSS. For example, in assets/css/style.css, you could define fonts, colors, spacing, and layouts for headers, navigation, and other elements.

5. Adding JavaScript

JavaScript provides interactivity to your site. For instance, in assets/js/script.js, you can run code when the page loads, handle user interactions, or manipulate elements dynamically.

6. Using PHP for Dynamic Content

PHP allows your website to generate dynamic content, such as displaying the current date, including other files, or loading content based on user input.

7. Connecting to a Database

To store or retrieve data, PHP can connect to a database. For example, using MySQL:

  • Specify server name, username, password, and database name.

  • Establish a connection using PHP functions.

  • Handle errors if the connection fails.

This allows you to save visitor messages, retrieve content dynamically, or manage user accounts.

8. Testing and Deployment

  • Test your site locally using localhost.

  • Fix any layout or code issues as you go.

  • Upload your project to a hosting provider via FTP or control panel.

  • Ensure your domain points to your hosting server.

Testing throughout development helps identify errors early and prevents confusion later.

9. Additional Features

Once your site works, you can enhance it by adding:

  • A contact form that saves messages to a database or sends emails

  • A secure dashboard to display information

  • Login and registration systems

  • AJAX for dynamic content updates

  • Frameworks like Bootstrap or TailwindCSS for design

  • Security measures like form validation and data sanitization