how to display a php variable in html

If you’re a new web developer, you’ve probably encountered PHP and HTML in your journey to creating dynamic web pages. PHP allows you to add interactivity to your website, and one common task is displaying PHP variables within your HTML code. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll show you how to seamlessly integrate PHP variables into your HTML pages.

What You’ll Need

Before we dive in, ensure you have:

  1. A web server with PHP support.
  2. A basic understanding of HTML.
  3. A text editor (like Notepad or Visual Studio Code).

Section 1: Setting Up Your PHP Environment

  1. Install a Local Server: If you’re just starting, consider installing a local server like XAMPP or WAMP. These tools provide a simple way to run PHP on your computer for testing.
  2. Create a PHP File: Start by creating a new file with a .php extension. This is where your PHP code will live.

Section 2: Declaring and Assigning PHP Variables

In PHP, you can declare variables by using the dollar sign $ followed by the variable name. Here’s an example:

$name = "John";

You can assign any value you want to your PHP variable.

Section 3: Embedding PHP in HTML

To display a PHP variable in an HTML document, follow these easy steps:

1. Create a PHP Script Block

In your HTML file, you’ll need to embed PHP code within <?php and ?> tags. This tells the server to interpret the enclosed code as PHP.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Display PHP Variable in HTML</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>
      <?php
        // Your PHP code goes here
      ?>
    </h1>
</body>
</html>

2. Insert Your PHP Variable

Now, inside the PHP block, you can insert the PHP variable you want to display.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Display PHP Variable in HTML</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>
      <?php
        $name = "John";
        echo $name; // Displays the variable content
      ?>
    </h1>
</body>
</html>

In this example, we’ve declared the $name variable and used the echo statement to output its value.

3. Viewing the Result

Save your file with a .php extension (e.g., index.php) instead of the previouse .html and upload it to a web server or run it locally using a server environment like XAMPP or WAMP. When you open the file in your browser, you’ll see “John” displayed on the page.

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Hi there! I am Avic Ndugu.

I have published 100+ blog posts on HTML, CSS, Javascript, React and other related topics. When I am not writing, I enjoy reading, hiking and listening to podcasts.