Part 5: HTML Forms and PHP Programming

1. What does it mean when Eli says that HTML creates static pages while PHP creates dynamic pages?

A static page, like a form, would be created in HTML. HTML then passes this information to PHP, which can do things dynamically with the information submitted from that form, such as writing it to a file or database, or sending it through email.

2. In this exercise, you will use an HTML Textbox, an Option Box, and a Radio Button. What function does each of these input methods provide?

A text box is where you can type in text such as a name or email address. An option box gives a list of options that can be selected from a drop down menu, such as T-Shirt sizes (small/medium/large). Radio buttons give a number of options, but the user can only select one.

notepad++ Example Program

The link above is the sample code created with Eli's demonstration of HTML forms and PHP programming. The link initially leads you to a simple HTML form which contains a text box that will accept the user's name, an option box which will allows the user to choose a shirt size from a drop down menu, and a radio button that will allow the user to choose one gender. After hitting submit, PHP will process the code and output the answers that the user has supplied.