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More PHP Features

The scope of PHP is extensive. Many features have not neen included in this quick excursion into the land of PHP

• Object Oriented Programming
  The three basic principles of OOP, abstraction, encapsulation and inheritance, are supported in PHP.
  • new
  • class
  • extends
  • try catch finally
  • require
  • -> - pointer member access operator (more C++ than Java)
  The strength of OOP becomes apparant when combined with OO methodology in the engineering of significant software projects.
  
  
• Email
  
  • mail() function for simple local mail
  • class mime_mail for attachments
  • class smtp_mail accesses an SMTP server to deliver email
  • IMAP for remote mail access
  
  
  
• LDAP
  Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
  For phonebook type organisational applications, similar to databasing but with a high read to write ratio. Emerged as a more manageable directory service than X500. Pioneered by the University of Michigan, now in the hands of OpenLDAP
  
  
• Security
  The combination of PHP and Apache provides a well equipped toolkit for implementing secure web sites.
  • PHP safe_mode performs security checks before running PHP scripts
  • mcrypt libraries provide a range of secret key encryption algorithms
  • Secure Socket Layers (Apache mod_ssl)
  • suEXEC (switch user before EXECution) - a CGI wrapper
  • Apache authentication module mod_auth
  Just because these technologies are used does not mean that a site is secure. There is always a way in but that doesn't mean that you should leave the door unlocked.
  
  
• XML
  eXtensible Markup Language support is provided by James Clark's expat library
  
  
• PEAR
  "PHP Extension and Application Repository". A framework and distribution system for reusable PHP components. Includes PHP Foundation Classes (PFC) and PHP Extension Code Library (PECL).
  
  
• Smarty
  "Smart" template engine. Provides basic variable substitution and dynamic block functionality. Includes features such as configuration files, template functions, variable modifiers. Makes the functionality easy to use for both programmers and template designers. Highly scalable, structured approach to large scale development.

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