PHP interview questions and answers for

freshers
Welcome !!!. In this section we are providing you some frequently
asked PHP Interview Questions which will help you to win
interview session easily. Candidates must read this section,Then by
heart the questions and answers. Also, review sample answers and
advice on how to answer these typical interview questions. PHP is
an important part of the web world, and every web developer
should have the basic knowledge in PHP.Common PHP interview
questions, which should help you become a best PHP codder. We
hope you find these questions useful. If you are an interviewer, Take
the time to read the common interview questions you will most
likely be asked.
1. What is PHP?
PHP is a server side scripting language commonly used for web
applications. PHP has many frameworks and cms for creating
websites.Even a non technical person can cretae sites using its
CMS.WordPress,osCommerce are the famus CMS of php.It is
also an object oriented programming language like java,Csharp etc.It is very eazy for learning
2. What is the use of "echo" in php?
It is used to print a data in the webpage, Example: <?php
echo 'Car insurance'; ?> , The following code print the text in
the webpage
3. How to include a file to a php page?
We can include a file using "include() " or "require()" function
with file path as its parameter.
4. What's the difference between include and require?

If the file is not found by require(), it will cause a fatal error

and halt the execution of the script. If the file is not found by
include(), a warning will be issued, but execution will continue.
5. require_once(), require(), include().What is difference
between them?
require() includes and evaluates a specific file, while
require_once() does that only if it has not been included before
(on the same page). So, require_once() is recommended to
use when you want to include a file where you have a lot of
functions for example. This way you make sure you don't
include the file more times and you will not get the "function
re-declared" error.
6. Differences between GET and POST methods ?
We can send 1024 bytes using GET method but POST method
can transfer large amount of data and POST is the secure
method than GET method .
7. How to declare an array in php?
Eg : var $arr = array('apple', 'grape', 'lemon');
8. What is the use of 'print' in php?
This is not actually a real function, It is a language construct.
So you can use with out parentheses with its argument list.
Example print('PHP Interview questions');
print 'Job Interview ');
9. What is use of in_array() function in php ?
in_array used to checks if a value exists in an array
10.

What is use of count() function in php ?

count() is used to count all elements in an array, or

something in an object

11.

Whats the difference between include and require?

Its how they handle failures. If the file is not found by

require(), it will cause a fatal error and halt the execution of
the script. If the file is not found by include(), a warning will be
issued, but execution will continue.
12.
What is the difference between Session and
Cookie?
The main difference between sessions and cookies is that
sessions are stored on the server, and cookies are stored on
the users computers in the text file format. Cookies can not
hold multiple variables,But Session can hold multiple
variables.We can set expiry for a cookie,The session only
remains active as long as the browser is open.Users do not
have access to the data you stored in Session,Since it is stored
in the server.Session is mainly used for login/logout purpose
while cookies using for user activity tracking
13.

How to set cookies in PHP?

Setcookie("sample", "ram", time()+3600);

14.

How to Retrieve a Cookie Value?

eg : echo $_COOKIE["user"];
15.
How to create a session? How to set a value in
session ? How to Remove data from a session?
Create session : session_start();
Set value into session : $_SESSION['USER_ID']=1;
Remove data from a session : unset($_SESSION['USER_ID'];
16.

what types of loops exist in php?

for,while,do while and foreach (NB: You should learn its usage)
17.

How to create a mysql connection?

mysql_connect(servername,username,password);
18.

How to select a database?

mysql_select_db($db_name);
19.
How to execute an sql query? How to fetch its
result ?
$my_qry = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM `users` WHERE
`u_id`='1'; ");
$result = mysql_fetch_array($my_qry);
echo $result['First_name'];
20.

Write a program using while loop

$my_qry = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM `users` WHERE

`u_id`='1'; ");
while($result = mysql_fetch_array($my_qry))
{
echo $result['First_name'.]."<br/>";
}
21.
How we can retrieve the data in the result set of
MySQL using PHP?
o 1. mysql_fetch_row
o 2. mysql_fetch_array
o 3. mysql_fetch_object
o 4. mysql_fetch_assoc
22.

What is the use of explode() function ?

Syntax : array explode ( string $delimiter , string $string [, int

$limit ] );
This function breaks a string into an array. Each of the array
elements is a substring of string formed by splitting it on
boundaries formed by the string delimiter.

23.
What is the difference between explode() and
split() functions?
Split function splits string into array by regular expression.
Explode splits a string into array by string.
24.
What is the use of mysql_real_escape_string()
function?
It is used to escapes special characters in a string for use in an
SQL statement
25.
Write down the code for save an uploaded file in
php.
if ($_FILES["file"]["error"] == 0)
{
move_uploaded_file($_FILES["file"]["tmp_name"],
"upload/" . $_FILES["file"]["name"]);
echo "Stored in: " . "upload/" . $_FILES["file"]["name"];
}
26.

How to create a text file in php?

$filename = "/home/user/guest/newfile.txt";
$file = fopen( $filename, "w" );
if( $file == false )
{
echo ( "Error in opening new file" ); exit();
}
fwrite( $file, "This is a simple test\n" );
fclose( $file );
27.
How to strip whitespace (or other characters) from
the beginning and end of a string ?
The trim() function removes whitespaces or other predefined
characters from both sides of a string.
28.

What is the use of header() function in php ?

The header() function sends a raw HTTP header to a client

browser.Remember that this function must be called before
sending the actual out put.For example, You do not print any
HTML element before using this function.
29.

How to redirect a page in php?

The following code can be used for

it, header("Location:index.php");
30.

How stop the execution of a php scrip ?

exit() function is used to stop the execution of a page

31.
How to set a page as a home page in a php based
site ?
index.php is the default name of the home page in php based
sites
32.

How to find the length of a string?

strlen() function used to find the length of a string

33.

what is the use of rand() in php?

It is used to generate random numbers.If called without the

arguments it returns a pseudo-random integer between 0 and
getrandmax(). If you want a random number between 6 and
12 (inclusive), for example, use rand(6, 12).This function does
not generate cryptographically safe values, and should not be
used for cryptographic uses. If you want a cryptographically
secure value, consider using openssl_random_pseudo_bytes()
instead.
34.

what is the use of isset() in php?

This function is used to determine if a variable is set and is not

NULL

35.
What is the difference between
mysql_fetch_array() and mysql_fetch_assoc() ?
mysql_fetch_assoc function Fetch a result row as an
associative array, Whilemysql_fetch_array() fetches an
associative array, a numeric array, or both
36.

What is mean by an associative array?

Associative arrays are arrays that use string keys is called

associative arrays.
37.
What is the importance of "method" attribute in a
html form?
"method" attribute determines how to send the form-data into
the server.There are two methods, get and post. The default
method is get.This sends the form information by appending it
on the URL.Information sent from a form with the POST
method is invisible to others and has no limits on the amount
of information to send.
38.
What is the importance of "action" attribute in a
html form?
The action attribute determines where to send the form-data
in the form submission.
39.
What is the use of "enctype" attribute in a html
form?
The enctype attribute determines how the form-data should be
encoded when submitting it to the server. We need to set
enctype as "multipart/form-data"when we are using a form
for uploading files
40.
How to create an array of a group of items inside an
HTML form ?
We can create input fields with same name for "name"
attribute with squire bracket at the end of the name of the

name attribute, It passes data as an array to PHP.

For instance :
<input name="MyArray[]" /> <input name="MyArray[]" />
name="MyArray[]" /> <input name="MyArray[]" />

41.

<input

Define Object-Oriented Methodology

Object orientation is a software/Web development

methodology that is based on the modeling a real world
system.An object is the core concept involved in the object
orientation. An object is the copy of the real world enity.An
object oriented model is a collection of objects and its interrelationships
42.

How do you define a constant?

Using define() directive, like define ("MYCONSTANT",150)

43.

How send email using php?

To send email using PHP, you use the mail() function.This

mail() function accepts 5 parameters as follows (the last 2 are
optional). You need webserver, you can't send email from
localhost. eg : mail($to,$subject,$message,$headers);
44.

How to find current date and time?

The date() function provides you with a means of retrieving

the current date and time, applying the format integer
parameters indicated in your script to the timestamp provided
or the current local time if no timestamp is given. In simplified
terms, passing a time parameter is optional - if you don't, the
current timestamp will be used.
45.
Difference between mysql_connect and
mysql_pconnect?
There is a good page in the php manual on the subject, in
short mysql_pconnect() makes a persistent connection to the
database which means a SQL link that do not close when the

execution of your script ends. mysql_connect()provides only

for the databasenewconnection while using mysql_pconnect ,
the function would first try to find a (persistent) link that's
already open with the same host, username and password. If
one is found, an identifier for it will be returned instead of
opening a new connection... the connection to the SQL server
will not be closed when the execution of the script ends.
Instead, the link will remain open for future use.
46.

What is the use of "ksort" in php?

It is used for sort an array by key in reverse order.

47.

What is the difference between $var and $$var?

They are both variables. But $var is a variable with a fixed

name. $$var is a variable who's name is stored in $var. For
example, if $var contains "message", $$var is the same as
$message.
48.

What are the encryption techniques in PHP

MD5 PHP implements the MD5 hash algorithm using the md5
function,
eg : $encrypted_text = md5 ($msg);
mcrypt_encrypt :- string mcrypt_encrypt ( string $cipher ,
string $key , string $data , string $mode [, string $iv ] );
Encrypts plaintext with given parameters
49.

What is the use of the function htmlentities?

htmlentities Convert all applicable characters to HTML entities

This function is identical to htmlspecialchars() in all ways,
except with htmlentities(), all characters which have HTML
character entity equivalents are translated into these entities.
50.

How to delete a file from the system

Unlink() deletes the given file from the file system.

51.

How to get the value of current session id?

session_id() function returns the session id for the current

session.
52.
What are the differences between
mysql_fetch_array(), mysql_fetch_object(),
mysql_fetch_row()?
o Mysql_fetch_array Fetch a result row as an associative
array, a numeric array, or both.
o mysql_fetch_object ( resource result ) Returns an object
with properties that correspond to the fetched row and
moves the internal data pointer ahead. Returns an object
with properties that correspond to the fetched row, or
FALSE if there are no more rows
o mysql_fetch_row() fetches one row of data from the
result associated with the specified result identifier. The
row is returned as an array. Each result column is stored
in an array offset, starting at offset 0.
53.

What are the different types of errors in PHP ?

Here are three basic types of runtime errors in PHP:

o 1. Notices: These are trivial, non-critical errors that PHP
encounters while executing a script - for example,
accessing a variable that has not yet been defined. By
default, such errors are not displayed to the user at all although you can change this default behavior.
o 2. Warnings: These are more serious errors - for
example, attempting to include() a file which does not
exist. By default, these errors are displayed to the user,
but they do not result in script termination.
o 3. Fatal errors: These are critical errors - for example,
instantiating an object of a non-existent class, or calling a

non-existent function. These errors cause the immediate

termination of the script, and PHP's default behavior is to
display them to the user when they take place.
54.

what is sql injection ?

SQL injection is a malicious code injection technique.It

exploiting SQL vulnerabilities in Web applications
55.

What is x+ mode in fopen() used for?

Read/Write. Creates a new file. Returns FALSE and an error if

file already exists
56.
How to find the position of the first occurrence of a
substring in a string
strpos() is used to find the position of the first occurrence of
a substring in a string
57.

What is PEAR?

PEAR is a framework and distribution system for reusable PHP

components.The project seeks to provide a structured library
of code, maintain a system for distributing code and for
managing code packages, and promote a standard coding
style.PEAR is broken into three classes: PEAR Core
Components, PEAR Packages, and PECL Packages. The Core
Components include the base classes of PEAR and PEAR_Error,
along with database, HTTP, logging, and e-mailing functions.
The PEAR Packages include functionality providing for
authentication, networking, and file system features, as well as
tools for working with XML and HTML templates.
58.

Distinguish between urlencode and urldecode?

This method is best when encode a string to used in a query

part of a url. it returns a string in which all non-alphanumeric
characters except -_. have replece with a percentege(%) sign .
the urldecode->Decodes url to encode string as any %and

other symbole are decode by the use of the urldecode()

function.
59.

What are the different errors in PHP?

In PHP, there are three types of runtime errors, they are:

Warnings:
These are important errors. Example: When we try to include
() file which is not available. These errors are showed to the
user by default but they will not result in ending the script.
Notices:
These errors are non-critical and trivial errors that come across
while executing the script in PHP. Example: trying to gain
access the variable which is not defined. These errors are not
showed to the users by default even if the default behavior is
changed.
Fatal errors:
These are critical errors. Example: instantiating an object of a
class which does not exist or a non-existent function is called.
These errors results in termination of the script immediately
and default behavior of PHP is shown to them when they take
place. Twelve different error types are used to represent these
variations internally.