Server-side scripting

Meaning

Server-side scripting is code that runs on the web server and prepares a response before it is sent to the visitor's browser. The visitor receives only the finished output, such as HTML or JSON, which is why view source never shows the PHP instructions behind a page. This lets a site read a database, check a login or build a different page for each visitor. A typical example is a product page assembled from stored records at the moment it is requested. See also: Web server, HTTP request, and the guide How PHP Works on the Server: Request and Response Explained.