A common definition on the web for PHP is:
PHP is "Self-referentially short for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor"
What the heck does that mean?
What it really should be:
PHP is an acronym for the "Personal Home Page" scripting language developed by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994 for use in his own home page.
KISS : Simple is beautiful.
If I were studying computer languages now instead of 35 years ago I'd throw up my hands in despair. The more education one gets the more one seems to obfuscate the really simple things.
It really was just a rant from an old coder in a moment of reflection.
Khm... Even if you ask Rasmus himself about what PHP means, he will say that it means PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor. PHP has outgrown its original name and obtained this new one in 1998. The history chapter provides details, and you will find the candidates for the new name of PHP in the news archives <
http://php.net/news-1998.php>.
Regards,
Gabor Hojtsy