General Discussions

**jamestl2** · 02-12-2008, 08:28 PM

PHP stands for Hypertext Preprocessor, right?

So why is it lettered "PHP" instead of "HPP"?

**serandfae** · 02-12-2008, 08:50 PM

Because if HP was in it first it wouldn't work.

**jamestl2** · 02-12-2008, 08:56 PM

What do you mean Tim?

I'm asking why don't they call it HPP (Hypertext PreProcessor)?

**serandfae** · 02-12-2008, 09:14 PM

Just a bad joke. I can't stand anything made by HP. Get it? Guess that's one of those jokes you've gotta pull the pin on....

**jamestl2** · 02-12-2008, 09:16 PM

Oh,

The company abbreviation was in the back of my mind, but wasn't sure that's what you were referring to

.

**vangogh** · 02-12-2008, 09:20 PM

PHP kind of has two origins. It was originally called personal home pages (I think?) hence the PHP and then became PHP Hypertext Preprocessor so again PHP. It was named similar to GNU (GNU is Not Unix).

**serandfae** · 02-12-2008, 09:21 PM

Well, I just looked it up. Apparently the first initial stands for PHP, so PHP stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor. WTF? That kind of bad form is usually reserved for the military, like a toothpick being referred to as a "stimulator, interdental".

**jamestl2** · 02-12-2008, 09:26 PM

OK, so if I'm understanding this correctly, it stands fully for:
Personal Home Pages Hypertext Preprocessor

**vangogh** · 02-12-2008, 09:38 PM

I think the personal home page part was dropped so it's just PHP Hypertext Preprocessor now. The personal home pages part may not even be entirely true. It might be something that was later made up to fit the acronym.

**NullPointer** · 02-12-2008, 10:04 PM

The infinite recursion reminds me that I need to get my next project fixed before its due...

**ForrestCroce** · 02-12-2008, 10:39 PM

Doesn't that make it PHPHP, short for php hypertext processor?

**jamestl2** · 02-13-2008, 02:10 AM

Well, if it does mean PHP Hypertext Processor, then what does the first PHP stand for? (If not personal home page)

**NullPointer** · 02-13-2008, 02:55 AM

Its an infinite recursion. PHP = PHP Hypertext Processor = PHP Hypertext Processor Hypertext Processor = PHP Hypertext Processor Hypertext Processor Hypertext Processor... forever.

**Learning Newbie** · 02-13-2008, 01:16 PM

It's a bacronym. The infinite recursion is bounded by an invariant - that tacit understanding not to recurse.

**fastreplies** · 02-13-2008, 05:18 PM

Maybe it stays for Purging Horrendous Puke?

fastreplies

**Truly** · 02-14-2008, 01:32 AM

/me will have to make a script that completes the name by continuously replacing PHP with PHP Hypertext Processor. Im sure if I do it long enough it will eventually find an answer

**darfun** · 02-14-2008, 01:44 AM

Please Help Please = PHP
heheheheheh