Functions are used to perform a well defined task that is normally repeated at various places within a web site, web application, or other software application. The function sometimes needs certain information before performing its task, and sometimes returns a value to the calling page or program.

An example of how to use a simple function in PHP:

 function showMessage() {
echo "{$_SESSION["message"]}"; }

The above example shows a very simple function that displays the contents of a session variable called 'message'. The idea being that while a user is using a web site, etc, various messages are generated and stored in the 'message' session variable. Whenever the showMessage function is called, the contents of the session variable are displayed. So, for example, when the user logs on, you could display a message saying that they have done so. Likewise, when they log off, a different message could be displayed.

Calling a function

To call the showMessage function, you would just need to include the line:

showMessage()

in the web page (wrapped in php tags to distinguish it from normall HTML).

Passing values to a function

Often, a function requires one or more input values in order to perform its task. For example, take the following example that takes two numbers as input, and adds them together. The result is then returned to the calling web page or program.

function addNumbers($number1,$number2) {
$answer = $number1 + $number2;
return $answer; }

In the calling program we would have something similar to the following:

$number1 = "5";
$number2 = "6";
$sumOfNumbers = addNumbers($number1,$number2);
echo "$sumOfNumbers";

Obviously, in a real program you would not have the numbers hardcoded like this, but they would be obtained from user input or by some other means. Notice also that although the name of the returned variable is $answer, the calling program makes no reference to that. We could, if we wanted to, change the calling program to:

$answer = addNumbers($number1,$number2);
echo "$answer";

which might make things slightly easier to understand.

Most beginners get screwed up when it comes to website building. Often than not, this is what exactly holding them back to make money online. If you are one of them, let me tell you one thing for sure; building websites is not as difficult as what you might think. Well, I am not saying that it is just a piece of cake either, but learning to build websites worth the investment and effort.

This article is about that, learning to build websites the easy way; much easier than you might ever think before...

Easy Website Theme

Everyone knows something about anything, including you. This can be your passion, hobby or experience from the job. You will get nothing if you keep that knowledge for yourself and even if you share them in the offline world. However, internet can be totally different. You can get paid for your knowledge sharing through various monetization plans. It works for me and will work for you too.

But then you might ask, If building website is that easy, why most fails building a successful website?

The answer is simply because, they fail to recognize and act upon the significant difference between offline and online trade. In the Internet, people look for information through Search Engine (SE) and web pages that ranked in the first page will benefit the most. Therefore, it is critical for you to optimize your web pages for certain targeted keywords so that you can rank high in the SE Ranking Position (SERP).

Easy Web Building Tool

You can build your website with other free website building software. Wordpress and Blogger are probably the most popular free web building tool available in the Internet. However, both offer less flexibility and professional looks since they are geared towards personal blog or online diary than for business ventures. Nevertheless, you can use both to get some feel of how to build a great website.

In my opinion, you should consider buying advanced website builder if you are serious about making money online. These softwares offer additional features compared to free tools such as flexible web editing and built in SE Optimization (SEO) tools. The initial investment can be easily recovered by the earnings potential you will be getting. I prefer Site Build It as my web building tool.

Easy Traffic Generation

Traffic is the one that will determine your success. Although the more traffic is better, nothing can beat the targeted one ever. Therefore, keep your marketing campaign to the most reliable and targeted sources so that you can enjoy very high conversion rate (percentage of visitors that turn to customers). Article marketing is free and among the most effective Internet marketing campaign.

Since you are the master or the so called "guru" in your field, writing a good article should not a big deal at all. Keep on writing great contents to attract more traffic. Best of all, it works forever. Part from that, you can connect your website with others through some social networking. Networking builds relationship and trust, which then makes your monetization effort much easier.

Things which exist on one's personal computer are referred to as "client side", and on the web host as "server side". The average internet user might have first heard "client" in the context of applications installed on the personal computer, such as "email client". Those mail systems which can be used from anywhere are "web mail", and exist on the server side.

In practical terms, all your office suite programs, media players, programs to edit images, most games, and so forth, are probably client side, although "utility" type functions are evolving on the server side. For example, users can now share data on server side spreadsheets and word processors.

Most browser function is defined on the client side, perhaps with some JavaScript add-ons for interaction, calendars, multi-level menus, animated graphics, et cetera.

Business enterprise level content management, databases, store systems, and much more are on the server side. Server side programming can range from simple CGI scripts ("Common Gateway Interface") written in a variety of languages, such as Perl. Large databases can be built in the popular open-source MySQL, and accessed through interfaces programmed in PHP.

First embodiments of such CGI functions started a new copy of the executing module for each command request. To avoid server shutdown from excessive workload, host programmers have evolved better ways, but these need not concern us ordinary mortals.

Fortunately for this author, a web site builder does not need to be an expert in all those server side tools in order to use them. Most hosting companies now offer access to pre-installed modules. Persons wanting better features can purchase modules from third parties to upload and install, such as shopping carts, which are backed by support staff, user, or similar.

If the site builder lacks a very fast connection to the server, s/he can install client side copies of operating systems for SQL, PHP, other... to emulate behavior on the host. Sometimes the emulation is less than perfect, such as with different release generations, so adjustments may be needed after upload.

Why would anyone bother to do this? One reason is that PHP can take over parts of HTML coding, such as with "include files" which represent often used sections of header, footer, body, or serve more robustly than JavaScript for interactivity and utility functions.

If the connection is fast, however, present day "shared hosting" and "virtual private/dedicated servers" make it very difficult for one domain owner to break the system for other users. And only privileged employees have access to the power switch. VPS allows power users to get more behind the scenes than can the SH customer.

Caveat: Whether your HTML writing is done directly on host account or on personal computer for upload, keep an off-site copy against the day your hosting company drops or back levels your content. It will happen.

What ever the approach a person uses for working on the internet, all these elements are examples of "distributed processing", a concept which some large mainframe computer manufacturers had hoped would never be realized. Now that the small guys and gals have forced the issue, by using ever more powerful personal computers in place of dumb terminals, the big dogs have learned to love and profit from it.