PHP is a server-side scripting language used to create dynamic web pages. It borrows syntax from languages like C, Java, and Perl. PHP code is embedded within HTML and executed by the web server to produce dynamic web page content. It can also be used to create pages that retrieve and display data from a MySQL database. The document provides examples of PHP code and lists requirements like MySQL, Apache, and FileZilla. It explains how PHP allows for interactive features and connecting to databases to power sites. PHP code is executed on the server, while HTML code is executed in the browser. The document also outlines how to configure and verify a PHP development environment on Windows.