New to PHP

[webdevdea]

I am currently in school for app development with php on my plate for the semester that starts in just a few days... We will be using the Cengage book -Php-Sql for the absolute beginner, I have started going over the book I have my Xampp installed correctly and if I just run php it usually works( im on chapter 2) I am on the part of the chapter where we get the html to access the php when i put information into the html form.. the problem is when i click submit it comes up just code... if I put into the browser the localhost/hiUser.php it comes up without the input information but it comes up as it is supposed to but when i try to start with the html like im supposed to it just doesnt work right.. how do i get my computer to recognize my php code.. and should I include my files so that you can understand better.. thanks so much .. Web Dev DeA