1. RESTful API: One way to integrate PHP with mobile apps is by creating a RESTful API in PHP. The API can handle requests from the mobile app and return data in a format that the app can understand, such as JSON or XML. The mobile app can then use this data to display information to the user or perform actions.

2. Database Integration: PHP can be used to interact with databases such as MySQL or PostgreSQL. The mobile app can send requests to the PHP backend to retrieve or update data in the database. The PHP code can handle the database queries and return the results to the mobile app.

3. Authentication and User Management: PHP can be used to handle user authentication and user management for the mobile app. The PHP code can verify the user’s login credentials and generate a token or session ID to authenticate future requests. It can also handle user registration, password reset, and other user management functions.

4. Push Notifications: PHP can be used to send push notifications to mobile app users. The PHP code can interact with push notification services such as Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) or Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) to send notifications to specific devices or groups of devices.

5. File Upload and Storage: PHP can handle file upload and storage for mobile apps. The app can send a file to the PHP backend, which can then save the file to a server and return a file ID or URL to the app. The PHP code can also handle file retrieval and deletion requests from the app.

6. Real-time Communication: PHP can be used to create real-time communication channels between the mobile app and server. This can be done using technologies such as WebSockets or long polling. The PHP code can handle incoming messages from the app and send real-time updates to the app.

7. Payment Integration: PHP can be used to integrate payment gateways such as PayPal or Stripe with the mobile app. The PHP code can handle the communication with the payment gateway API and process payments on behalf of the app.

Overall, PHP provides a flexible and powerful backend solution for integrating mobile apps with server functionality. It can handle various tasks such as API creation, database integration, user management, push notifications, file handling, real-time communication, and payment integration.