SilentSpeak – Real-Time Web Chat Application in PHP with AJAX & Bootstrap

SilentSpeak is a web-based real-time chat application developed using PHP, AJAX, and the Bootstrap framework. It facilitates seamless communication between users on the same server (typically localhost or LAN environments). Designed for speed, simplicity, and efficiency, SilentSpeak delivers an intuitive user interface and robust backend message handling without the need for page reloads. With built-in chat history management and an automated cleanup system, it's an excellent solution for internal messaging in classrooms, small teams, or personal projects.

✨ Features

🔄 Real-Time Communication: Uses AJAX to send and receive messages instantly without reloading the page.

💬 Clean & Responsive UI: Bootstrap-powered interface that works smoothly across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.

🗑️ Chat History Management: Clear chat history with a single click to maintain privacy or declutter conversations.

⚙️ Automated Cleanup System: Includes PHP and BAT scripts to automatically remove old messages and maintain performance.

💡 Simple Installation: Just extract, configure, and run on XAMPP or any Apache+PHP server setup.

🔐 Security Best Practices: Sanitize input and restrict access to admin functions like chat clearing and cleanup.

🔐 Security Best Practices

Use htmlspecialchars() to sanitize user input.

Restrict access to clear_chat.php and cleanup.php with .htaccess or token-based authentication.

Implement proper CORS headers if expanding to remote access.

💻 System Requirements

• PHP 7.4 or higher
• Apache Server (via XAMPP or similar stack)
• Modern Web Browser (with JavaScript enabled)
• Bootstrap Framework (already included in the project)