Create a login in for a android application

I am trying to create a login in for my android application. The login would connect to a mysql database. I have no clear idea how to do this because you can't run php on android but I have heard people 开发者_如何学JAVAsay to have webservice that is written in php to have it connect with your android application.

Can some one help and show me a path. I heard of REST / SOAP but don't know how either on of them work.

Thanks for any help

There are so many different ways and different tutorials, here's one or just google android httpClient.

How-to: Android as a RESTful Client

and here are some examples on how to setup php and mysql:

PHP and MySql

PHP/MySQL Tutorial

Just take what you learn from those 3 tutorials and put them altogether. If you still don't understand after working through these, you will at least be in a better position to ask specific questions.