title: What is the purpose of .PHONY in a Makefile?
body: <p>What does <code>.PHONY</code> mean in a Makefile? I have gone through <a href="http://www.gnu.org/software/make/manual/make.html#Phony-Targets" rel="noreferrer">this</a>, but it is too complicated.</p>
  
  <p>Can somebody explain it to me in simple terms?</p>