Learning PHP: A Gentle Introduction to the Web’s Most Popular Language

If you want to get started with PHP, this book is essential. Author David Sklar (PHP Cookbook) guides you through aspects of the language you need to build dynamic server-side websites. By exploring features of PHP 5.x and the exciting enhancements in the latest release, PHP 7, you’ll learn how to work with web servers, browsers, databases, and web services. End-of-chapter exercises help you make the lessons stick.

Whether you’re a hobbyist looking to build dynamic websites, a frontend developer ready to add server-side programs, or an experienced programmer who wants to get up to speed with this language, this gentle introduction also covers aspects of modern PHP, such as internationalization, using PHP from the command line, and package management.

• Learn how PHP interacts with browsers and servers
• Understand data types, variables, logic, looping, and other language basics
• Explore how to use arrays, functions, and objects
• Build and validate web forms
• Work with databases and session management
• Access APIs to interact with web services and other websites
• Jumpstart your project with popular PHP web application frameworks

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Orientation and First Steps
Chapter 2. Data: Working with Text and Numbers
Chapter 3. Logic: Making Decisions and Repeating Yourself
Chapter 4. Groups of Data: Working with Arrays
Chapter 5. Groups of Logic: Functions and Files
Chapter 6. Data and Logic Together: Working with Objects
Chapter 7. Exchanging Information with Users: Making Web Forms
Chapter 8. Remembering Information: Databases
Chapter 9. Working with Files
Chapter 10. Remembering Users: Cookies and Sessions
Chapter 11. Talking to Other Websites and Services
Chapter 12. Debugging
Chapter 13. Testing: Ensuring Your Program Does the Right Thing
Chapter 14. Software Engineering Practices You Should Be Aware Of
Chapter 15. Handling Dates and Times
Chapter 16. Package Management
Chapter 17. Sending Email
Chapter 18. Frameworks
Chapter 19. Command-Line PHP
Chapter 20. Internationalization and Localization
Appendix A. Installing and Configuring the PHP Engine
Appendix B. Answers to Exercises