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Christian Wenz

This course will teach you how to get started with PHP, the most widely used server language on the web.

PHP is the most widely used server language on the web. In this course, PHP: Getting Started, you’ll learn to make your first steps with PHP. First, you’ll explore processing form data. Next, you’ll discover storing and retrieving data from a database. Finally, you’ll learn how to create a simple, password-protected database-backed application. When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge of PHP needed to dive deeper into selected topics.

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PHP Form Processing MySQL Database Management Password Protection

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview
Diving into PHP
Processing Form Data
Using MySQL with PHP
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Builds a strong foundation for beginners in PHP web development
Provides hands-on experience with PHP through exercises and activities
Develops practical skills in processing form data and managing databases using MySQL
Taught by Christian Wenz, an experienced instructor in PHP development
Suitable for individuals interested in building web applications or enhancing their PHP skills

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Reviews summary

Beginner-friendly php 8 foundation

According to students, this course is a largely positive and excellent starting point for learning PHP 8. Many commend the instructor's clarity and engaging teaching style, making complex concepts accessible. The course provides a solid foundational understanding, especially with its practical examples and hands-on demos for form data and MySQL integration. While ideal for absolute beginners, a few learners noted that the pacing can be quick in later sections, and some desired more challenging exercises or real-world projects for deeper application. Overall, it stands as a strong introduction to PHP for new developers.
Demos and hands-on examples enhance learning and application.
"...the hands-on examples really helped solidify my understanding. I especially appreciated the sections on form data and MySQL integration."
"The practical examples for working with databases were particularly useful. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to understand the basics of PHP 8."
"The demos were helpful, although I wished there were more challenging exercises to really test my knowledge."
Instructor's clarity and engaging style aid understanding.
"The instructor explains complex concepts with such clarity, and the hands-on examples really helped solidify my understanding."
"Excellent course! The explanations are clear and concise, making it easy to follow along..."
"Outstanding course for a first dive into PHP 8. The instructor's clear communication and step-by-step approach are commendable."
Perfectly tailored for new learners, building foundational skills.
"Absolutely fantastic introduction to PHP 8. ... This course is perfect for beginners."
"Excellent course! The explanations are clear and concise, making it easy to follow along even if you're completely new to server-side programming."
"Truly a gem for beginners! The instructor's teaching style is engaging and makes learning PHP 8 enjoyable."
Some learners wish for more challenging exercises or projects.
"The content is up-to-date and the pace is just right for a beginner. The demos were helpful, although I wished there were more challenging exercises to really test my knowledge."
"Good course for a beginner in PHP. ... I would have liked more practical projects to apply the concepts to real-world scenarios."
"Provides a good foundation. ... I think adding more complex debugging scenarios or common pitfalls would enhance the learning experience."
Pace can be fast at times, depth mostly suited for absolute beginners.
"The course is okay. It covers the basics, but sometimes the instructor goes a bit fast, and I had to rewatch sections. The 'More Features' part felt a bit rushed."
"Found this course a bit too basic for my needs. I already know some PHP and was hoping for more advanced PHP 8 features, but it mostly covers fundamental concepts."
"Solid introduction. ... Some parts felt a bit rushed but overall a positive experience."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in PHP 8: Getting Started with these activities:
Review HTML and CSS
Strengthen your foundation by refreshing your knowledge of HTML and CSS, essential for web development.
Browse courses on HTML
Show steps
  • Review online resources or tutorials on HTML and CSS
  • Practice creating simple web pages using HTML and CSS
Practice PHP Syntax
Reinforce your understanding of PHP syntax through repetitive exercises.
Show steps
  • Complete the PHP interactive coding challenges on W3Schools website.
  • Attempt the PHP practice questions on HackerRank.
  • Solve the PHP coding puzzles on CodeChef.
Practice working with form data
Solidify your understanding of processing form data, a fundamental skill for web development.
Show steps
  • Create a simple web form with HTML and PHP
  • Add validation to ensure form data is valid
  • Process and display the form data using PHP
One other activity
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all four activities
Build a basic CRUD application
Reinforce your understanding of database interaction by creating a CRUD application, a common web development task.
Browse courses on CRUD
Show steps
  • Design a simple database schema
  • Create the necessary PHP scripts for data manipulation
  • Build a user interface to interact with the application

Career center

Learners who complete PHP 8: Getting Started will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Full-Stack Developer
A Full Stack Developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining both the front-end and back-end of a website or web application. They may work on a variety of projects, including: e-commerce websites, social media websites, and mobile applications. This course provides you with a foundation in PHP, which is a popular back-end programming language. It also provides a foundation for further study in full stack development, which will involve learning additional programming languages and technologies.
Database Administrator
A Database Administrator (DBA) is responsible for managing and maintaining databases, ensuring data integrity, security, and performance. They may also be responsible for: database design, implementation, and configuration; data backup and recovery; and database performance tuning. This course provides you with a foundational understanding of PHP, which can be helpful for DBAs who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases. It also provides a foundation for further study in database management.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain software systems. They may work on a variety of software applications, including: web applications, mobile applications, desktop applications, and embedded systems. This course provides you with a foundational understanding of PHP, which can be helpful for software engineers who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases. It also provides a foundation for further study in software engineering.
Data Scientist
A Data Scientist is responsible for extracting knowledge from data, using statistical and machine learning techniques. They may work on a variety of data science projects, including: data mining, data analysis, and predictive modeling. This course may be helpful for data scientists who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases. It also provides a foundation for further study in data science, which will involve learning additional programming languages and technologies.
Web Developer
A Web Developer is responsible for creating and maintaining websites, ensuring they are accessible, aesthetically pleasing, and user-friendly. They may be responsible for many aspects of the website’s functionality, including: design and layout, coding, scripting, debugging, and troubleshooting. This course provides you with a foundation in PHP, an essential language for web developers, although it will need to be supplemented with additional training in other programming languages and technologies to fully enter the field.
Information Security Analyst
An Information Security Analyst is responsible for protecting an organization’s IT infrastructure and data from cyberattacks and other threats. They may work on a variety of security projects, including: network security, data security, and cloud security. This course may be helpful for information security analysts who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases.
Computer Systems Analyst
A Computer Systems Analyst is responsible for studying, designing, and implementing computer systems. They may work on a variety of systems, including: business systems, information systems, and embedded systems. This course may be helpful for computer systems analysts who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases.
Web Designer
A Web Designer is responsible for creating the visual design of a website or web application. They may work on a variety of projects, including: e-commerce websites, social media websites, and mobile applications. This course may be helpful for web designers who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases.
UX Designer
A UX Designer is responsible for creating a user-friendly experience for websites and web applications. They may work on a variety of projects, including: e-commerce websites, social media websites, and mobile applications. This course may be helpful for UX designers who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases.
UI Designer
A UI Designer is responsible for creating the visual interface of a website or web application. They may work on a variety of projects, including: e-commerce websites, social media websites, and mobile applications. This course may be helpful for UI designers who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases.
Data Analyst
A Data Analyst is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. They may work on a variety of data analysis projects, including: market research, customer segmentation, and financial analysis. This course may be helpful for data analysts who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases. It also provides a foundation for further study in data analysis, which will involve learning additional programming languages and technologies.
Business Analyst
A Business Analyst is responsible for understanding the business needs of an organization and translating those needs into technical requirements. They may work on a variety of projects, including: requirements gathering, process improvement, and system analysis. This course may be helpful for business analysts who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases.
IT Manager
An IT Manager is responsible for planning, implementing, and managing an organization’s IT infrastructure, including hardware, software, networks, and data. They may also be responsible for: IT security, IT budgeting, and IT staff management. This course may be helpful for IT managers who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases.
Project Manager
A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They may work on a variety of projects, including: software development projects, construction projects, and marketing projects. This course may be helpful for project managers who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases.
Systems Analyst
A Systems Analyst is responsible for studying, designing, and implementing computer systems. They may work on a variety of systems, including: business systems, information systems, and embedded systems. This course may be helpful for systems analysts who need to understand the software code that interacts with their databases.

Reading list

We've selected 17 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in PHP 8: Getting Started.
Provides a comprehensive overview of PHP, including its syntax, data types, control structures, functions, and object-oriented programming features. It useful reference for both beginners and experienced PHP developers.
Collection of recipes for solving common PHP problems. It covers topics such as web development, database programming, and object-oriented design. It useful reference for both beginners and experienced PHP developers.
Guide to PHP web services. It covers topics such as SOAP, REST, and XML-RPC. It useful reference for PHP developers who want to develop web services.
Guide to MySQL for PHP developers. It covers topics such as creating databases, tables, and indexes; querying data; and using stored procedures. It useful reference for PHP developers who want to use MySQL databases.
Guide to MySQL administration. It covers topics such as installing MySQL, configuring MySQL, and backing up and restoring databases. It useful reference for MySQL administrators who need to manage MySQL databases.
Practical guide to PHP development, covering topics such as web development, database programming, and object-oriented design. It assumes some prior programming experience.
Guide to PHPUnit testing. It covers topics such as unit testing, integration testing, and test-driven development. It useful reference for PHP developers who want to improve the quality of their applications.
Collection of recipes for solving common MySQL problems. It covers topics such as data manipulation, data retrieval, and performance tuning. It useful reference for MySQL users who need to solve common problems.
Serves as a comprehensive guide to the basics of PHP, making it an excellent primer for those new to the language and platform.
Beginner-friendly guide to PHP and MySQL development. It covers topics such as data types, variables, control structures, functions, and object-oriented programming. It also includes a section on MySQL database management.
For those interested in exploring object-oriented programming with PHP, this book provides a solid foundation in design patterns and best practices, enhancing the course's coverage of PHP's capabilities.
Offers a contemporary perspective on PHP, covering advanced topics such as performance optimization and security best practices, providing additional insights for those seeking to enhance their PHP skills.
While not directly related to the course's focus on PHP fundamentals, this book provides a valuable introduction to e-commerce development using PHP and MySQL, offering additional insights for those interested in web development.
Offers a lighthearted and accessible introduction to PHP, making it a suitable starting point for those with no prior programming experience.

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