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Building Database Applications in PHP

In this course, we'll look at the object oriented patterns available in PHP. You'll learn how to connect to a MySQL using the Portable Data Objects (PDO) library and issue SQL commands in the the PHP language. We'll also look at how PHP uses cookies and manages session data. You'll learn how PHP avoids double posting data, how flash messages are implemented, and how to use a session to log in users in web applications. We'll then build the first 'complete' application that has multiple screens to Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD) our data. This brings all the previous concepts together and will form the basis for all later web applications. It is assumed that learners have already taken the Building Web Applications course in this specialization.

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What's inside

Syllabus

PHP Objects

We look at the object oriented patterns available in PHP.

Connecting PHP and MySQL

We look at how we connect to a MySQL using the Portable Data Objects (PDO) library and issue SQL commands in the the PHP language.

PHP Cookies and Sessions

We look at how PHP uses cookies and manages session data.

PHP Redirect, Routing, and Authentication

We look at how PHP avoids double posting data, how flash messages are implemented, and how we use a session to log in users in web applications.

Building a CRUD Application

Now we build our first 'complete' application that has multiple screens to Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD) our data. This brings all the previous concepts together and will form the basis for all later web applications.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores PHP object-oriented patterns, which is standard in the industry

Teaches how to connect PHP with MySQL using the Portable Data Objects (PDO) library, which is a widely accepted method

Examines how PHP manages session data and cookies, which is a fundamental concept in web development

Develops PHP skills for avoiding double posting data, implementing flash messages, and using sessions for user authentication, which are essential for web applications

Builds a 'complete' application with multiple screens for CRUD operations, which provides a solid foundation for future web applications

Assumes learners have taken a previous course, which may limit accessibility for some

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Reviews summary

Engaging database applications

Learners say this engaging course is challenging but rewarding, guiding students through building database applications in PHP. Featuring clear lectures with real-world examples, the course is well-received for its practical assignments and a supportive instructor. However, some students note that the autograder can be finicky and that assignment descriptions could be clearer.

Crisp explanations from the instructor make understanding concepts easier.

"clear instruction with just enough independence and support -- Dr. Chuck loves his topics, and it shows."

"Explanations were so clear, and it helped me understand about the topics like session,cookie, ...etc ."

"I'm so Delightful for taking this course, another great course from Dr Chuck. Not to forget the graduation ceremony was lit again. Highly recommend it. Good luck :) "

The instructor's passion and enthusiasm make learning enjoyable and motivating.

"The specialization is exactly what I want to learn. I think this course is what the full picture is. The first 3 courses of the specialization is enough for me, but I would really want to also take course 4 if I have time."

"Dr. Chuck is my favorite teacher and the lessons are easy to learn. The whole course nicely used all the tools I learned before and now I was able to use it and use my knowledge to successfully complete the course. I recommend it."

"Dr.Chuck is my favorite teacher and the lessons are easy to learn. The whole course nicely used all the tools I learned before and now I was able to use it and use my knowledge to successfully complete the course. I recommend it."

Assignments provide ample opportunity to apply knowledge and strengthen skills.

"Really good course. Challenging but not too hard. Really stimulates thinking and encourages students to research more rather than just depend on the course content."

"I am absolutely thrilled with what I learned in this course. This course is a masterpiece and a true gem within the Coursera platform. I am ending this course with a newfound knowledge of and appreciation for object oriented PHP and I could not be happier. A big "Thank You!!!" to Dr. Chuck and his team for putting this out. I never imagined online learning could be so high quality. "

"All we need is an introductory course. And this specialization is just perfect. I absolutely enjoyed this course. And our instructor Dr. Chuck is awesome. Thanks for this amazing course."

Autograder may require multiple submissions or adjustments due to specific formatting requirements.

"However, Dr. Chuck is a passionate, energetic, and easy going instructor. This in infectious and you really do develop a working bond with him through the courses. Left me with a good foundation on PHP for sure."

"Charles is great and the course is too! Sometimes I feel that we're not being challenged enough; the code for the assignments is basically handed to us. But the thing that really takes points off this course is the AUTOGRADER. Please to the kind staff, make that thing slightly smarter, at least not case-sensitive or, at the very least, be EXTREMELY specific about the names that the forms and so need to be called."

"With most assignments I spent the majority of the time addressing the foibles of the auto grader (e.g. Log in v. Log In) or rewinding big chunks of work due to the assignment description."

Assignment descriptions could be improved to provide more detailed and accurate guidance.

"The project descriptions are not fantastically written and often unclear."

"However, all in all this was an excellent first course for a would back-end developer like myself."

"There are, at times, a few annoying discrepancies between the assignment descriptions and the actual assignment for the AUTOGRADER."

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 Building Database Applications in PHP with these activities:

Practice using PDO to connect to databases

Show steps

Gain a solid understanding of how to use PHP's PDO library to connect to and interact with databases.

Browse courses on PDO

Show steps

Read the PHP PDO documentation
Create a simple PHP script that connects to a MySQL database using PDO
Execute a few SQL queries using the PDO connection

Review PHP OOP Concepts

Show steps

Helps strengthen understanding of PHP object-oriented programming concepts before starting the course.

Show steps

Read the PHP OOP documentation on the official PHP website.
Review examples of PHP OOP code.
Practice writing simple PHP OOP programs.

Solve PHP OOP practice problems

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of PHP's object-oriented programming features by solving practice problems.

Browse courses on Object-Oriented Programming

Show steps

Find a set of PHP OOP practice problems online
Solve as many problems as you can, referring to the PHP OOP documentation when needed

Ten other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all 13 activities

Follow a tutorial on PHP cookies and sessions

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Deepen your understanding of how to use PHP cookies and sessions to manage user data and provide a better user experience.

Browse courses on PHP

Show steps

Find a comprehensive tutorial on PHP cookies and sessions
Follow the tutorial step-by-step, creating your own examples as you go

Read PHP: The Complete Reference by Steven Holzner

Show steps

Gain a comprehensive foundation in PHP programming, including OOP and MySQL integration, by reviewing this essential reference book.

View Small Business Web Sites Made Easy on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of the book
Read through the chapters covering OOP, MySQL, and PHP syntax
Make notes and highlight important concepts
Complete any exercises or code examples provided in the book

Follow Tutorials on PHP Object-Oriented Programming

Show steps

Enhance your understanding of OOP concepts by following guided tutorials and practicing examples.

Show steps

Identify reputable online platforms for PHP tutorials
Select tutorials that cover OOP principles, such as classes, objects, and inheritance
Follow the instructions and complete the exercises provided in the tutorials
Ask questions and seek assistance in online forums or discussion boards

Join a study group for PHP web development

Show steps

Enhance your learning experience by collaborating with other students, sharing knowledge, and working together on PHP web development projects.

Browse courses on PHP

Show steps

Find or create a study group focused on PHP web development
Attend regular study sessions, participate in discussions, and contribute to group projects

Solve PHP Coding Challenges on LeetCode

Show steps

Enhance your problem-solving skills and reinforce PHP concepts by attempting coding challenges on LeetCode.

Show steps

Register for a LeetCode account
Select a difficulty level and start solving problems
Review solutions and learn from others' approaches
Track your progress and identify areas for improvement

Join a PHP Study Group

Show steps

Connect with other learners and engage in discussions, code reviews, and collaborative problem-solving.

Show steps

Identify online or local study groups focused on PHP
Attend regular meetings and participate in discussions
Share your knowledge and assist others in understanding concepts
Organize code review sessions and provide feedback on others' projects

Build a Simple CRUD Application with PHP and MySQL

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of CRUD operations by building a functional PHP application that connects to a MySQL database.

Show steps

Create a new PHP project and set up a directory structure
Establish a database connection using PDO
Create a simple CRUD interface using HTML and PHP
Write PHP functions to handle CRUD operations
Test the application and debug any errors

Build a simple CRUD application using PHP

Show steps

Apply your knowledge of PHP and MySQL to create a functional CRUD application, solidifying your understanding of data manipulation and web development.

Browse courses on PHP

Show steps

Plan the structure of your CRUD application, including the database schema and the user interface
Write the PHP code to connect to the database and perform CRUD operations
Create the HTML and CSS for the user interface
Test your application thoroughly to ensure it functions correctly

Write a blog post about a PHP web development technique

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of a particular PHP web development technique by explaining it to others in a blog post.

Browse courses on PHP

Show steps

Choose a PHP web development technique that you want to write about
Research the topic thoroughly to ensure you have a deep understanding
Write a blog post that clearly explains the technique, including code examples and visuals

Create a Personal Blog Using PHP and MySQL

Show steps

Apply your skills by building a full-stack web application that combines PHP, MySQL, and HTML/CSS.

Show steps

Design the structure and layout of your blog
Create a database to store blog posts and users
Write PHP code to handle user registration, authentication, and post management
Style the blog using HTML and CSS
Test the application thoroughly and deploy it online

Career center

Learners who complete Building Database Applications in PHP will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Web Application Developer

Web Application Developers design, build and maintain web applications. Web applications need to connect to and interact with databases, send and receive data, and manage cookies and sessions. This course offers frameworks for connecting to databases, managing sessions, and handling common web application processes. As a result, it offers a clear pathway to success for those looking to advance in or enter this career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Application Developer

Backend Developer

Backend Developers build and maintain the server-side of web applications. The backend is responsible for handling user input, storing data, and processing requests. This course offers the opportunity to learn how to connect to databases, write complex queries, and implement security. As a result, it is useful for those looking to enter or advance in this career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Backend Developer

Full-Stack Developer

Full Stack Developers build, design, and maintain both the frontend and backend of web applications. The frontend interacts directly with the user, while the backend interacts mostly with databases. This course offers the opportunity to learn how to connect to databases, send and receive data, and manage cookies and sessions. As a result, this course is a strong fit for those looking to enter or advance in this career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Full-Stack Developer

Web Developer

Web Developers design and build websites and web applications. This course offers the opportunity to learn how to connect to databases, write complex queries, and manage sessions. As a result, it will be useful for those who wish to enter or advance in web development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists analyze and interpret data to extract valuable insights. They often use databases, for which they need frameworks to connect to, issue queries, and clean data. This course offers the opportunity to learn how to do this in PHP. As a result, this course is useful for those looking to enter or advance in this career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Data Analyst

Data Analysts use databases to clean, analyze, and build reports from data. This course provides the opportunity to learn to connect to databases, issue complex queries, and write PHP scripts to clean and process data. While data analysts do not typically write web applications, they often integrate their work with them, making this course useful for the career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Database Administrator

Database Administrators maintain, secure, and manage databases. This course offers the opportunity to learn how to connect to databases using PHP, write complex queries, and implement security. While Database administrators typically do not write web applications, they often integrate with them, making this course useful for the career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers bridge the gap between development and operations teams. They often work on building and deploying web applications, which involve the use of databases. This course offers the opportunity to learn how to connect to databases, write complex queries, and implement security. As a result, it is useful for those looking to enter or advance in this career.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers apply engineering principles to the design, development, and maintenance of software applications. Many software engineers work on web applications, which involve the use of databases. This course offers an opportunity to learn to connect to databases, issue complex queries, and manage sessions - skills which, though not unique to Software Engineers, will still be useful to those looking to enter or advance in this career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts design and implement systems and processes to improve efficiency and productivity. This course offers the opportunity to learn how to connect to databases and write complex queries. Systems Analysts do not typically build web applications or manage sessions, but those who do will find the class useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts protect computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. This course offers an introduction to database security. While database security is not the only aspect of information security, many information security analysts specialize in it, making this course a potential fit for those looking to enter this career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineers design, build, and maintain cloud computing systems. This course offers the opportunity to learn how to connect to databases in the cloud. While this course does not specifically cover cloud computing, it provides a foundational skillset that will be useful for those looking to enter or advance in this career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Engineer

User Experience Researcher

User Experience Researchers study how users interact with products and services, and then use that information to improve their user experience. While User Experience Researchers do not typically write code, they often collaborate with Web Application Developers and other programmers, making it useful to have a fundamental understanding of web application frameworks and concepts. This course offers the opportunity to learn about how to connect to and interact with databases, which will be useful for researchers looking to collaborate with engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Researcher

Product Manager

Product Managers oversee the development and launch of new products. While Product Managers do not typically write code, they often collaborate with Web Application Developers and other programmers. This course offers the opportunity to learn about how to connect to and interact with databases, which will be useful for Product Managers looking to collaborate with engineers on data-driven features.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

UX Designer

UX Designers focus on the design and user experience for online platforms. While UX Designers do not typically write code, they often collaborate with Web Application Developers and other programmers, making it useful to have a fundamental understanding of web application frameworks and concepts. This course offers the opportunity to learn about how to connect to and interact with databases, which will be useful for designers looking to collaborate with engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Reading list

We've selected ten 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 Building Database Applications in PHP.

PHP 8 Objects, Patterns, and Practice

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Provides a comprehensive overview of object-oriented programming in PHP, covering topics such as classes, objects, inheritance, and design patterns. It is an excellent resource for learning the fundamentals of object-oriented programming and how to apply them in PHP development.

Building Database Applications in PHP

Three deals to help you save

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

Engaging database applications

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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