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Added 05 Aug 04 Updated 06 Oct 08
Publisher Peachpit Press
Publication Date 2001-03-29
Paperback - 304 Pages
ISBN 0201727870
Takes an easy, visual approach to teaching PHP scripting, using pictures to guide you through the language and show you what to do.
Works like a reference book--you look up what you need and then get straight to work.
No long-winded passes--concise, straightforward commentary explains what you need to know.
Companion Web site contains complete source code for examples in the book, online resources, updates, and more.
Affordable--perhaps the least expensive PHP book you’ll find! PHP: VQS Companion Web Site
Chapter 1: Getting Started With PHP Basic Syntax Sending Data to the Browser Testing Your Script Sending Text to the Browser Sending HTML to the Browser Using White Space in PHP (and HTML) Adding Comments to Your Scripts
Chapter 2: Variables What are Variables? Variable Syntax Types of Variables Assigning Values to Variables Predefined Variables
Chapter 3: HTML Forms and PHP Creating a Simple Form Using Get or Post Receiving Data from a Form in PHP Inputting Data Manually
Chapter 4: Using Numbers Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying, and Dividing Formatting Numbers Incrementing and Decrementing a Number Using Multiple Operators Using Built-in Mathematical Functions
Chapter 5: Using Strings Trimming Strings Connecting Strings (Concatenation) Encoding and Decoding Strings Encrypting and Decrypting Strings Pulling Out Parts from a String
Chapter 6: Control Structures The If Conditional More Operators Using Else Using Elseif The Switch Conditional The While Loop The For Loop
Chapter 7: Using Arrays Creating an Array Adding Items to an Array Accessing Array Elements Sorting Arrays Transforming Between Strings and Arrays Creating an Array from a Form Creating Multidimensional Arrays
Chapter 8: Regular Expressions What are Regular Expressions? Defining a Simple Pattern Matching Patterns Defining More Complicated Patterns Matching and Replacing Patterns
Chapter 9: Creating Functions Creating and Using Simple Functions Creating and Calling Functions that Take Arguments Creating and Using Functions that Return a Value Variables and Functions
Chapter 10: Files and Directories File Permissions Writing to Files Reading from Files Directories Handling File Uploads Renaming and Deleting Files and Directories
Chapter 11: Databases Connecting to and Creating a Database
Creating a Table Sending Data to a Database Retrieving Data from a Database
Chapter 12: Cookies Creating and Reading from Cookies Adding Parameters to a Cookie Deleting a Cookie
Chapter 13: Creating Web Applications Using include and require Determining the Date and Time Using http Headers Sending Email
Chapter 14: Debugging Common Errors Error Reporting and Logging Debugging Detective Work Using the Die Statement
Appendix A: Installation and Configuration Installing on a Linux Server Installing on a Windows 2000 Server Configuration
Appendix B: Security Cryptography and SSL Writing Secure PHP Security Resources
Appendix C: PHP Resources The PHP Manual Web Sites and Newsgroups Database Resources Advanced Topics Tables
So you know HTML, even JavaScript, but the idea of learning an actual programming language like PHP terrifies you? Well, stop quaking and get going with this easy task-based guide! Aimed at beginning PHP developers just like yourself, this volume uses step-by-step instructions and plenty of visual aids to get you started testing scripts, using basic syntax, working with variables, creating Web applications, and everything else you need to know to create dynamic Web pages with this increasingly popular and important scripting language. Along the way, you’ll learn about all that’s new in version 5: the new Zend Engine, updated XML support, greatly improved streams (now able to access low-level socket operations), a bundled copy of SQLite, and more. Throughout the book, you’ll find sample scripts and projects as well as the timesaving tips and techniques that have become the hallmark of the popular Visual QuickStart series. A companion Web site offers all of the book’s scripts for download.
PHP is a powerful (and free) scripting language used to create dynamic Web sites and Web applications. With PHP, Web application developers can perform both simple and complex functions with a few lines of additional code in a standard HTML Web page. PHP is frequently being used to replace forms and functions formerly created by CGI scripts. PHP for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide is geared for beginning and intermediate Web developers looking for an introductory guide. The task-based format gets users started with basic syntax, testing scripts, working with variables, creating Web applications, and more. Throughout the book, sample scripts and projects show the readers just what they need to know, and a companion Web site offers every script in this book available for downloading.
Takes an easy, visual approach to teaching PHP scripting, using pictures to guide you through the language and show you what to do.
Works like a reference book--you look up what you need and then get straight to work.
No long-winded passes--concise, straightforward commentary explains what you need to know.
Companion Web site contains complete source code for examples in the book, online resources, updates, and more.
Affordable--perhaps the least expensive PHP book you’ll find! PHP: VQS Companion Web Site
Chapter 1: Getting Started With PHP Basic Syntax Sending Data to the Browser Testing Your Script Sending Text to the Browser Sending HTML to the Browser Using White Space in PHP (and HTML) Adding Comments to Your Scripts
Chapter 2: Variables What are Variables? Variable Syntax Types of Variables Assigning Values to Variables Predefined Variables
Chapter 3: HTML Forms and PHP Creating a Simple Form Using Get or Post Receiving Data from a Form in PHP Inputting Data Manually
Chapter 4: Using Numbers Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying, and Dividing Formatting Numbers Incrementing and Decrementing a Number Using Multiple Operators Using Built-in Mathematical Functions
Chapter 5: Using Strings Trimming Strings Connecting Strings (Concatenation) Encoding and Decoding Strings Encrypting and Decrypting Strings Pulling Out Parts from a String
Chapter 6: Control Structures The If Conditional More Operators Using Else Using Elseif The Switch Conditional The While Loop The For Loop
Chapter 7: Using Arrays Creating an Array Adding Items to an Array Accessing Array Elements Sorting Arrays Transforming Between Strings and Arrays Creating an Array from a Form Creating Multidimensional Arrays
Chapter 8: Regular Expressions What are Regular Expressions? Defining a Simple Pattern Matching Patterns Defining More Complicated Patterns Matching and Replacing Patterns
Chapter 9: Creating Functions Creating and Using Simple Functions Creating and Calling Functions that Take Arguments Creating and Using Functions that Return a Value Variables and Functions
Chapter 10: Files and Directories File Permissions Writing to Files Reading from Files Directories Handling File Uploads Renaming and Deleting Files and Directories
Chapter 11: Databases Connecting to and Creating a Database
Creating a Table Sending Data to a Database Retrieving Data from a Database
Chapter 12: Cookies Creating and Reading from Cookies Adding Parameters to a Cookie Deleting a Cookie
Chapter 13: Creating Web Applications Using include and require Determining the Date and Time Using http Headers Sending Email
Chapter 14: Debugging Common Errors Error Reporting and Logging Debugging Detective Work Using the Die Statement
Appendix A: Installation and Configuration Installing on a Linux Server Installing on a Windows 2000 Server Configuration
Appendix B: Security Cryptography and SSL Writing Secure PHP Security Resources
Appendix C: PHP Resources The PHP Manual Web Sites and Newsgroups Database Resources Advanced Topics Tables
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Want to create an online form using PHP? This book walks you through a project that does just that.
Want to figure out how arrays work in PHP? You can jump to that section, and migrate your own programming knowledge over to the PHP environment.
PHP (and, for that matter, HTML) programming is a little counterintuitive , particularly if you have previous experience in other languages. This book makes the move a lot easier!
Again, my review is from the standpoint of someone with experience in programming. However, the approach that the book takes - walking you step-by-step through practical examples - probably would work really well for those who are new to programming, too.
I bought it along with the companion book on PHP and MySQL (PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide (2nd Edition) (Visual QuickPro Guide)), which turned out to be a great idea - both are getting dog-eared as I build a website using dynamic content.
A great book, well worth purchasing!
The topic flow is nice; you ease into a wider scope of applications
with simple examples that can be built upon. It’s very helpful when authors provide online errata, resources, forums, etc. and Larry Ullman’s text does.
- a beginner who made progress ;-)
$advanced = "Already know a fair amount of PHP and want to get the finishing touches on my wealth of knowledge";
if ($phpUnderstanding == $novice){
print "This book was so helpful. It took me from zero knowledge to building basic web applications. It doesn’t supply you with every ounce of knowledge to build the next DIGG. It does, however, get you on the road. This is a must read for beginners wanting to learn PHP. //see variable $novice.
}elseif ($phpUnderstanding == $advanced){
print "This book really isnt for you. It is a beginners book and is meant for folks who dont know the first thing about PHP. Ullman wrote another book for Advanced PHP. Get that one.}
$advanced = "Already know a fair amount of PHP and want to get the finishing touches on my wealth of knowledge";
if ($phpUnderstanding == $novice){
print "This book was so helpful. It took me from zero knowledge to building basic web applications. It doesn’t supply you with every ounce of knowledge to build the next DIGG. It does, however, get you on the road. This is a must read for beginners wanting to learn PHP. //see variable $novice.
}elseif ($phpUnderstanding == $advanced){
print "This book really isnt for you. It is a beginners book and is meant for folks who dont know the first thing about PHP. Ullman wrote another book for Advanced PHP. Get that one.}
I will be going on to the next book in the series pretty soon though.
PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide (2nd Edition) (Visual QuickPro Guide)
I know actionscript pretty good and am wanting to learn php. Unlike the book mentiond above this book is great for someone that knows nothing about php, I am nearly finished with it and I’ve only had it two days. It is a good read to get up to speed with the php programming language.I have gotten his other book "Php and Mysql for Dynamic Websites" from my local library and if that book is a good as this one is I will not hesitate to purchase a copy right away.
I cannot say how much this book surprised me with its clarity, its great approach and clear language.
Larry is a great teacher, and there is a really good website and forum to go with the book. I ran into trouble a few times, and got answers very quickly. Larry posts frequently and solves problems online with you as clearly as in the book: he’s really supportive of his readers!!
If you want to learn PHP quicky, I highly recommend this book.
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