PHP Crash Course

Lesson 1 • Installing PHP and a Local Server

Install PHP, a web server, and a database on a local machine using an all-in-one stack. Establishes the working environment required for every subsequent exercise.

Lesson 2 • Operators and Expressions

Apply arithmetic, comparison, logical, and string operators to build expressions. Connects variable knowledge to computation and decision-making logic.

Lesson 3 • Outputting Data to the Browser

Use echo, print, and printf to send formatted output to the browser. Bridges server-side logic with visible results students can verify immediately.

Lesson 4 • Variables, Data Types, and Constants

Declare variables, assign values, and identify PHP's core data types including strings, integers, floats, and booleans. Enables students to store and label data in scripts.

Lesson 1 • Defining and Calling Functions

Create named functions with parameters and return values to encapsulate reusable logic. Reduces code duplication and introduces modular thinking.

Lesson 2 • Loops and Iteration

Use while, do-while, for, and foreach loops to repeat operations over data sets. Prepares students to process arrays and collections introduced in Chapter 3.

Lesson 3 • Conditional Statements

Implement if, elseif, else, and switch statements to branch program logic. Directly applies operator knowledge from Chapter 1 to real decision-making scenarios.

Lesson 4 • Variable Scope and References

Distinguish local, global, and static variable scope and use references to share data. Prevents common bugs caused by unexpected variable isolation.

Lesson 1 • Array Functions and Sorting

Apply built-in array functions for sorting, searching, filtering, and transforming arrays. Enables efficient data manipulation without writing custom loops.

Lesson 2 • Multidimensional Arrays

Build and traverse nested arrays to represent structured data like tables and records. Prepares students for working with database result sets in later chapters.

Lesson 3 • Regular Expressions in PHP

Write PCRE patterns with preg_match, preg_replace, and preg_split to validate and transform text. Extends string handling to complex pattern-based scenarios.

Lesson 4 • Indexed and Associative Arrays

Declare, access, and modify indexed and associative arrays using bracket syntax and array functions. Provides the primary data structure used throughout PHP applications.

Lesson 1 • HTML Forms and PHP Superglobals

Connect HTML form elements to PHP using GET and POST methods and the $_GET, $_POST superglobals. Establishes the request-response cycle central to web applications.

Lesson 2 • Redirects and Post-Redirect-Get Pattern

Use header() to redirect after form submission and implement the Post-Redirect-Get pattern. Prevents duplicate submissions and improves user experience.

Lesson 3 • Server-Side Validation Techniques

Validate required fields, data formats, and value ranges using conditional logic and filter_var. Ensures data integrity before processing or storing user submissions.

Lesson 4 • Sanitizing and Filtering Input

Remove dangerous characters from user input using filter_var and htmlspecialchars. Prevents injection attacks and malformed data from entering the application.

Lesson 1 • Transactions and Error Handling

Wrap multiple queries in transactions and handle database errors gracefully with exceptions. Ensures data consistency and provides meaningful feedback on failures.

Lesson 2 • Executing CRUD Queries

Run SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE queries and process result sets. Covers the full data lifecycle needed for any database-backed feature.

Lesson 3 • Prepared Statements and Binding

Use prepared statements with bound parameters to prevent SQL injection. Replaces raw query string building with a secure, parameterized approach.

Lesson 4 • Fetching and Displaying Results

Retrieve query results as arrays or objects and render them in HTML tables. Connects database output to the front-end display patterns used in real applications.

Lesson 1 • Inheritance and Method Overriding

Extend classes with inheritance, override parent methods, and call parent constructors. Enables code reuse and specialisation across related class hierarchies.

Lesson 2 • Static Members and Magic Methods

Access static properties and methods without instantiation and use magic methods for dynamic behaviour. Covers advanced OOP features common in PHP libraries and frameworks.

Lesson 3 • Interfaces and Abstract Classes

Define contracts with interfaces and enforce partial implementations with abstract classes. Promotes consistent APIs across unrelated class hierarchies.

Lesson 4 • Classes, Objects, and Properties

Define classes with properties and methods, instantiate objects, and access members. Introduces the core OOP building blocks used in all modern PHP frameworks.

Lesson 1 • HTTP State and Cookies

Understand stateless HTTP and use setcookie() to store small data on the client. Explains why state management is necessary and how cookies provide one solution.

Lesson 2 • Building a Login and Logout System

Create login, logout, and session-check logic to authenticate users against a database. Integrates form handling, database queries, and session management into one feature.

Lesson 3 • PHP Sessions

Start sessions with session_start(), store data in $_SESSION, and destroy sessions on logout. Provides server-side state management more secure than cookies alone.

Lesson 4 • Password Hashing and Verification

Hash passwords with password_hash() and verify them with password_verify() before storing credentials. Ensures user passwords are never stored in plain text.

Lesson 1 • Exception Handling with Try-Catch

Throw, catch, and handle exceptions using try-catch-finally blocks and custom exception classes. Replaces fragile error codes with structured, recoverable error handling.

Lesson 2 • Composer and Dependency Management

Install and autoload third-party packages with Composer and manage a composer.json file. Introduces the standard PHP dependency tool used in every professional project.

Lesson 3 • Common Web Security Vulnerabilities

Identify and mitigate XSS, CSRF, SQL injection, and session hijacking in PHP applications. Applies security fixes to patterns already built in earlier chapters.

Lesson 4 • Error Reporting and Logging

Configure PHP error reporting levels, suppress display errors in production, and write errors to log files. Separates debugging output from user-facing pages.