PHP Training Classes

PHP Overview, Installation and Configuration

This training class introduces students to PHP, discussing the client-server model and its implementation in the context of a web browser and web server. Students then learn how a web server handles PHP scripts with embedded HTML. Students gain hands-on instruction in practical methods of PHP installation on Windows, configuring PHP using php.ini and getting installation information using the phpinfo() function.

PHP Programming Basics

Students are introduced to the various parts of PHP programming language syntax and how it can dynamically generate HTML web pages. With this knowledge, the class discusses variables, what they are, what types exist and how they are used, such as outputting string variables, setting and outputting numeric variables, and useful string functions and concatenation.

Program Control Flow

The control flow statements of a language specify the order in which program executions are performed. PHP supports various control flow statements to both branch and loop. With this training, students learn how to examine conditionals, loops and construct pitfalls.

Form Data Capture and Email Disbursement

Forms are often the primary means of providing data to web servers. Using PHP code, students learn how to capture form data on the server, email it or store it in a database.

Associative Arrays

Arrays are the most commonly used data storage structure, conveniently built into the PHP programming language. In this class, students examine each variation, both numerically indexed and associative arrays.

Databases and Recordsets

Databases are collections of data organized into records for easy insertion, search and retrieval. In this training class, students focus on both MySQL, an open source relational database, and Microsoft Access, the world’s most widely used database application.

MySQL/PHP Integration

MySQL/PHP integration is one of the most common methods used by programmers to develop database-driven websites, primarily due to its powerful features and free-use. Both large, Fortune 500 companies and small business use MySQL and PHP. In this training, students examine ways to connect to MySQL using PHP, how to trap and display errors, how to perform inserts, updates and deletes from form inputs, and how to retrieve recordsets based on user provided criteria.

MS Access/PHP Integration

Though not used as frequently in conjunction with PHP as MySQL, Microsoft Access is a viable alternative because of its ease of use and portability. MS Access stores all records, tables and table relationships within one file, making it easy to backup, move and restore information. During this training course, students learn how to connect with MS Access and execute PHP queries using an ODBC connection.

Sessions

Web pages are stateless and, therefore, do not retain information between page loads. This means form data, for instance, loses its field data once the next page loads. Sessions can solve this issue. In this course, students learn how to manage and use sessions within dynamic web pages.

File Input/Output

It’s often useful to read from or write to text files in PHP. These text files may serve as logs or XML RSS feeds. Training class attendees learn how to create, read and write XML compatible text files.

Practical PHP

Throughout the course, students discover useful PHP features as they pertain to the lessons at hand, such as the subtleties of single or double quotes, conversion of form input tags to PHP variables and escaping special characters.

Prerequisites:

• Experience with at least one programming language
• Ability to hand-code HTML