PHP

Course Objectives

Write effective, efficient PHP scripts
Embed PHP scripts in HTML pages to create dynamic Web pages
Manipulate data from Web page forms
Track users as they navigate your site with cookies and other PHP features
Structure PHP code using user-defined functions and external libraries
Develop database-enabled Web applications using MySQL
Protect vital information from interception

Course Outline

Introduction of Web & PHP

What is PHP?
The history of PHP
Why choose PHP?
Installation overview

First Steps

Embedding PHP code on a page
Outputting dynamic text
The operational trail
Inserting code comments

Exploring Data Types

Variables
Strings
String functions
Numbers part one: Integers
Numbers part two: Floating points
Arrays
Associative arrays
Array functions
Booleans
NULL and empty
Type juggling and casting
Constants

Control Structures: Logical Expressions

If statements
Else and elseif statements
Logical operators
Switch statements

Control Structures: Loops

While loops
For loops
Foreach loops
Continue
Break
Understanding array pointers

User-Defined Functions

Defining functions
Function arguments
Returning values from a function
Multiple return values
Scope and global variables
Setting default argument values

Debugging

Common problems
Warnings and errors
Debugging and troubleshooting

Building Web Pages with PHP

Links and URLs
Using GET values
Encoding GET values
Encoding for HTML
Including and requiring files
Modifying headers
Page redirection
Output buffering

Working with Forms and Form Data

Building forms
Detecting form submissions
Single-page form processing
Validating form values
Problems with validation logic
Displaying validation errors
Custom validation functions
Single-page form with validations

Working with Cookies and Sessions

Working with cookies
Setting cookie values
Reading cookie values
Unsetting cookie values
Working with sessions

MySQL Basics

MySQL introduction
Creating a database
Creating a database table
CRUD in MySQL
Populating a MySQL database
Relational database tables
Populating the relational table

Using PHP to Access MySQL

Database APIs in PHP
Connecting to MySQL with PHP
Retrieving data from MySQL
Working with retrieved data
Creating records with PHP
Updating and deleting records with PHP
SQL injection
Escaping strings for MySQL
Introducing prepared statements

Building a Content Management System (CMS)

Blueprinting the application
Building the CMS database
Establishing your work area
Creating and styling the first page
Making page assets reusable
Connecting the application to the database

Using Site Navigation to Choose Content

Adding pages to the navigation subjects
Refactoring the navigation
Selecting pages from the navigation
Highlighting the current page
Moving the navigation to a function

Application CRUD

Finding a subject in the database
Refactoring the page selection
Creating a new subject form
Processing form values and adding subjects
Passing data in the session
Validating form values
Creating an edit subject form
Using single-page submission
Deleting a subject
Cleaning up
Assignment: Pages CRUD
Assignment results: Pages CRUD

Building the Public Area

The public appearance
Using a context for conditional code
Adding a default subject behaviour
The public content area
Protecting page visibility

Regulating Page Access

User authentication overview
Admin CRUD
Encrypting passwords
Salting passwords
Adding password encryption to CMS
New PHP password functions
Creating a login system
Checking for authorization
Creating a logout page

Advanced PHP Techniques

Using variable variables
Applying more array functions
Building dates and times: Epoch/Unix
Formatting dates and times: Strings and SQL
Setting server and request variables
Establishing global and static variable scope
Making a reference assignment
Using references as function arguments
Using references as function return values

Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Introducing the concept and basics of OOP
Defining classes
Defining class methods
Instantiating a class
Referencing an instance
Defining class properties

OOP in Practice

Understanding class inheritance
Setting access modifiers
Using setters and getters
Working with the static modifier
Reviewing the scope resolution operator
Referencing the Parent class
Using constructors and destructors
Cloning objects
Comparing objects

Working with Files and Directories

File system basics
Understanding file permissions
Setting file permissions
PHP permissions
Accessing files
Writing to files
Deleting files
Moving the file pointer
Reading files
Examining file details
Working with directories
Viewing directory content

Sending Emails

Configuring PHP for email
Sending email with mail()
Using headers
Reviewing SMTP
Using PHPMailer