Best Way To Learn PHP?

Hi,

I would like to learn PHP and eventually MySQL. I bought 2 books about the languages but if I'm honest I found them quite boring and hard to follow (although that may be more of a reflection on me then on the books ).

How would you recommend I learn PHP? Simply by playing around with code online? Or is there a particular book or course you recommend?


Thanks for any help

 

I believe that the best way to learn it is by practice. Find some online php exercices and try to solve them.

You should also install php. I recommend Xampp for it: includes a web server (Apache, the best one around), PHP, MySql and other stuff. It's easy to install so you don't have to worry about it.

Good luck

 

Hi,

I think the above posters advice is good. The only real way to learn is to practice and understand teh key concepts. Once you understand the concepts you can program in any language. All you have to do is look up the correct syntax.

A frined of mine is attempting to learn how to program but is having a hard time because he doesnt want to actually spend the time and learn. You need to start with the most simple program and add to it. Try to create a blackjack game as it can include all aspects of web programming.

-trixs

 

You can try the tutorials on lynda.com. Those have helped me.

also for a good reference try tizag.com they've helped me out a bunch.

 

best way to learn is stick with 1 book! even if its boring...get the basics..once ur done the book start downloading free scripts and looking at the code..try modifying them and then start making small scripts
but you have to know the basics! and as for anything..basics can be boring

 

He's right: learn the basics, practice a lot. I would use at least 2 books, though

 

Practice, learn, read php.net w3schools also has some good function reference. Start simple: echo "blah"; etc then progress to forms: $_POST entries, blah blah etc etc, you'll pick it up

 

Just Test (Code) and learn the php,That's the best way to learn PhpFor beginners ,look at www.w3schools.com

If you have any doubts Search in Google or in php.net

For example if you do n't know how to get a referrer in php

Just Search in Google for "Referrer in php"

http://www.google.om/search?hl=en&q=Referrer+in+php&meta=

and visit the results to know how to write a referrer script in php or just copy and paste the code and test it...

That's the way you should learn

Also you can look at php.net to know about more functions

 

Books and tutorial just bore me and don't help much at all. So read the raw basics at http://tizag.com then download some scripts, or start with simple practice excersises until you get better. Use php.net to search for and learn to use functions as needed, and more importantly I find a tutor is the best way to learn (either on IM or in real life).

 

Thanks guys for the helpful replies

Do these tutors exist online? If so, where could you find them and how much would they charge?


Thanks

 

well, i learn php by downloading some free scripts and i try to modify and start create the code by myself. if i get in trouble i use google for the answer

 

The great god Google ... gotta love it

I picked up a PLR ebook called "I hate PHP" which takes you through the basics a while ago ... its not a bad read and I'm sure someone can "google" it and find ... if not PM me and I'll sort it out for you ... you never know I might even find time to post it up somewhere if I could only get away from this board for a while

Starlord

 

If you want to pay for a class to learn, check out phparch's training: http://www.phparch.com/c/phpa/training.

It's by no means cheap, but their teachers are very good (Mostly Zend core developers), and it is probably the quickest way to jump in.

 

If you want to become really good (I mean to get paid to code php) you have to learn the basics of the language from a book, or from an ebook. But after that, when you can read and understand simple code you have to write on your own. Do a site for yourself and add some fancy features like gallery, comments, blog. But don't install, write it. May not be perfect, but will get you some experience.

When you have done something bigger, you can get some freelance projects, but small ones, and you'll get it going.

I learned PHP this way, and I don't think that going to class will do more good, than the first hand experience you'll get by writing on your own.

And at last PHP is easy language.

 

Before you learn php you should be a good notepad html coder

Regards

Alex

 

i wonder how people remember all the code I have enough trouble remembering href: but I guess thats because I dont do it every day

 

I started off learning by copying and duplicating code. After that I read some php books and websites to understand what I was doing with that code. To move further it depends on how good you want to get. If you want to be real good start to read about programming concepts and how the hardware works. That combination will really help you out when you have to debug larger programs that you may want to create.