I have learned to use Wordpress in the recent years on my own, yet still have 0 knowledge of php. If I'm not mistaken, to get the full potential out of CMS I would need to learn the php language? So how do I go about learning it? and do I need an advanced understanding of HTML (like my local college has suggested)? Or could I delve right into a course on php? Thank you
You can't expect to gain an ounce of programming experience by using an already written script. So ofcourse if you have only used WordPress you would have 0 knowledge of PHP. You don't need to learn PHP to get the most out of WordPress. In fact, you would only need to learn the language if you planned on writing plugins or extending it. For 90% of everyones needs there is a plugin already available waiting to be installed with a click of a mouse button. Any other customization can be done with CSS and HTML. You don't need an advanced understanding of HTML before learning PHP. It's just that PHP commonly prints HTML. So as a bare minimum you should already know how to design a web site using HTML. Providing you have the ability to produce a web page writing raw HTML then I would advise you to start learning a programming language. If PHP is the language of your choice you can find TONS of entry level easy tutorials on Google. Just search for "beginners php tutorial". I can't recommend any but I'd imagine most of them would be relatively easy to pick up.
Thats great advice, to be honest I have almost 0 experience or knowledge of HTML. How would HTML and CSS help me design a site using wordpress?
HTML and CSS is the presentation part of the web site. What you see with your eye is created using HTML. So if you wanted to modify the layout of a Word Press theme you would use HTML and CSS.
I also want to learn PHP programming, and I'm doing graduate scheme of website design with PHP programming language. I look forward to learning PHP in short time.
W3Schools has a nice site for learning not only PHP, but mySQL, CSS, html, etc. I would check their site out. Even though it doesn't go too far in depth, it would still be a good start.
When it comes to learning a new language, I've always found the Sams Publishing books to be equal to the task. They put the reader through step-by-step instructions, never assuming a prior knowledge of the subject matter without being condescending. Here's the latest version. My copy is a little older but I don't think it's changed too much in the past 5 years. Once you get the hang of it, though, you may find that, while it was great as a book to learn with, it may suck as a reference book once you've gotten into serious coding. That's where the Bible series becomes useful. Good luck!
Thank you so much. But I want an e-book online, if I am in that place I would definitely buy this book learn php in 24 hours.