PHP and MySQL. Web Application Development

Introduction

The book "PHP and MySQL Web Development" (in Russian translation — "PHP and MySQL. Web Application Development") by Luke Welling and Laura Thomson is a classic textbook that has remained one of the most popular resources for learning to create dynamic websites for over a decade. The fifth edition, released in 2016, covers the current versions of PHP 7 and MySQL 5.7, and also includes modern security practices and object-oriented programming. The book spans over 1000 pages and represents a comprehensive course from the basics to building real-world projects.

What This Book Is About

The book is structured on the principle of "from simple to complex" and is divided into several major parts. The first part introduces the reader to the basics of PHP: syntax, variables, control structures, functions, working with arrays and strings. This is followed by a section dedicated to MySQL: database design, SQL queries, normalization, indexes, and transactions. After that, the authors move on to integrating PHP and MySQL — creating connections, executing queries, and processing results. Special attention is paid to security: protection against SQL injection, XSS attacks, session management, and password encryption. The book concludes with several full-fledged projects (an online store, a content management system, a forum) that allow readers to apply the knowledge gained in practice.

Who This Book Is For

The book is aimed at beginning web developers who already have a basic understanding of HTML and CSS but want to master the server side. It will also be useful for those transitioning from other languages (e.g., Python or Java) to PHP, as the authors explain the specifics of the PHP ecosystem in detail. Experienced programmers can use the book as a reference for the modern features of PHP 7 and best security practices.

What the Reader Will Learn

• PHP 7 Basics: syntax, data types, operators, loops, functions, working with files and exceptions.
• Object-Oriented Programming in PHP: classes, inheritance, interfaces, traits, namespaces.
• MySQL Design and Administration: creating tables, SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE queries, JOINs, subqueries, indexes, optimization.
• PHP and MySQL Interaction: PDO and MySQLi, prepared statements, error handling, transactions.
• Web Application Security: input filtering, protection against SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, secure password storage (bcrypt, password_hash).
• Session and Cookie Management: user authentication, access control, shopping cart.
• Working with Forms and HTTP Requests: GET, POST, validation, file uploads.
• Building Full-Fledged Web Applications: online store, blog, comment system, forum.

Strengths of the Book

The first and foremost advantage is its practical focus. Each theoretical chapter is accompanied by code examples that can be immediately run and modified. The second is the emphasis on security: the authors not only show how to write code but also explain how to make it secure against common attacks. The third is its structuredness: the book is divided into logical blocks, and at the end of each chapter there are questions and exercises for self-assessment. The fourth is its relevance: the fifth edition covers PHP 7, which is significantly faster and more secure than previous versions. Finally, the real-life projects (online store, content management system) provide the reader with a portfolio of ready-made solutions.

Who It Is Recommended For

The book will be useful for:

• Students and beginning developers who want to learn how to create dynamic websites from scratch.
• Freelancers