Algorithms and Data Structures in PHP: From Beginner to Professional

This book is a practical guide to fundamental algorithms and data structures implemented in PHP. Unlike abstract textbooks, all examples here are adapted to real-world web development tasks: array processing, database operations, building category trees, searching and filtering large volumes of information.

Who is this book for?

• Junior and Middle PHP developers who want to deepen their knowledge
• Web programmers transitioning from procedural style to OOP
• Students and beginner programmers learning PHP
• Those preparing for technical interviews (algorithmic section)

What you will learn and master:

• Basic data structures: arrays, lists, stacks, queues, deques — their implementation and performance comparison in PHP
• Sorting and searching: bubble sort, quicksort, merge sort, heap sort; linear and binary search; working with built-in PHP functions
• Trees and graphs: binary search trees, traversals (BFS, DFS), working with graphs (Dijkstra's and A* algorithms for real routes)
• Hash tables and sets: how associative arrays work in PHP, collisions, search optimization
• Dynamic programming: memoization, recursion vs iteration, problems for finding optimal solutions
• Memory management and optimization: Big O notation, code profiling, choosing the right structure for a specific task

Each chapter contains not only theory but also ready-made code examples with comments, performance tests, and practical exercises. The book is built on the principle of "from simple to complex": first you will master basic structures, then move on to complex algorithms and their application in web projects (site search, menu building, cache management).

Special attention is paid to PHP specifics: how built-in functions (array_map, usort, array_merge) work "under the hood," when to use SPL classes, and when to write your own implementation. You will learn not just to copy algorithms, but to understand why one approach is faster than another in a specific situation.

The book is suitable both for self-study and for use as a reference. After reading it, you will be able to confidently solve algorithmic problems, optimize code, and design efficient architectures for PHP web applications.

"Algorithms and Data Structures in PHP" is a bridge between academic knowledge and real-world development. Start writing code that works fast and reliably.