Course Overview
Introduction to PHP
History and evolution of PHP
Setting up the PHP development environment (XAMPP, WAMP, MAMP, etc.)
Basics of a PHP script (syntax, embedding PHP in HTML)
Basic Syntax and Data Types
Variables and constants
Data types (strings, integers, floats, arrays, objects, null)
Operators (arithmetic, comparison, logical, assignment)
Control Structures
Conditional statements (if, else, elseif, switch)
Loops (for, while, do-while, foreach)
Include and require statements
Functions
Defining and calling functions
Function parameters and return values
Variable scope and global variables
Built-in PHP functions
Arrays
Indexed arrays
Associative arrays
Multidimensional arrays
Array functions
Superglobals and Forms
$_GET, $_POST, $_REQUEST, $_SESSION, $_COOKIE
Handling form submissions
Validating and sanitizing user input
Working with Databases
Connecting to a database (MySQL, PostgreSQL)
CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete)
Using PDO (PHP Data Objects) for database interactions
Prepared statements and parameterized queries
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
Classes and objects
Constructors and destructors
Inheritance and polymorphism
Interfaces and abstract classes
Namespaces and traits
Error Handling and Debugging
Error types (notices, warnings, fatal errors)
Handling errors with try-catch blocks
Custom error handlers
Debugging techniques (error reporting, logging)
Advanced PHP Concepts
Sessions and cookies management
File handling (reading, writing, uploading files)
Regular expressions
PHP and JSON
Web services and APIs (RESTful services)
PHP Frameworks
Introduction to popular PHP frameworks (Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter)
Basics of MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture
Building a simple application using a PHP framework
Security
Common security threats (SQL injection, XSS, CSRF)
Data validation and sanitization
Secure session management
Password hashing and encryption
Project Work
Capstone project to apply learned concepts
Real-world problem-solving scenarios
Detailed Course Content
1. Introduction to PHP
History and Evolution: Understanding the origin and development of PHP.
Development Environment: Installing and setting up XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP.
PHP Basics: Writing and running a simple PHP script, embedding PHP in HTML.
2. Basic Syntax and Data Types
Variables and Constants: Declaration, initialization, and scope.
Data Types: Strings, integers, floats, arrays, objects, null.
Operators: Arithmetic, comparison, logical, assignment operators.
3. Control Structures
Conditional Statements: if, else, elseif, switch-case.
Loops: For, while, do-while, foreach loops.
Include and Require: Reusing code with include and require statements.
4. Functions
Function Definition and Call: Syntax, scope, and lifetime of functions.
Parameters and Return Values: Passing arguments by value and reference.
Variable Scope: Local and global variables.
Built-in Functions: Commonly used built-in PHP functions.
5. Arrays
Indexed Arrays: Creating and accessing indexed arrays.
Associative Arrays: Using key-value pairs.
Multidimensional Arrays: Arrays of arrays.
Array Functions: Common array manipulation functions.
6. Superglobals and Forms
Superglobals: Understanding $_GET, $_POST, $_REQUEST, $_SESSION, $_COOKIE.
Form Handling: Submitting forms, retrieving form data.
Input Validation: Sanitizing and validating user input.
7. Working with Databases
Database Connection: Connecting to MySQL or PostgreSQL.
CRUD Operations: Creating, reading, updating, and deleting records.
PDO: Using PHP Data Objects for database interactions.
Prepared Statements: Preventing SQL injection with parameterized queries.
8. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
Classes and Objects: Defining classes, creating objects.
Constructors and Destructors: Initialization and cleanup.
Inheritance and Polymorphism: Extending classes, overriding methods.
Interfaces and Abstract Classes: Defining and implementing interfaces, abstract classes.
Namespaces and Traits: Organizing code and reusing methods.
9. Error Handling and Debugging
Error Types: Notices, warnings, fatal errors.
Error Handling: Using try-catch blocks for exception handling.
Custom Error Handlers: Creating custom error handling functions.
Debugging Techniques: Using error reporting, logging for debugging.
10. Advanced PHP Concepts
Sessions and Cookies: Managing user sessions and cookies.
File Handling: Reading, writing, and uploading files.
Regular Expressions: Pattern matching and string manipulation.
PHP and JSON: Encoding and decoding JSON data.
Web Services and APIs: Creating and consuming RESTful web services.
11. PHP Frameworks
Introduction to Frameworks: Overview of Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter.
MVC Architecture: Understanding Model-View-Controller pattern.
Building Applications: Creating a simple application using a PHP framework.
12. Security
Security Threats: Understanding SQL injection, XSS, CSRF.
Data Validation: Validating and sanitizing user input.
Session Management: Implementing secure sessions.
Password Hashing: Storing and verifying passwords securely.
13. Project Work
Capstone Project: Integrating various concepts into a comprehensive project.
Assignments: Practical tasks and coding exercises to reinforce learning.
Course Format
Lectures: Theoretical explanations of key concepts.
Hands-on Labs: Practical coding sessions to implement learned concepts.
Assignments: Regular tasks to apply and reinforce learning.
Projects: Real-world projects to build practical experience.
Quizzes and Exams: Periodic assessments to gauge understanding and retention.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of programming concepts.
Familiarity with HTML and CSS (optional but helpful).
Enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
Career Opportunities
Completing a PHP course can open doors to various career opportunities, such as:
PHP Developer
Web Developer
Backend Developer
Full-Stack Developer
CMS Developer (WordPress, Drupal, Joomla)