PHP is an incredibly popular and well-known scripting language, perfect for web developers. PHP language can be embedded into HTML, and it’s used across many of the websites you know on the internet today. Of course, if you want to become an expert in all things PHP, then you need to make sure you know everything there is to know about this coding language.
While jumping in head-first and trying out the code for yourself can be useful, it’s also helpful to get some insights from tutorials online that will help you to figure out exactly what you need to do for success. To help you improve your web development skills, and ensure you know how to make the most out of PHP, we’ve put together a list of 10 tutorials that every developer should check out at least once.
1. PHP 101
Everyone needs to start somewhere. If you’re brand-new to the world of using PHP for coding, then it’s important to make sure that you start simple. PHP is here to stay, and if you’ve been itching to learn more about it for a while now, then PHP 101 for the Absolute Beginner is a great place to start. The Zend tutorials are completely free, and they’ll make sure that you’re prepared to start writing code in no time!
2. Coding Pitfalls for Beginners
Sometimes, becoming an incredible coder isn’t just about figuring out how to do amazing things with PHP, but also discovering the things that you need to do to avoid disaster. You should probably check out this tutorial after you’ve taken some time to learn the basics about PHP, and the language that you’re going to be using. From the Tuts+ team, this tutorial outlines some of the most common mistakes that developers make at the beginning of learning their craft. It also provides specific insights into JavaScript, PHP, and Ruby.
3. 30 Days to Learn jQuery
If you’ve been playing around with the idea of PHP for a while now, then there’s a good chance you know something about jQuery. jQuery is a type of open-source library for JavaScript that makes client-side scripting a little easier. If you’re hoping to use this particular PHP framework for development purposes, then make sure that you check out the 30 Days to Learn jQuery tutorial. There are thirty days’ worth of short tutorials to go through, delivered by Tuts+
4. Codecademy
While more of a resource for success than an actual tutorial, Codecademy is a crucial place to visit if you’re looking for guidance on PHP. Codecademy will walk you through all the basics of PHP, providing projects for you to practice your new skills on. Once you’ve figured out the basics, you can launch into your own specialised tutorial on PHP, or specific frameworks, depending on your preferences, and goals.
5. PHP Manual
Potentially one of the best PHP tutorials out there, the PHP Manual contains everything you could possibly need to know to become a PHP master. One of the best things about this resource is the section in each page that allows users to post their experiences and comments about each function. These comments are often very helpful in ensuring you understand the practical applications of PHP as a language.
6. Learn PHP in 30 Minutes
While it’s hard to imagine that you could get much value out of a thirty-minute video about PHP, you might be surprised at what you learn from this tutorial. If you’re in a hurry and you need to brush up on your skills or get a quick recap, this is the perfect way to do it. Remember, however, that it’s not necessarily reference material, but a quick recap of what you might have learned elsewhere.
7. PHP File Create and Write
This PHP code creation tutorial will teach you everything you need to know about designing a file using PHP, which you can then write onto your server. The tutorial makes the most of the fopen() function for creating files. You can also use this tutorial to learn more about taking advantage of the fwrite() function too.
8. Creating an Advanced Password Recovery Utility
If you’ve got security and accessibility on the mind as you’re learning more about PHP, this could be the perfect tutorial for you. Within this tutorial, you’ll discover everything you need to know about creating a powerful password recovery tool with PHP. This can be incredibly useful, and you can also discover how to implement the system into your website login. The tutorial teaches you how you can handle both unencrypted and encrypted passwords, along with basic mySQL functions. You will also learn how you can build your temporary lockout solutions for users who answer security questions wrong too many times.
9. 404 Error Pages with PHP Auto Mailers
Although there are a lot of different elements to think about when you’re becoming a PHP mastermind, it’s worth noting that website error pages continue to be one of the most overlooked aspects of any website today. Fortunately, if you want to make sure that you maintain the respect of your audience and visitors when learning about PHP web development, this tutorial will teach you how you can create a custom 404 error page. This tutorial will teach you how you can spice up your design, and add basic navigation that links back to your website’s original sitemap.
10. Logging into the Analytics API with PHP
Last, but not least, this PHP tutorial will teach you more about logging into your Google Analytics API with your PHP language. It’s more of a unique tip or trick than a full tutorial in some ways, but it also has plenty of useful information to offer if you want to make sure that you’re really getting the most out of your PHP experience. This tutorial will give you the power you need to display your Google Analytics data directly on your website or app, without any requirement to log into Analytics.