PHP

What's inside

Lessons go from the basics to advanced topics. Read them in order, or jump to what you need.

1. 01

   Chapter 1

   Getting Started

   • 1PHP IntroductionMeet PHP: the server-side language behind a huge part of the web. Learn how it works and why it's still a strong choice in its modern PHP 8 form.
   • 2Install and Run PHPSet up PHP on your computer with XAMPP or Laragon, then run your files from the terminal or with the built-in development server php -S.
   • 3PHP SyntaxLearn PHP's writing rules: the <?php tag, semicolons at the end of statements, blocks in curly braces, and which names are case-sensitive.
   • 4PHP CommentsWrite notes in your code that PHP ignores, using single-line comments // and #, multi-line comments /* */, and documentation comments (DocBlocks).
   • 5PHP echo and printOutput text and values with echo and print, learn how they differ, print several values at once, insert variables into strings, and inspect data with print_r and var_dump.
2. 02

   Chapter 2

   PHP Basics

   • 6PHP VariablesStore data in variables that start with $, learn the naming rules, how to change values, and why you don't declare types in advance.
   • 7PHP Data TypesGet to know PHP's data types: strings, integers, floats, booleans, arrays, objects and null. Inspect them with var_dump() and convert between them.
   • 8PHP StringsCreate strings with single and double quotes, join them with the dot operator, insert variables, use escape sequences, and write long text with heredoc and nowdoc.
   • 9PHP String FunctionsUse built-in functions to process text: measure length, change case, search and replace, extract parts, split and join, and format with sprintf().
   • 10PHP Numbers and MathWork with integers and floats: division, modulus and powers, float precision, rounding and math functions, and formatting numbers for display.
   • 11PHP ConstantsDefine values that never change with const and define(), and meet built-in and magic constants such as __LINE__ and __DIR__.
   • 12PHP OperatorsLearn PHP's operators: assignment, increment, comparison (including ==, === and <=>), logical operators, the null coalescing operator ??, and the ternary operator.
3. 03

   Chapter 3

   Control Flow

   • 13PHP if...elseMake decisions in your program with if, else and elseif, combine conditions with logical operators, and use the alternative syntax inside HTML templates.
   • 14PHP switchChoose one of many paths based on a single value with switch, and understand the role of break and fall-through.
   • 15PHP match ExpressionUse PHP 8's match expression: a shorter, safer alternative to switch that returns a value, compares strictly, and needs no break.
   • 16PHP while LoopsRepeat code while a condition is true with while, run it at least once with do...while, and avoid infinite loops.
   • 17PHP for LoopUse the for loop when you know how many times to repeat: initialization, condition and step in one line, with countdowns and nested loops.
   • 18PHP foreach LoopWalk through arrays easily with foreach: values only, keys with values, modifying items by reference, and destructuring nested arrays.
   • 19PHP break and continueControl your loops: stop them completely with break, or skip the current iteration with continue, even in nested loops.
4. 04

   Chapter 4

   Functions

   • 20PHP FunctionsDefine your own functions with function, pass them arguments, send results back with return, and write organized, reusable code.
   • 21Function Parameters and TypesMake your functions clearer and safer: declare parameter and return types, use default values and named arguments, and accept any number of arguments.
   • 22PHP Variable ScopeUnderstand where each variable can be used: local scope inside functions, global scope and the global keyword, and static variables that keep their value between calls.
   • 23Anonymous and Arrow FunctionsCreate functions without names and store them in variables, capture outside variables with use, write short arrow functions with fn, and pass functions to other functions.
5. 05

   Chapter 5

   Arrays

   • 24PHP Indexed ArraysStore a list of values in one variable, read items by index, add, change and remove items, count them, loop over them, and unpack them into variables.
   • 25PHP Associative ArraysUse meaningful string keys instead of numbers, add, change and remove values, check whether keys exist, and loop over key/value pairs with foreach.
   • 26PHP Multidimensional ArraysStore complex data as arrays inside arrays, such as a list of students each with their own details, then read, update, loop over them, and extract whole columns.
   • 27PHP Array FunctionsSort, search and transform arrays: the sort family, array_map, array_filter, array_reduce, in_array, array_search, array_merge and more.
6. 06

   Chapter 6

   Object-Oriented Programming

   • 28PHP Classes and ObjectsEnter object-oriented programming: define a class with properties and methods, create objects with new, and use $this to access an object's data.
   • 29PHP ConstructorsInitialize objects the moment they're created with __construct(), shorten your code with PHP 8 constructor property promotion, and meet the destructor.
   • 30Access Modifiers and readonlyProtect your objects' data with public, protected and private, write accessor methods with validation, and make properties read-only with readonly.
   • 31PHP InheritanceBuild new classes on top of existing ones with extends, override methods, call the parent class with parent::, and prevent inheritance with final.
   • 32Abstract Classes and InterfacesDesign clear contracts between the parts of your program: abstract classes that share common code, and interfaces that define what a class must implement.
   • 33Static Members and Class ConstantsLearn about static properties and methods that belong to the class itself rather than to an object, class constants, and the difference between self:: and static::.
   • 34PHP TraitsShare methods between unrelated classes without inheritance using traits, combine several traits, and resolve name conflicts between them.
   • 35PHP EnumsDefine a fixed set of possible values with enum (PHP 8.1): pure and backed enums, from(), tryFrom() and cases(), and adding methods to enums.
   • 36PHP ExceptionsHandle errors professionally: throw exceptions with throw, catch them with try, catch and finally, and create your own exception classes.
   • 37Namespaces and AutoloadingOrganize your classes in namespaces to avoid name collisions, import them with use, and let Composer load their files automatically following PSR-4.
7. 07

   Chapter 7

   Web & Data

   • 38PHP SuperglobalsMeet the built-in arrays that are available everywhere: $_GET and $_POST for request data, $_SERVER for server and request information, and more.
   • 39PHP Forms and ValidationHandle form data safely: validate required fields, emails and lengths, show error messages, keep the user's input, and follow the PRG pattern.
   • 40PHP Sessions and CookiesKeep user data between requests: sessions ($_SESSION) store data on the server, such as login state, and cookies store small preferences in the browser.
   • 41PHP include and requireSplit your site into reusable files and load them with include, require and their _once versions; learn how they differ and when to use each.
   • 42PHP JSONConvert PHP arrays and objects to JSON with json_encode(), turn JSON back into PHP data with json_decode(), and handle errors and Arabic text.
   • 43PHP Date and TimeFormat dates with date() and work with them professionally using DateTime and DateTimeImmutable: adding, subtracting, differences, and time zones.
   • 44PHP MySQL with PDOConnect to MySQL with PDO, run Create/Read/Update/Delete (CRUD) operations safely with prepared statements, and use transactions.
   • 45PHP Security BasicsProtect your application from the most common attacks: XSS with htmlspecialchars(), SQL injection with prepared statements, safe password storage with password_hash(), and CSRF with random tokens.
   • 46PHP ComposerUse Composer, PHP's standard package manager, to install libraries, manage your project's dependencies, and autoload classes, and understand composer.json and composer.lock.
   • 47PHP Next StepsReview what you've learned with a mini project that combines everything, discover best practices and professional tools, and plan your path to Laravel.