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PHP Tutorial

PHP Tutorial – Complete Guide for Beginners to Advanced

Welcome to the most comprehensive PHP tutorial available online at PHPOnline.in – your trusted source to learn PHP step by step with real-world examples, high-quality explanations, and free resources. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or looking to upgrade your skills, this course is tailored to transform you into a confident PHP developer.

What is PHP?

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is an open-source, server-side scripting language designed specifically for web development. It is used to create dynamic and interactive websites and supports integration with databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and more.

Power Features of PHP

  • Easy to learn and use

  • Open-source and free

  • Cross-platform support

  • Massive community support

  • Seamless database integration

  • Powerful frameworks like Laravel, CodeIgniter, Symfony

✅ PHP powers over 70% of websites globally — including giants like Facebook, WordPress, and Wikipedia.

PHP Course Curriculum (Table of Contents)

  1. Introduction to PHP

  2. Setting Up PHP Environment

  3. PHP Syntax and Basics

  4. Variables and Data Types

  5. Operators in PHP

  6. PHP Control Structures (if, else, switch)

  7. Loops in PHP

  8. Functions in PHP

  9. Arrays in PHP

  10. Superglobals in PHP

  11. Forms and User Input

  12. File Handling in PHP

  13. PHP Sessions and Cookies

  14. Object-Oriented Programming in PHP

  15. PHP and MySQL

  16. Error Handling

  17. PHP Security Best Practices

  18. PHP with AJAX and JavaScript

  19. PHP Frameworks Overview

  20. Final Project – Build a Mini CMS

Introduction to PHP

PHP is a backend scripting language that executes on the server and outputs HTML. Originally created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994, it has evolved into one of the most powerful languages used in web application development.

  • PHP is embedded into HTML using <?php ... ?> tags.

  • Can be used to send/receive data from databases

  • Helps develop secure, scalable, and dynamic websites


👉 What is PHP? Explained for Beginners

Setting Up PHP Environment

To run PHP code locally, you’ll need:

  • XAMPP/WAMP/MAMP – Local server packages

  • Code Editor – VS Code, Sublime Text, or PHPStorm

  • Browser – To test your applications

Start with Installing XAMPP and running your first PHP file

PHP Syntax and Basics

Basic PHP script:

<?php
echo "Hello, PHP World!";
?>

  • Case-insensitive keywords

  • Statements end with a semicolon ;

  • Comments use // or /* */

Variables and Data Types

PHP variables start with $ and can store different data types.

$name = "PHP";
$age = 5;
$isOpen = true;

Common Data Types:

  • String

  • Integer

  • Float

  • Boolean

  • Array

  • Object

  • NULL

Read more: PHP Variables and Constants

Operators in PHP

Operators include:

  • Arithmetic: +, -, *, /, %

  • Assignment: =, +=, -=

  • Comparison: ==, !=, >, <

  • Logical: &&, ||, !

PHP Control Structures

Control the flow of code using:

if ($age > 18) {
echo "Adult";
} elseif ($age == 18) {
echo "Just Adult";
} else {
echo "Minor";
}

Also supports switch-case statements.

Loops in PHP

PHP supports:

  • while

  • do-while

  • for

  • foreach (for arrays)

Example:

for ($i = 0; $i < 5; $i++) {
echo $i;
}

Functions in PHP

Functions help organize code and make it reusable.

function greet($name) {
return "Hello, $name!";
}
echo greet("PHP");

Supports default values, return types, recursion, etc.

Arrays in PHP

Arrays store multiple values:

  • Indexed

  • Associative

  • Multidimensional

$fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cherry"];
echo $fruits[1]; // Banana

Superglobals in PHP

Built-in variables that are always accessible:

  • $_GET

  • $_POST

  • $_SESSION

  • $_COOKIE

  • $_SERVER

  • $_FILES

  • $_REQUEST

Forms and User Input

Forms allow users to interact with the backend:

<form method="post" action="process.php">
<input type="text" name="username" />
<input type="submit" />
</form>

In PHP:

$username = $_POST['username'];

File Handling in PHP

Work with files:

  • fopen()

  • fread()

  • fwrite()

  • fclose()

  • unlink() (delete)

🔗 Learn more: PHP File Upload Tutorial

Sessions and Cookies

  • Sessions store user info on the server

  • Cookies store info in the browser

session_start();
$_SESSION['user'] = "admin";

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

PHP supports full OOP:

class Car {
public $color;
function setColor($color) {
$this->color = $color;
}
}

Key Concepts:

  • Class & Objects

  • Inheritance

  • Polymorphism

  • Encapsulation

PHP and MySQL

Interact with MySQL databases using:

$conn = mysqli_connect("localhost", "root", "", "test_db");

  • mysqli_query()

  • mysqli_fetch_assoc()

  • mysqli_close()

Or use PDO for a more secure, flexible way.

🔗 Learn PHP MySQL Integration

Error Handling in PHP

Catch and handle errors using:

  • try-catch

  • error_reporting()

  • set_error_handler()

try {
// risky code
} catch (Exception $e) {
echo $e->getMessage();
}

PHP Security Best Practices

  • Validate all input

  • Use prepared statements

  • Sanitize user data

  • Use HTTPS

  • Avoid exposing sensitive errors

PHP with AJAX and JavaScript

Enhance user experience:

  • PHP processes server-side logic

  • JavaScript handles frontend

  • AJAX enables live updates

fetch("getData.php")
.then(response => response.text())
.then(data => console.log(data));

PHP Frameworks Overview

Popular PHP frameworks:

  • Laravel (MVC, elegant syntax)

  • CodeIgniter (lightweight)

  • Symfony (enterprise-level)

  • Yii (high-performance)

Final Project – Build a Mini CMS

You will build a Mini Content Management System using PHP and MySQL:

  • Admin login

  • Add/Edit/Delete Posts

  • Upload images

  • View content publicly

🔗 Project Guide: Build a CMS with PHP

FAQ Section

What is PHP used for?

PHP is used to build dynamic websites, process forms, handle sessions, and interact with databases.

Is PHP easy to learn?

Yes, PHP has a beginner-friendly syntax and wide community support, making it easy for new developers.

Can PHP work with databases?

Yes. PHP works excellently with MySQL and other databases using MySQLi or PDO.

Which is the best PHP framework?

Laravel is currently the most popular framework due to its elegant syntax and built-in tools.

How do I debug PHP code?

Use error_reporting(E_ALL) and ini_set('display_errors', 1) to display PHP errors.

 Is PHP still relevant in 2025?

Absolutely. PHP powers a large portion of the web and is evolving with modern frameworks like Laravel.

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