Table of Contents:
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)
Introduction to PHP
Setting Up PHP Environment
PHP Syntax and Basics
Variables and Data Types
Operators in PHP
PHP Control Structures (if, else, switch)
Loops in PHP
Functions in PHP
Arrays in PHP
Superglobals in PHP
Forms and User Input
File Handling in PHP
PHP Sessions and Cookies
Object-Oriented Programming in PHP
PHP and MySQL
Error Handling
PHP Security Best Practices
PHP with AJAX and JavaScript
PHP Frameworks Overview
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
Internal Resource:
👉 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:
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.
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:
Also supports switch-case
statements.
Loops in PHP
PHP supports:
while
do-while
for
foreach
(for arrays)
Example:
Functions in PHP
Functions help organize code and make it reusable.
Supports default values, return types, recursion, etc.
Arrays in PHP
Arrays store multiple values:
Indexed
Associative
Multidimensional
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:
In PHP:
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
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
PHP supports full OOP:
Key Concepts:
Class & Objects
Inheritance
Polymorphism
Encapsulation
PHP and MySQL
Interact with MySQL databases using:
mysqli_query()
mysqli_fetch_assoc()
mysqli_close()
Or use PDO for a more secure, flexible way.
Error Handling in PHP
Catch and handle errors using:
try-catch
error_reporting()
set_error_handler()
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
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.