57 replies
where can i find the best free tutorial for learning php .
#learn #php
  • Profile picture of the author geek4ever
    I believe you'll know if you do a google search for it.
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  • Profile picture of the author wayfarer
    W3 Schools PHP Tutorial is probably the best beginners' tutorial you're going to find. After that, you're best bet is probably going to be reading, practice, and referring to the online documentation at PHP: Official Site
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  • Profile picture of the author alshir827
    I was trying to access free4every1.com and hitting below error =>


    The file /home/.keekum/dabazgurl/cash.free4every1.Com/global.php has been encoded with the ionCube PHP Encoder and requires the free ionCube PHP Loader to be installed.

    Is there something I can learn from W3 PHP School?
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by alshir827 View Post

      I was trying to access free4every1.com and hitting below error =>


      The file /home/.keekum/dabazgurl/cash.free4every1.Com/global.php has been encoded with the ionCube PHP Encoder and requires the free ionCube PHP Loader to be installed.

      Is there something I can learn from W3 PHP School?
      You need to contact your webhosting company and ask them to set up the IonCube Loader on your account. The IonCube Loader stuff should be behind the scenes for you.

      I know that a few years back, my brother ran into an issue with his webhost setting up the IonCube. He had to add a extra config file to the directory that needed the IonCube before it would actually work. You might have to do the same, but your webhost can advise how to do that.
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      Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
      Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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      • Profile picture of the author alshir827
        Originally Posted by tpw View Post

        You need to contact your webhosting company and ask them to set up the IonCube Loader on your account. The IonCube Loader stuff should be behind the scenes for you.

        I know that a few years back, my brother ran into an issue with his webhost setting up the IonCube. He had to add a extra config file to the directory that needed the IonCube before it would actually work. You might have to do the same, but your webhost can advise how to do that.
        Thank you TPW for sharing this!
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  • Profile picture of the author jhn2001
    thanks for your response guys
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  • Profile picture of the author d'oviedo
    I too would like to learn PHP as i relates to websites. I have not found any good tutorial that explains the entire web development as a whole. Maybe the only recourse is to find a tutor that can advised me as I progress ahead.

    Any comment?

    D'Oviedo
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  • Profile picture of the author envmar
    I know the concept is a bit outdated but it still works. I'd check out your local library for beginner PHP books. They're usually pretty good for giving you the basics.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bishop81
    w3schools.com is the absolute BEST resource that you can have in your arsenal. I still refer to it all the time.
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    • Profile picture of the author groverjones
      Originally Posted by Bishop81 View Post

      w3schools.com is the absolute BEST resource that you can have in your arsenal. I still refer to it all the time.
      The best thing about w3schools.com is that they've been around for a very long time, and yet the content is still updated regularly, and with the latest of "standards".
      The other good resource for learning PHP is the main website (php.net)
      They have excellent doco, and excellent tutorials for beginners. Follow the links on there to the documentation.

      Neil
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      • Profile picture of the author xga
        I like the php documentation on php.net. I usually refer to it when I am doing php programming. The examples on the documentation is very helpful for learning php functions.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ross Dalangin
    Learn the basic at w3schools.com then get some snippets at php.net and download free scripts at hotscripts.com while downloading the most downloaded class at phpclasses.org
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    I learned php using a very simple method. I decided what I wanted a script to do, then I looked for script samples while searching google. And when I found a function that I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of, so I could better customize it to do what I wanted, I went to the PHP Bible at: PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor

    After about three years of writing simple scripts, I can almost program in php without referring back to samples or the reference sources at php.net.
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    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author Niche Kid
    You can use Googles code search (www . google . com / codesearch) to find snippets of code... but you will need to have some understanding of the language.

    If your only after php code then use "lang: php" tag to prefix your search term.

    cheers,
    Simon
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  • Profile picture of the author wharro4u
    interesting stuff
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    • Profile picture of the author ultraeternity
      The online documentation for php is of a very high quality.Once you learn the basics of php,you will not need require any other resource.If you would like to learn php through videos ,try killerphp[dot]com.Its got very good tutorials.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jay Moreno
    I always refer back to google to find resources to help me - however i had a guy who was great at HTML but didnt know anything about PHP

    so i took him to the local book store and i picked out some titles such as:

    PHP for teens
    PHP for dummies
    Sams teach yourself PHP in 24hrs

    In no time at all he was up and running

    I have found in the past Lynda.com to be a good resource for learning but i sat down with him to watch the Lynda.com PHP tutorials and was bored to tears... same went for the SEO guide thought it was very outdated...

    HTH
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    Sorry, I am too busy helping people to think of a cool signature!
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  • Profile picture of the author udskiii
    The PHP official site lists all the classe and is kind of a documentation, but not a good tutorial.
    w3cschools.com helped me a lot. Also, tizag.com .
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  • Profile picture of the author harrisunderwork
    Big G is the ultimate resource. Or else you can use any good ebook.
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  • Profile picture of the author dvwilliams
    Try phpbuilder.com/manual/en/tutorial.php
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  • Profile picture of the author webarts
    online documentation at PHP: Official Site

    their are lot tutorials u can just find them by googling them
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  • Profile picture of the author grvcarr
    w3schools.com
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  • Profile picture of the author madison_avenue
    Before you start to learn PHP read and understand what it is happening in pseudo code, I have put a link below for a good example. Once you understand the concepts behind pseudocode you will understand all code, it will make learning PHP very much easier. Once you learn the syntax of php you can add it to the pseudo code to give you a basic computer programme. Tizag.com is also a good site for learning PHP.

    good luck




    http://www.unf.edu/~broggio/cop2221/2221pseu.htm


    PHP Tutorial - POST & GET
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  • Profile picture of the author voodoo_rx
    w3schools.com
    But you need to write as much as possible the real scripts
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  • Profile picture of the author viane
    You should check for good books you can learn it from doing actual world programming. try php documentation its good
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  • Profile picture of the author ayaw
    Back to 3 years ago when I learn PHP, I'm using w3schools to learn it.
    When you finish the course there, you can go to PHP.net to learn more
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  • Profile picture of the author yosis
    w3schools is a great resource as others have mentioned. If certification is important for your career you can also test your knowledge there as well. I've found the most help with books from O'Reilly and Wrox press. While I like the great free tutorials and resources available, I like have books around that are easily accessible and serve as a reference when I'm not online. Also, "php cookbooks" are great ways to learn some best practices that you can adapt to fit your needs as you advance in your learning.
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  • Profile picture of the author transformers2
    If you want to learn the syntax any tutorial will do I guess (even C tutorials)... but for advanced reference PHP manual available at the official site php.net is the one and only best resource
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  • Profile picture of the author webgeek154
    i echo the w3schools recommendation. that's how I learned and apparently many others also. i tried a lot of other stuff but the w3 schools stuff was the easiest and most effective. gives you the basics which is the most important
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  • Profile picture of the author chuawenching
    best ones .. download a free portal/applications using php ... try to look at the codes

    then google each lines of code ... that is the fastest way to learn

    but i have to agree that it will be complex at first, you will get there soon. at least you know how much PHP can do in actual real life scenario.
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    • Profile picture of the author webgeek154
      I think dissecting code is very useful but I strongly suggest you go through the w3schools tutorial first before you do that.

      It's like the primer before the paint. The knowledge you'll get from dissecting code will 'stick' because you'll have the fundamentals you can add on top of.

      If not, a lot of stuff will go over your head and what you do understand will be much harder to grasp.

      It's like trying to drive stick shift. You can learn by trying to figure it out yourself but it's a lot easier if somebody explains to you that you need to shift gears and hold the clutch, etc.

      - WebGeek
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  • Profile picture of the author chuawenching
    True also ... assuming you are new to programming

    ya going through basics will be a good start if that is the case
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    • Profile picture of the author webgeek154
      yeah, if you're not new to programming, php will be a breeze. just dive right in and start disecting code and you'll pick up the syntax very quickly
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  • Profile picture of the author hire_us
    Google the Godfather...is the best one to shout for help...
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    • Profile picture of the author Intrepreneur
      I didn't realise how much I already know about programming until the dude above mentioned pseudocode.

      I've learned quite a few programming codes.

      Visual Basic, Java, and another language I can't quite put my ginger on but that was a few years back.

      I guess it wouldn't take me long to get back on track, it's the CSS that's holding me back.

      Oh and to the starter of this thread if you alreay know CSS and HTML, there is a WSO on how to learn PHP where the guy walks you through building an Ebay Affiliate script. That might help.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jorge05r
    I expect you already know xhtml, css and the basic stuff. If so well start reading a couple php tutorials, downloads free and simple scripts, start modifying them. It's really a great start.
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  • Profile picture of the author andreasnrb
    Get a good book with lessons in it. Search amazon and check the reviews and popularity.
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  • Profile picture of the author embrown
    I also post on another forum called dreamincode dot com and they have a bunch of great tutorials and people to help with 'homework'. So if you get a book and need know if the main differences between 'require' and 'include' that's the forum to go to. They talk about other languages as well and you may even pick up some SEO tips there.

    Sorry if I'm babbling, but that's my second most visited forum, next to this one
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  • Profile picture of the author WarriorMaster82
    Is PHP good to start out with, or should I start out with something smaller?
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  • Profile picture of the author garyk1968
    Heres a free ebook on php you can download PHP 5 Power Programming - Free Book Download (no not some rubbish 20 page effort but a full technical book hundreds of pages long)
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  • Profile picture of the author cypherslock
    The best book for learning PHP that I've come across that is nwebie friendly is David Powers PHP Solutions: Dynamic Web Design Made Easy. It doesn't require anything other than an editor (non dreamweaver, but you can use it too). I recommend Aptana. It covers the language, the various structures, and gets you using it in the fourth chapter. The projects are useful and the site is quite nice as well. Everything is clearly explained. He delves into MySQL later in the book as well as security, uploading files and a LOT more. You can find it and its sequel: PHP Object Oriented Solutions at Amazon.

    Once you're comfortable with PHP I highly recommend Sitepoint's PHP Anthology as well. Those books and the PHP manual are all you need.
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  • Profile picture of the author softech02
    I have finished all the chapters from w3schools but now i need tutorial which show how to use PHP MYSQL in real practice. I mean how we use it while developing a website. W3school teaches in theortical way, i wanna tutorial which will tell us how to use it in making my website.


    any references?
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  • Profile picture of the author embrown
    Oh, almost forgot. Head first PHP & MySQL is a good book. Once you complete it, you'll have created a mailing list, a job board and a dating site. You can incorporate all that into your website.

    I have this book in my collection, but I haven't done too much but skim it. But, from my experience from Head First Java and Head First Web Design, this series is really good. Its not boring and over technical (to me at least). So, I definitely recommend it to anyone wishing to learn
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    • Profile picture of the author Intrepreneur
      I've noticed a lot of PHP programming contains a lot of javascript.

      Is this something we should worry about as PHP beginners?

      For instance a membership script I'm using appears to use javascript to call HTML code for an "overall header" so that all the user management system has the same header design.
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      • Profile picture of the author wayfarer
        Originally Posted by Intrepreneur View Post

        I've noticed a lot of PHP programming contains a lot of javascript.

        Is this something we should worry about as PHP beginners?

        For instance a membership script I'm using appears to use javascript to call HTML code for an "overall header" so that all the user management system has the same header design.
        PHP does not ever "use" JavaScript. It could be used to output JavaScript, however. Because PHP is server side, the entire script is finished executing before any HTML is sent to the browser. Because JavaScript is client side, it won't begin executing until it reaches the browser.

        JavaScript could, however, be used to execute a PHP script from a seperate file, then read its output. This would fall under the domain of AJAX.
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        • Profile picture of the author Intrepreneur
          Originally Posted by wayfarer View Post

          PHP does not ever "use" JavaScript. It could be used to output JavaScript, however. Because PHP is server side, the entire script is finished executing before any HTML is sent to the browser. Because JavaScript is client side, it won't begin executing until it reaches the browser.

          JavaScript could, however, be used to execute a PHP script from a seperate file, then read its output. This would fall under the domain of AJAX.
          I haevn't got as far as learning PHP yet, I'm still learning CSS.

          Although I was wondering is javascript (AJAX) a big role in the ability to use PHP properly?
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          • Profile picture of the author wayfarer
            Originally Posted by Intrepreneur View Post

            I haevn't got as far as learning PHP yet, I'm still learning CSS.

            Although I was wondering is javascript (AJAX) a big role in the ability to use PHP properly?
            Complex websites and web-applications often use JavaScript to add behavior to the website. Learning JavaScript is no a prerequisite to being a better PHP programmer. Knowing PHP will make your abilities as a JavaScript developer much more powerful, because you will be able to leverage to power of the server from your already outputted code by making AJAX calls. JavaScript is not able access the server except by making requests of it, so it can make calls to any page with an active server language asking for more data.

            PHP/Server Language: pre-processing
            HTML/CSS: static markup - can be outputted by server pre-processing
            JavaScript: behavior applied to static markup - is technically also static - can be outputted by server pre-processing
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  • Profile picture of the author tonymanso
    There are several PHP books out there that you can pick up that start with the basics and have a specific project (online database, retail store, etc.) that you can build from scratch. I think this is the best way to learn it. Just my 2 cents. I been doing PHP for so long that I can't remember not doing it :-)
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    • Profile picture of the author ellistev
      You could always enroll in a Computer Science or Computer Engineering course. That should cover it.
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    • Profile picture of the author ellistev
      You could always enroll in a Computer Science or Computer Engineering course. That should cover it.
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  • Profile picture of the author jacobycage
    I know the perception is a bit outdated but it immobile works. I'd check out your local library for beginner PHP books. They're more often than not pretty good quality for giving you the essentials.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sam1985
    For the tutorial one can easily search for the related topic in google. I think it will give better result.
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  • Profile picture of the author Clinton
    if u want to learn php instllaing vista and may code in php so i can sujjested you best way to learn programming language and seo of website very easy
    way.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sam1985
    If you are a very first beginner then try PHP tutorial for beginners for the better knowledge.
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  • Profile picture of the author caesargus
    I will second the Head First series of books.

    I learned PHP by picking up a book from Peach Pit Press called PHP & Mysql for Dynamic Websites: a Visual Quick Start guide. I also read Site Point's PHP Anthology books by Harry Fuecks.

    I'm not sure how much technical knowledge you already have but I would suggest downloading a local copy of PHP so you can make changes on the fly without having to upload the files back to your server as much.

    Check out apache friends - xampp (There are other versions of this setup - Check out AMPP installations (Wampp for windows, lampp for linux, mampp for mac) - (AMPP stands for Apache Mysql PHP Perl).
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  • Profile picture of the author james911
    Yeah i think W3 Schools PHP Tutorial is the best place for beginner
    you can get there and start your lession
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