PHP and MySQL - Online Course

This series teaches learners to create dynamic Web sites. Learners will be able to apply their knowledge to the creation of dynamic Web applications such as content management, user registration, and e-commerce.

This course is for anyone who would like to create dynamic Web sites using PHP and MySQL. This online course contains 15 lessons and should take approximately 43 hours to complete.

Lesson 1: Installing Required Software (2.0) hours

Installing Required Software teaches you how to to install and configure MySQL, to install and configure Apache with PHP, to create MySQL users and grant privileges, to test PHP and MySQL installations, and to configure PHP. After taking this course, the learner will be able to download, install, configure, and test all the software required to create dynamic Web sites using PHP and MySQL. Topics include Installing MySQL, Installing Apache with PHP, Setting MySQL permissions, Testing the installation, and Configuring PHP.

Lesson 2: PHP Basics (3.0) hours

PHP Basics teaches you how to identify basic PHP syntax, create basic PHP scripts, send data to the Web browser, and apply variables, strings, and constants to a PHP a script. After taking this course, the learner will be able to describe the PHP scripting language, and create basic PHP scripts using proper PHP syntax. Topics include PHP, Basic syntax, Sending data, Understanding PHP, HTML, and white space, Writing comments, Using variables, Using strings, Using numbers, and Using constants.

Lesson 3: Programming with PHP (4.0) hours

Programming with PHP teaches you how to handle HTML forms using PHP scripts, validate form data, manage arrays using various types of loops, and work with magic quotes. After taking this course, the learner will be able to create elaborate scripts, write HTML forms, and program PHP to handle the form data. Topics include Creating HTML forms, Handling HTML forms, Managing magic quotes, Using conditionals and operators, Validating form data, Using arrays, Creating and accessing arrays, Multidimensional arrays, Arrays and strings, Sorting arrays, and For and While loops.

Lesson 4: Creating Dynamic Web Sites (3.0) hours

Creating Dynamic Web Sites teaches you how to create PHP scripts using multiple files, display and handle HTML forms within a single PHP script, create and call functions, create functions that take arguments and return values, set and alter variable scope, and send email from a PHP script. This course provides the learner with step-by-step instructions for using PHP to create dynamic Web sites that are responsive to users and can alter content based on differing situations. Topics include Including multiple files, Using PHP redux, Making sticky forms, Creating your own functions, Creating a function that takes arguments, Setting default argument values, Returning values from a function, Variable scope, and Date and time functions.

Lesson 5: SQL and MySQL (4.0) hours

SQL and MySQL teaches you how to choose column types and other column properties, create databases and tables, insert records, select, update and delete data, and use conditionals and functions. After taking this course, the learner will be able to create databases and tables, and sort and retrieve data using SQL and MySQL. Topics include MySQL, Choosing column types, Choosing other column properties, Using mysql client, Creating databases and tables, Inserting records, Selecting data, Using conditionals, Using LIKE and NOT LIKE, Sorting and limiting query results, Updating and deleting data, Using text and numeric functions, and Formatting date and time functions.

Lesson 6: Advanced SQL and MySQL (3.0) hours

Advanced SQL and MySQL teaches you how to normalize a database into First, Second and Third Normal Forms, create and populate a database in MySQL, search a database using joins, groupings, and FULLTEXT searches, change the search engine type of a table, and create indexes to improve the ability to search a database. After taking this course, the learner will be able to use the principles of database design, including normalization and use of forms. They will also be able to use MySQL to create relational databases, and perform searches on those databases. Topics include Normalization, keys, and relationships, First Normal Form, Second Normal Form, Third Normal Form, Creating and populating the database, Performing joins, Grouping selected results, Creating indexes, Using different table types, Performing basic FULLTEXT searches, Performing Boolean FULLTEXT searches, and Optimizing the database.

Lesson 7: Error Handling and Debugging (2.0) hours

Error Handling and Debugging teaches you how to identify error types, view, log, and debug errors, adjust PHP's error reporting, and create custom error handlers. This course provides the learner with the steps and tools necessary to identify and correct errors that can occur when running PHP and MySQL applications. Topics include General error types and debugging, Debugging HTML, Displaying PHP errors, Adjusting PHP error reporting, Creating custom error handlers, Logging PHP errors, PHP debugging techniques, and SQL and MySQL debugging techniques.

Lesson 8: Using PHP with MySQL (2.0) hours

Using PHP with MySQL teaches you how to describe how arguments and PHP functions relate to the database, differentiate between simple and complex functions depending on execution results, understand the importance of associative and indexed arrays., modify specific scripts to allow for secure data transmission, and update database records using PHP scripts. This course provides the learner with step-by-step instructions for using PHP to create dynamic Web sites that allow for database interactions such as the storing, gathering, and updating of information. Topics include Modifying the template, Connecting to MySQL and selecting the database, Executing simple queries, Retrieving query results, Ensuring secure SQL, Counting returned records, and Updating records with PHP.

Lesson 9: Developing Web Applications (2.0) hours

Developing Web Applications teaches you how to adjust behavior for server settings, pass variables and values to a script, edit existing records, paginate query results, make sortable displays, and use HTTP headers. This course provides the learner with information about a number of independent topics that are present in more sophisticated Web applications. Topics include Adjusting behavior for server settings, Sending values manually, Using hidden form inputs, Editing existing records, Paginating query results, Making sortable displays, and Understanding HTTP headers.

Lesson 10: Cookies and Sessions (3.0) hours

Cookies and Sessions teaches you how to use cookies, use sessions, improve session security, and manage the relationship between cookies and sessions. This course provides the learner with information about using cookies and sessions with PHP to overcome the statelessness of the Web. Topics include Setting cookies, Accessing cookies, Setting cookie parameters, Deleting cookies, Setting session variables, Accessing session variables, Deleting session variables, Changing session behavior, Changing the session cookie settings, Using sessions without cookies, and Improving session security.

Lesson 11: Web Application Security (3.0) hours

Web Application Security teaches you how to prevent forms from being submitted multiple times, validate form data, define patterns and both match and replace them, and manage database encryption and decryption techniques. In this course, the learner will become familiar with methods for increasing the security of their web applications using PHP and MySQL. These techniques include methods of form validation, the ability to define patterns and then matching or replacing those patterns, and data encryption. Topics include Preventing multiple submissions, Validating the right form, Handling HTML, Validating data, JavaScript form validation, Defining a pattern with regular expressions, Matching regular expression patterns, Matching and replacing patterns, Database security and encryption, and Secure salt storage.

Lesson 12: Extended Topics (4.0) hours

Extended Topics teaches you how to upload a file in PHP, develop JavaScript using PHP, utilize output buffering, identify Improved MySQL Extension functions, and describe the purpose of PEAR. This course covers extended PHP topics that are worth considering in your development work, but not related to every Web application. Topics include Handling File Uploads, Uploading PHP Files Creating Java, Script Using Output Buffering Using the Improved MySQL Extension, New MySQL Features, Using Prepared Statements, and Using PEAR.

Lesson 13: Content Management Example (2.0) hours

Content Management Example teaches you how to create the advanced PHP scripts needed for a content management site, update and add information with a database, download files through PHP scripts and database interactions, and manage files through PHP scripts and database interactions. After taking this course, the learner will become familiar with the foundational information required to build a sample content management site through PHP interactions using a database. Topics include Creating the template, Creating the basic pages, Managing URLs, The list() function, The serialize() and urlencode() functions, Managing files, and Viewing and downloading files.

Lesson 14: User Registration Example (3.0) hours

User Registration Example teaches you how to handle user registration, activate accounts, create login and logout scripts, and apply password management. This course provides an overview of the user registration system. Topics include Creating the templates, Writing the configuration scripts, Creating the home page, Registration, Activating an account, Logging in and logging out, Resetting a password, and Changing a password.

Lesson 15: E-Commerce Example (3.0) hours

E-Commerce Example teaches you how to create a database for an e-commerce site, create the administrative pages for an e-commerce site, create pages for a customer to browse the inventory and place orders from an e-commerce site, and create and manage an online shopping cart for your e-commerce site. After taking this course, the learner will have the information and sample needed to create an e-commerce site using PHP and MySQL, including creating the database, creating the public and administrative pages, and managing the shopping cart. Topics include Creating the database, The administration side, Creating the public template, The product catalog, The shopping cart, and Recording the orders.