Course Overview
PHP 4: Introduction explores all of the major elements of
PHP programming. With PHP, you can build dynamic, data-driven
Web sites that use a variety of databases. Easy-to-understand
code samples are used to demonstrate the many elements and
techniques used in PHP programming.
Prerequisites
To ensure your success, we recommend you first take the
following Element K courses or have equivalent knowledge:
• HTML Programming: Level 1
• HTML Programming: Level 2
• Introduction to Programming
• SQL Fundamentals of Querying
Delivery Method
Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model
with structured hands-on and minds-on activities.
Benefits
After completing this course you will be able to immediately use
PHP to create impressive Web sites.
Target Audience
PHP 4: Introduction is designed for the student who is well
versed in HTML, and who has had at least some experience with
scripting languages and SQL. This is a serious programming
course—it is not intended for students who have created Web
sites only with a WYSIWYG editor (for example, MS FrontPage) and
have never gotten into HTML coding by hand, let alone scripting
or working with SQL databases.
Performance-Based Objectives
Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the
course, and also provide a means to evaluate learning. Upon
successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Describe what PHP is and the advantages to creating Web sites
with PHP.
• Use variables, arrays, and functions in PHP scripts.
• Include other files in PHP scripts and manipulate files and
directories.
• Process forms and validate their information.
• Incorporate hidden form fields, cookies, and session variables
in PHP scripts.
• Add, update, and delete records in a database using PHP.
Course Outline
Lesson 1: Introduction to PHP
Topic 1A: What is PHP?
Task 1A-1: Understanding PHP
Topic 1B: Basic Syntax of PHP
Task 1B-1: Writing Your First PHP Script
Task 1B-2: Incorporating HTML in PHP Scripts
Task 1B-3: Commenting Your PHP Code
Lesson 2: Common PHP Script Elements
Topic 2A: Using Variables
Task 2A-1: Experimenting with Variables
Topic 2B: Working With Arrays
Task 2B-1: Creating an Associative Array
Topic 2C: Using Functions
Task 2C-1: Exploring Functions
Lesson 3: File and Directory Handling
Topic 3A: Including Files
Task 3A-1: Writing the Include Files
Topic 3B: File Access
Task 3B-1: Creating a Hit Counter
Task 3B-2: Creating a Directory Navigation Script
Lesson 4: Working With Forms
Topic 4A: Processing Forms
Task 4A-1: Using Arrays to Process Form Information
Topic 4B: Form Validation
Task 4B-1: Validating Form Data
Task 4B-2: Using the HTMLSpecialChars Function
Topic 4C: E-Mailing Form Data
Task 4C-1: Adding E-Mail Functionality
Lesson 5: Addressing the Stateless Nature of HTTP
Topic 5A: Hidden Form Fields
Task 5A-1: Using Hidden Form Fields
Topic 5B: Cookies
Task 5B-1: Setting a Cookie
Topic 5C: Sessions
Task 5C-1: Setting Session Variables
Lesson 6: Accessing Databases With PHP
Topic 6A: Interacting With Databases
Task 6A-1: Connecting to the MySQL Server
Task 6A-2: Retrieving Data
Topic 6B: Modifying Database Records Using PHP
Task 6B-1: Adding a Record
Task 6B-2: Updating a Record in the Database