PHP is a powerful scripting language that enables developers to create dynamic and interactive web applications. In this course, we will dive into the world of PHP and explore its core concepts, syntax, and features.

Throughout the course, we will cover topics such as variables, data types, control structures, functions, arrays, file handling, database connectivity, and form handling. You will learn how to write clean and efficient PHP code while adhering to best practices. 

By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of PHP and its capabilities, allowing you to develop robust web applications and enhance your web development skills. Through hands-on exercises and practical examples, you will gain the confidence to write PHP code and make informed design decisions.

Key features and characteristics of PHP:

1. Server-Side Scripting: PHP is primarily a server-side scripting language, meaning it runs on the web server and processes the code before sending the output (usually HTML) to the client's web browser.

2. Open Source: PHP is an open-source language, which means it is freely available to use and modify. The PHP community actively contributes to its development and improvement.

3. Cross-Platform: PHP is compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and others. This makes it highly accessible and widely used across different platforms.

4. Support for Databases: PHP has built-in support for working with databases, making it easy to perform database operations like querying, inserting, updating, and deleting data.

5. Extensive Documentation and Community: PHP has a vast community of developers and enthusiasts, which results in extensive online documentation, forums, and resources for learning and troubleshooting.

6. Fast Processing: PHP is known for its fast execution, making it efficient for handling dynamic web pages and processing user data.

7. Integration with Web Servers: PHP is designed to work seamlessly with popular web servers like Apache, Nginx, and IIS.

8. Large Library of Functions: PHP comes with a rich set of predefined functions and libraries, which enables developers to perform various tasks without having to write code from scratch.

9. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Support: PHP supports object-oriented programming, allowing developers to create reusable and organized code structures.

10. Widely Used in Content Management Systems (CMS): Many popular CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are built on PHP, making it a critical technology for managing and creating content-rich websites.

Overall, PHP's ease of use, flexibility, and broad support have contributed to its widespread adoption, making it one of the leading choices for web development projects of all sizes and complexities.

OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, participants will:

1. Understand the fundamentals of PHP and its role in web development.

2. Gain proficiency in PHP syntax, variables, data types, and control structures.

3. Learn how to create and use functions in PHP for code reusability.

4. Explore arrays and their manipulation techniques to store and retrieve data.

5. Develop skills in handling files and reading/writing data using PHP.

6. Learn the basics of connecting PHP applications to databases and executing SQL queries.

7. Acquire knowledge of form handling with PHP and validating user input.

8. Familiarise themselves with best practices and coding conventions in PHP development.

9. Gain practical experience through hands-on exercises and coding challenges.

10. Build a strong foundation for further exploration of PHP frameworks and advanced concepts.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS COURSE

1. Web developers and programmers looking to learn PHP as a server-side scripting language.

2. Individuals interested in developing dynamic web applications and websites.

3. Anyone seeking to enhance their web development skills.

METHODOLOGY

The course will primarily focus on delivering concise explanations of key PHP concepts with practical examples and exercises. Hands-on coding exercises will be provided to reinforce learning and allow participants to apply the concepts covered.

COURSE OUTLINE

(THIS IS A 1 DAY TRAINING PROGRAMME)

1. Introduction to PHP (0.5 hour)

What is PHP and its role in web development?

Setting up a PHP development environment (XAMPP, WAMP, or similar)

PHP syntax and structure

2. Variable and Data Types (0.5 hours)

Declaring and using variables in PHP

Understanding data types: strings, integers, booleans, arrays

Typecasting and type conversion in PHP

3. Conditional Structures and Loops (1 hours)

Conditional statements: if, else if, else, switch

Looping structures: for, while, do-while, foreach

Using control structures for decision-making and repetitive tasks

Break and continue statements

4. Functions and Custom PHP Functions (1 hour)

Defining and calling built-in PHP functions

Creating custom functions in PHP

Function parameters and return values

5. Arrays and Array Manipulation (1 hour)

Understanding arrays and their importance in PHP

Indexed arrays and associative arrays

Array manipulation: adding, removing, updating elements

6. PHP File Handling (0.5 hour)

Reading from and writing to files using PHP

Opening, closing, and manipulating file resources

File permissions and security considerations

7. Introduction to Database Connectivity with PHP (1.5 hours)

Overview of PHP database connectivity options (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.)

Connecting to a database using PHP

Executing SQL queries and retrieving results

8. Form Handling with PHP (0.5 hours)

Processing form data using PHP

Handling user input and form validation