PHP for the Web: Visual QuickStart Guide, Third Edition

This is the eBook version of the printed book. If the print book includes a CD-ROM, this content is not included within the eBook version. With PHP for the World Wide Web, Third Edition: Visual QuickStart Guide, readers can start from the beginning to get a tour of the programming language, or look up specific tasks to learn just what they need to know. This task-based visual reference guide uses step-by-step instructions and plenty of screenshots to teach beginning and intermediate users this popular open-source scripting language. Leading technology author Larry Ullman guides readers through the new features in PHP 6, focusing primarily on improved support for handling any language in a Web site. Other addressed changes include removal of outdated and insecure features, plus new functions and more efficient ways to tackle common needs. Both beginning users, who want a thorough introduction to the technology, and more intermediate users, who are looking for a convenient reference, will find what they need here--in straightforward language and thorough readily accessible examples. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Introduction......Page 10 Chapter 1: Getting Started with PHP......Page 26 Basic XHTML Syntax......Page 27 Basic PHP Syntax......Page 32 Testing Your Script......Page 35 Sending Text to the Browser......Page 41 Sending HTML to the Browser......Page 45 Using White Space......Page 47 Adding Comments to Scripts......Page 50 Basic Debugging Steps......Page 53 Chapter 2: Variables......Page 56 What Are Variables?......Page 57 Variable Syntax......Page 61 Types of Variables......Page 63 Assigning Values to Variables......Page 66 Understanding Quotation Marks......Page 69 Chapter 3: HTML Forms and PHP......Page 72 Creating a Simple Form......Page 73 Using GET or POST......Page 77 Receiving Form Data in PHP......Page 79 Displaying Errors......Page 84 Error Reporting......Page 87 Manually Sending Data to a Page......Page 90 Chapter 4: Using Numbers......Page 96 Creating the Form......Page 97 Performing Arithmetic......Page 100 Formatting Numbers......Page 105 Understanding Precedence......Page 107 Incrementing and Decrementing a Number......Page 109 Creating Random Numbers......Page 111 Chapter 5: Using Strings......Page 114 Creating the HTML Form......Page 115 Connecting Strings (Concatenation)......Page 118 Handling Newlines......Page 122 HTML and PHP......Page 124 Encoding and Decoding Strings......Page 128 Finding Substrings......Page 133 Replacing Parts of a String......Page 137 Chapter 6: Control Structures......Page 140 Creating the HTML Form......Page 141 The if Conditional......Page 146 Validation Functions......Page 149 Using else......Page 152 More Operators......Page 155 Using elseif......Page 163 The Switch Conditional......Page 167 The for Loop......Page 171 Chapter 7: Using Arrays......Page 176 What Is an Array?......Page 177 Creating an Array......Page 179 Adding Items to an Array......Page 183 Accessing Array Elements......Page 186 Creating Multidimensional Arrays......Page 190 Sorting Arrays......Page 195 Transforming Between Strings and Arrays......Page 199 Creating an Array from a Form......Page 204 Chapter 8: Creating Web Applications......Page 210 Creating Templates......Page 211 Using External Files......Page 219 Using Constants......Page 225 Working with the Date and Time......Page 230 Handling HTML Forms with PHP, Revisited......Page 233 Making Forms Sticky......Page 239 Sending Email......Page 247 Output Buffering......Page 252 Manipulating HTTP Headers......Page 256 Chapter 9: Cookies and Sessions......Page 262 What Are Cookies?......Page 263 Creating Cookies......Page 266 Reading from Cookies......Page 273 Adding Parameters to a Cookie......Page 279 Deleting a Cookie......Page 284 What Are Sessions?......Page 287 Creating a Session......Page 288 Accessing Session Variables......Page 292 Deleting a Session......Page 294 Chapter 10: Creating Functions......Page 296 Creating and Using Simple Functions......Page 297 Creating and Calling Functions That Take Arguments......Page 304 Setting Default Argument Values......Page 308 Creating and Using Functions That Return a Value......Page 311 Understanding Variable Scope......Page 316 Chapter 11: Files and Directories......Page 322 File Permissions......Page 323 Writing to Files......Page 328 Locking Files......Page 336 Reading from Files......Page 339 Handling File Uploads......Page 342 Navigating Directories......Page 350 Creating Directories......Page 356 Reading Files Incrementally......Page 364 Chapter 12: Intro to Databases......Page 370 Introduction to SQL......Page 371 Connecting to MySQL......Page 373 MySQL Error Handling......Page 377 Creating and Selecting a Database......Page 380 Creating a Table......Page 383 Inserting Data into a Database......Page 388 Securing Query Data......Page 393 Retrieving Data from a Database......Page 396 Deleting Data in a Database......Page 402 Updating Data in a Database......Page 408 Chapter 13: Regular Expressions......Page 416 What Are Regular Expressions?......Page 417 Matching Patterns......Page 419 Using Literals......Page 424 Using Metacharacters......Page 425 Using Quantifiers......Page 427 Using Classes......Page 429 Matching and Replacing Patterns......Page 431 Appendix A: Installation and Configuration......Page 436 Installation on Windows......Page 437 Installation on Mac OS X......Page 440 Using the MySQL Client......Page 444 Creating MySQL Users......Page 447 PHP Configuration......Page 453 Appendix B: Resources and Next Steps......Page 456 Online PHP Resources......Page 457 Database Resources......Page 460 Top Ten Frequently Asked Questions (or Problems)......Page 461 Next Steps......Page 465 Tables......Page 467 C......Page 470 D......Page 471 F......Page 472 L......Page 473 O......Page 474 P......Page 475 S......Page 476 V......Page 478 Y–Z......Page 479

with Php For The World Wide Web, Third Edition: Visual Quickstart Guide, Readers Can Start From The Beginning To Get A Tour Of The Programming Language, Or Look Up Specific Tasks To Learn Just What They Need To Know. This Task-based Visual Reference Guide Uses Step-by-step Instructions And Plenty Of Screenshots To Teach Beginning And Intermediate Users This Popular Open-source Scripting Language. Leading Technology Author Larry Ullman Guides Readers Through The New Features In Php 6, Focusing Primarily On Improved Support For Handling Any Language In A Web Site. Other Addressed Changes Include Removal Of Outdated And Insecure Features, Plus New Functions And More Efficient Ways To Tackle Common Needs. Both Beginning Users, Who Want A Thorough Introduction To The Technology, And More Intermediate Users, Who Are Looking For A Convenient Reference, Will Find What They Need Here—in Straightforward Language And Thorough Readily Accessible Examples.

Need to learn PHP fast? Try a" Visual QuickStart"! This best-selling reference's visual format and step-by-step, task-based instructions will have you up and running with the PHP scripting language in no time! In this completely updated edition of our best-selling guide "PHP for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide," leading Web scripting expert Larry Ullman uses crystal-clear instructions and friendly prose to introduce you to everything that's new in PHP. Filled with step-by-step, task-based instructions and loads of visual aids, this book explains how to learn the ins and outs of this important and popular scripting language. Along the way, you' ll find extensive coverage of all the language's new features: including a complete rewrite of date handling code, with improved time-zone support, important security fixes, and over 30 new functions in various extensions and built-in functionality This visual, task-based guide seeks to get users running with the basics of PHP. Topics covered include basic syntax, testing scripts, working with variables and creating Web applications. Sample scripts and projects are used throughout Teach yourself PHP the quick and easy way! This Visual QuickStart Guide uses pictures rather than lengthy explanations. You'll be up and running in no time!