PHP Programming – From Zero to Dynamic Web

Class Objective:
By the end of this class, students will be able to:

1. Understand PHP and its role in dynamic web development.

2. Write PHP scripts to create dynamic web pages.

3. Handle forms, process user input, and manage sessions.

4. Connect web pages to a database using MySQL.

5. Build simple web applications like contact forms, login systems, and small CMS.

Topics Covered:

1. Introduction to PHP

   • What is PHP?

   • Server-side vs Client-side scripting

   • How PHP works with HTML

2. PHP Syntax and Basics

   • PHP tags and embedding PHP in HTML

   • Variables, data types, constants

   • Operators and expressions

3. Control Structures

   • Conditional statements: if, else, switch

   • Loops: for, while, foreach

4. Functions

   • Defining and calling functions

   • Built-in PHP functions

5. Working with Forms

   • $_GET and $_POST

   • Form validation and sanitization

6. Arrays and Strings

   • Indexed and associative arrays

   • String manipulation

7. Sessions and Cookies

   • Storing user data

   • User authentication basics

8. Introduction to Databases

   • Connecting PHP to MySQL

   • CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete)

9. Building a Simple Project

   • Example: A contact form, user login system, or mini blog

Practical Exercises:

• Create dynamic web pages

• Process form data and display results

• Connect a PHP script to a MySQL database

• Build a small, functional web application

Tools Needed:

• XAMPP, WAMP, or any local server environment

• Text editor (VS Code, Sublime, or Notepad++)

• Web browser

Outcome:
Students will gain the skills to develop dynamic websites, process user input, and interact with databases—laying a solid foundation for advanced PHP and web development.