PHP 6 and MySQL 5 for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide [Paperback]

Larry Ullman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 2007 | ISBN-10: 032152599X | ISBN-13: 978-0321525994 | Edition: 1

It hasn't taken Web developers long to discover that when it comes to creating dynamic, database-driven Web sites, MySQL and PHP provide a winning open source combination. Add this book to the mix, and there's no limit to the powerful, interactive Web sites that developers can create. With step-by-step instructions, complete scripts, and expert tips to guide readers, veteran author and database designer Larry Ullman gets right down to business: After grounding readers with separate discussions of first the scripting language (PHP) and then the database program (MySQL), he goes on to cover security, sessions and cookies, and using additional Web tools, with several sections devoted to creating sample applications. This guide is indispensable for intermediate- to advanced level Web designers who want to replace their static sites with something dynamic. In this edition, the bulk of the new material covers the latest versions of both technologies: PHP 6 (due out in 2008) and MySQL 5 (available now). The book's publication date is likely to beat the official release of PHP 6, making it one of the first books available on the subject.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

UPDATE: As of October, 2011, a newer edition of this book is now available. The most current edition of this book is "PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide" (4th Edition). Thanks!

This is the third edition of the fourth book I wrote and it continues to be my most popular. In this book I teach how to use the two most important server-side technologies--PHP and MySQL--to begin creating dynamic Web sites today.

The book teaches everything you need to know to create real-world Web applications, from the fundamentals of PHP, SQL, and MySQL, to more complex uses of all three technologies. The book does not assume previous experience with any of these, although you should already be comfortable with HTML. I will say that this book, considering all the content involved, goes at a fairly quick pace. If you have less computer, Web development, or programming experience, you may be better served by my "PHP for the Web: Visual QuickStart Guide" book, which goes more deliberately and explains things in smaller chunks.

When I wrote the book, PHP 6 was about half-way complete, so I was able to use a beta version of PHP 6. For somewhat complicated reasons, PHP 6 has since died and its status is still uncertain. Still, I can recommend the book in good conscience, as only a few pages of one chapter require PHP 6, and that content is clearly marked (actually, most of that content can be replicated in PHP 5, just using different code). As with all my books, if you ever have problems with or questions about any code, you can always get a direct answer from me via email or, preferably, using my online support forums.

In March of 2011, I begin writing the fourth edition of this book, due out in August 2011.

Thanks for your interest in the book. It is appreciated. And if you purchase it, I hope you like it and find it to be useful and informative.

From the Back Cover

Visual QuickPro Guide--the fast, efficient way to learn!

• Easy visual approach uses pictures to guide you through PHP 6 and MySQL 5 and show you what to do.
• Concise steps and explanations let you get up and running in no time.
• Page for page, the best content and value around.
• Companion Web site at contains complete source code for examples in the book, online resources, extra scripts, updates, a reader forum, and more.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 648 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press; 1 edition (December 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 032152599X
• ISBN-13: 978-0321525994
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,542 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Database Design

More About the Author

Despite having written many computer books, I have no formal computer training, save for one Pascal class way, way, way back in high school. So I like to say that I'm not a computer geek, although I can speak their language.

My formal education was in impractical knowledge: English literature, language, and writing; philosophy and religion (with a heavy emphasis on symbolic logic); and, Latin. As you can see, nothing really useful here. I guess what I did figure out is how to learn something new, how to synthesize all the information I come across, and how to communicate what I've learned in a clear and effective manner.

Since college I've worked at a national bookstore chain, at the main library at Georgetown University, and then for DMC Insights, Inc. I started as the head of the Digital Media Technologies department, where my main focus was on developing dynamic Web sites. I've since been promoted to President of the company, but that's not as impressive as it may sound! Most of my time is spent writing (books and articles), teaching (online and in small group settings), and actually using the technologies that I write about and teach.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book i've ever read in php, June 29, 2008

By 

Saeed Ashour "Ashor" (Tripoli, Libya) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PHP 6 and MySQL 5 for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide (Paperback)

PHP 6 and MySQL 5 by larry ullman is one of the best book I've read in my life , the book contain 17 chapters , covering topics for beginners to advanced topics and it is explain the most common web application examples like (develop user registration , build message board , e-commerce website) .

the book covers the fundamental details in very quick way and specific which is makes the reader build the web application in very short time .

the great thing about this book , it discuss the new improvement mySQL and unicode which is help non-English developers.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Worked for me!, June 23, 2008

By 

T. R. Bozer (Central New York State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PHP 6 and MySQL 5 for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide (Paperback)

Although I have some background with programming (Basic, Pascal, COBAL) and desktop db business applications, I had been somewhat intimidated by the idea of server-side programming.

I can only tell you that I did in fact take this book one chapter at a time, sometimes re-reading some sections several times, and marking-up certain parts with a hi-liter and a red pen. I followed the tutorials, downloaded the scripts from the book's associated website, and even got help directly from the author at his website's forum.

Don't misunderstand me, that I marked-up the book, did homework, and asked questions was a reflection of how the book did engage me - AND TAUGHT ME. The book is well written, methodical, detailed, and its intended audience seemed to be someone with my background (pretty fluent in HTML, handy with CSS, has a basic understanding of databases and programming concepts, and who enjoys the learning process under a good professor).

This book will get you started and on your way - correctly. It was the perfect launch site for me (once you get through this book you will be in a good position to evaluate what you need to learn next). As for me, this book (alone) taught me to write programs/scripts to login users, develop MySQL databases, write database reports, do user input forms and process them at the back-end updating the database tables, sessions, cookies, etc. etc.

Select this book. Your php output will be, primarily, html markup. So if you don't know HTML - spend some time with that first -- along with CSS (I recommend CSS The Missing Manual by David S. McFarland).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New to PHP, March 10, 2008

By 

Richard Seymour "mfa Scout" (Winthrop, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PHP 6 and MySQL 5 for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide (Paperback)

I am about half way through the book, and as the title says - very new to PHP. So far I have found the book very useful and easy to understand, 80% of the time. The other 20% is just my ignorance to the subject matter. The author suggests that if you feel a slower pace might help, to try his other book "PHP for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide," which goes at a more "tempered pace." I felt this might behoove me but when I found the book at Borders Books they only had the second addition which was copyrighted for 2004, the book before us is copy 2008, and I believe the easier version Mr. Ullman referred to only went to PHP 4. Perhaps that is the latest version of that book, and maybe it would not make that much difference about the versions. I did read them side by side and I believe he is right if you are a total beginner, as it seemed to be a little more hand-holding and pedantic with the details. I did not buy it however, as I feared there might be a newer model. Back to PHP 6 and MySQL 5, I will add that I am the type that does a lot of reviewing and checking up on these purchases, especially since I am having to self-teach on every subject from Dreamweaver and Photoshop to CSS and PHP, so I think it's accurate to say that I found this book always the top rated, and thus purchased it. I tend to lean toward the Head First series on the programming subjects, because they are perfect for the "real" beginner, but there was not an offering exactly like PHP & SQL from Head-First, , and as I say the Larry Ullman book always popped up as the book of choice in this subject. So far, it has been very helpful and I have no real complaints. Good job Mr. Ullman.
Richard Seymour
Boston, MA