PHP5 and MySQL Bible (Paperback)

~ (Author), Joyce Park (Author), Clark Morgan (Author) "This first chapter is an introduction to PHP, MySQL, and the interaction of the two..." (more)
Key Phrases: workout calculator, certainty quiz, calculator handler, Function Behavior, North America, Java Server Pages (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

* This comprehensive tutorial and reference covers all the basics of PHP 5, a popular open source Web scripting language, and MySQL 4.012, the most popular open source database engine
* Explores why users need PHP and MySQL, how to get started, how to add PHP to HTML, and how to connect HTML Web pages to MySQL
* Offers an extensive tutorial for developing applications with PHP and MySQL
* Includes coverage of how to install, administer, and design MySQL databases independently of PHP; exception and error handling; debugging techniques; PostgreSQL database system; and PEAR database functions
* The authors provide unique case studies of how and where to use PHP drawn from their own extensive Web experience

From the Back Cover

If PHP5 and MySQL can do it, you can do it too...

PHP and MySQL form a powerful team, and if you have some fluency with HTML, this comprehensive guide will have you creating database-backed, PHP-driven Web sites in no time. Along with the new features of PHP5, you’ll learn to install, administer, and use MySQL 4.0 in database design. From getting started with PHP to connecting HTML Web pages to MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle®, you’ll find what you need to take advantage of all this dynamic duo has to offer.

Inside, you’ll find complete coverage of PHP5 and MySQL

• Resolve common "gotchas" with a series of symptom/diagnosis/fix patterns
• Discover how to use PHP with Oracle and PostgreSQL as well as MySQL
• Integrate PHP with Java™, JavaScript™, and XML
• Use PHP to embed code fragments in normal HTML pages
• Find out how the new PHP5 parser supports genuine exception handling and a more complete object model
• Understand Zend Engine 2 and the new object model, with support for private/protected members, abstract classes, and interfaces
• Install MySQL and learn to administer it successfully, including backups, replication, and recovery
• Write MySQL-backed PHP applications
• Learn from case studies how to design and implement a Weblog, a user identification system, and other applications

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1080 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (May 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764557467
• ISBN-13: 978-0764557460
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #109,492 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #36 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Web Development > Programming > PHP
  #37 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Databases > Specific Databases > MySQL & mSQL

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very thorough; easy to understand, August 7, 2004

By	Nolan D. - See all my reviews

While I'm not finished reading it all (over 1,000 pages) I have to say that I now understand PHP and MySQL so much better than before. I previously purchased the "Visual Quickstart Guide - PHP" and "Visual Quickpro Guide - Advanced PHP" but have to say this book is so much better. It goes through everything you need to know in seperate chapters and provides text on the why's and how's of PHP. For anyone who has tried taking the advice of many and "RTFM" but has become overwhelmed, this book is great. (I'm definitly not saying forget the online manual; it is essential.)

Thank you PHP5 and MySQL Bible.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars educational AND entertaining, September 26, 2005

By	. "scarlet9" (OH United States) - See all my reviews

This book is not meant to be a profound cache of code-snippets. Indeed there are some coding errors. I freely admit that I learned raw html "OJT" years ago, with little reason or time to learn anything more involved that wasn't required of me. I was a designer, typesetter and layout hanger, not a programmer. I have no experience in C or in Java. Call me a programmer groupie, I have dozens of family, friends and acquaintances who program miracles daily in all different alleys while I play a "very aesthetic game of tiddleywinks". When I began getting clients who wanted websites that DID things instead of just glorified yellow-page ads, this "turkey" asked all of the "eagles" which way to turn -- they looked at what I needed and what paths that might lead to, and they all said PHP. I started playing around with canned PHP webapps about two years ago, and I quickly picked up how to install mods and then modify those same mods no sweat, but even with a few different sorts of PHP/MySQL in 24 hours, one week, etc. books -- I never really understood the WHY's and HOW's of the GUTS of those webapps [framework, huh?!], let alone how to create even the simplest of freestanding flat calls, all of which have recently begun to make my life SO much easier. I quickly learned that those 24 hours/one week/etc. style books are ALMOST STRICTLY made for folks with C and Java experience even though the books desperately claim otherwise. Why did I choose this book? Because a few friends of mine who have been working with PHP since near the beginning told me that this was one of the few version'd books that always has a worthwhile amount to offer both beginners and seasoned pro's, as well as everyone in between. I actually started reading this one cover to cover, and was not the slightest bit disappointed in my investment. Let me clarify -- I actually COULD read this one cover to cover without wondering what magical decoder ring I was missing. Instead of a code snippet "Instant PHP" book, I finally wound up with one that I can look at the examples in the book, and without even trying the examples verbatim, write my own similar but original code for what *I* want to accomplish. I don't know Jane Adams, I am not her banker, and I don't know what I would do with her recipe database so 6 page long examples of how to code any of that to be used verbatim in 24 hours are of little value to me. Yes, the book jumps around -- there's a heck of a lot to cover here! 1000+ pages might seem rather hefty, but it has been a godsend for me. Take the reviews however you will; I found it extremely educational AND entertaining, and having seen dog-earred copies in the offices of some of said "eagles" -- I am fairly certain there is some great stuff in here for PHP pro's too. If you really feel the need, give it a few minutes at your local bookshop -- then come back to Amazon for the killer discount. You won't be disappointed!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poorly organized, April 25, 2007

By	Allan Kalar - See all my reviews

I purchased this book off the shelf before reading any reviews. I was looking for a specific solution for one of Viking Water's clients, so I reviewed the books by looking through their indices. Of all the PHP books on a well-stocked shelf, this was the only one to tackle dynamic drop-down lists, which is my heartburn of the moment.

After reading through 1/4 of it (skimming in some cases), I agree with other reviewers that it may not be the best way to learn PHP from scratch. If you're conversant with "C" or Perl, it can be a slightly useful tool. However, if you're new to programming this may not be the book for you since a lot of PHP is modeled on "C" and the authors unconsciously assume a basic familiarity with that language, even though they attempt to cater to the non-C programmer.

One of the interesting features of the book is that the authors often explain surrounding HTML code, even though the book assumes a familiarity with the HTML language. If you're not an HTML guru, it will be nice to have the explanation right in front of you rather than having to haul out (or look up) your HTML reference. For instance: their explanation of the subtle difference between POST and GET would be very interesting to someone who is weak in that area.

However, the code examples are poorly commented which can make them difficult to follow if you are trying to learn the language(s) involved from scratch.