PHP for the World Wide Web (Visual QuickStart Guide) [Paperback]

Larry Ullman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 29, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0201727870 | ISBN-13: 978-0201727876

PHP is a powerful (and free) scripting language used to create dynamic Web sites and Web applications. With PHP, Web application developers can perform both simple and complex functions with a few lines of additional code in a standard HTML Web page. PHP is frequently being used to replace forms and functions formerly created by CGI scripts. PHP for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide is geared for beginning and intermediate Web developers looking for an introductory guide. The task-based format gets users started with basic syntax, testing scripts, working with variables, creating Web applications, and more. Throughout the book, sample scripts and projects show the readers just what they need to know, and a companion Web site offers every script in this book available for downloading.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

This book is intended for the beginner PHP programmer--those with little or no programming experience but basic Web development know-how. It teaches the aspects of PHP you'll need to understand today in order to have your dynamic Web application up and running tomorrow. All the examples in the book are real-world scripts which you can incorporate into your Web sites (no demonstrations of things you'll never need or long-winded explanations for techniques you may or may not ever use).

The book covers the very fundamentals of PHP programming, including: regular expressions, connecting to a database, sending e-mails, and more. Certain topics (such as Object Oriented Programming and sessions) aren't covered but references will take you to where you can learn more, should you feel that's necessary.

The text is well supported by its accompanying Web site where you'll find: all the scripts up-to-date and downloadable; a listing of any corrections; over 100 links to different PHP-related topics; latest news; and more! The author currently answers every email he receives and attempts to support the readers as much as possible.

PHP for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart guide aims to be the best beginner's guide to PHP in terms of practical knowledge, clear demonstrations, author support, and price!

About the Author

Larry E. Ullman, an experienced PHP programmer, is currently Lead Programmer at Com-Insights, a digital media services provider. He lives in State College, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press (March 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201727870
• ISBN-13: 978-0201727876
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,348,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you don't have the time for fluff..., October 3, 2003

By 

Jamie R. Wilson (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: PHP for the World Wide Web (Visual QuickStart Guide) (Paperback)

Unlike many other programming books, "PHP For the World Wide Web" takes the high-quality low-fluff approach to introducing readers to PHP. Don't let the small size of the book fool you; it is jam-packed with the most important information you'll need to start programming in PHP right away. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned programmer, this book will take you step-by-step through the core concepts of the language in the least amount of pages possible. It's hard to say if the shortness of the book is due to the teaching mastery of Larry Ullman or the genius of the PHP language. Either way, this book will serve as an excellent tutorial and great reference guide for future projects.

PHP is very similar to other languages and my programming background made learning PHP much easier. However, this book's approach and working examples should serve as an excellent tutorial for beginners as well as programmers. Keep in mind that the book is designed to give you a working knowledge of the language and is not a comprehensive course on PHP programming. After reading the book, however, you will be in a much better position to continue your PHP education through PHP's homepage (PHP.net), learning additional functions and techniques as your projects dictate (and as the PHP language continues to grow).

(To me, the chapter on databases alone was worth the price of the book. PHP is amazing when it comes to building web-based applications around databases and this book gives you what you need to get started as well using files and directories, cookies and even an intro on creating web applications.)

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for beginners (such as myself)..., July 24, 2001

By 

quirk (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PHP for the World Wide Web (Visual QuickStart Guide) (Paperback)

I am somewhat new to programming, even newer to PHP. I have spent hours and hours in local bookstores trying to discern which book to buy. I have now owned 4 books on PHP -- 3 of which have been returned. This is the only one I've kept. Why? Every other book I have looked at is either (a) information overload, or (b) takes forgranted a certain level of programming experience.

WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR? The beginning programmer--*not* just the beginning "PHP-er," but the beginning programmer. If you have a decent amount of programming experience, this book will be too basic for you. If you have little or no programming experience, this book is *perfect.* So far every line of code used has been explained so that the beginning coded can not just copy down a bunch of code, but actually LEARN programming concepts in general, and in PHP in particular.

ARE THERE ERRORS IN THE BOOK? Errors exist in *every* computer book I've ever touched. If you are looking for a book without errors, don't buy one, you will be disappointed. (Two of the other three PHP books I briefly owned were plagued with errors, one even came with a CD which was missing chapter 2 code, thus rendering the book/CD useless. The third book likely was error filled, I didn't keep it around long enough to find out.) However, there is a companion website .... which lists and corrects known errors...and it appears the list is updated when needed. Also, I emailed the author about an area not covered in his book and he promptly emailed me back.

I only hesitate to give this book 5 Stars because I am not the world's biggest fan of the "Visual Quickstart" layout. If you've gotten along fine with other Visual Quickstart books, this one is probably one of the best. (Do not compare this book to the horrible JavaScript book put out by Visual Quickstart, as there is no comparison.)

Without reservation, I recommend this book for the beginning--even intermediate--programmer who wants to LEARN, not just copy, PHP.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction. However ..., May 16, 2005

By 

Relentless "skepticalbeliever" (Gainesville, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PHP for the World Wide Web, Second Edition (Paperback)

the cover of this book asserts that the book covers PHP 4 and 5. This is, a blatant marketing ploy. The core of PHP5 which its Object-Oriented approach was not explained or even alluded to.

As for what this book is, it definitely is a great introductory book. Even if you an advanced programmer using a different language, migrating to PHP can be somewhat tough and perhaps even counterintuitive. However, Mr. Ullman does an exceptional job at getting you up an running without trying to sound overly smart (by using a thesaurus, like most computer-book authors). He has a no-fuss approach. Very easy to understand. Great for people who are tired of 900-page+ computer books with nothing but rubbish inside them. Highly recommind for beginners as well for those who are coming from a different programming language background.