PHP: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE

Contents......Page 11
Foreword......Page 19
Acknowledgments......Page 21
Introduction......Page 23
Part I: Understanding PHP Basics......Page 27
1 Introducing PHP......Page 29
History......Page 30
Unique Features......Page 31
Basic Development Concepts......Page 33
Creating Your First PHP Script......Page 36
Try This 1-1: Mixing PHP with HTML......Page 39
Sample Applications......Page 42
Summary......Page 44
2 Using Variables and Operators......Page 47
Storing Data in Variables......Page 48
Understanding PHP’s Data Types......Page 52
Setting and Checking Variable Data Types......Page 53
Using Constants......Page 55
Manipulating Variables with Operators......Page 56
Try This 2-1: Building a Dollars-to-Euros Converter......Page 63
Handling Form Input......Page 65
Try This 2-2: Building an Interactive HTML Color Sampler......Page 68
Summary......Page 71
3 Controlling Program Flow......Page 75
Writing Simple Conditional Statements......Page 76
Try This 3-1: Testing Odd and Even Numbers......Page 79
Writing More Complex Conditional Statements......Page 80
Try This 3-2: Assigning Boy Scouts to Tents......Page 83
Repeating Actions with Loops......Page 85
Try This 3-3: Building a Factorial Calculator......Page 90
Working with String and Numeric Functions......Page 92
Try This 3-4: Processing a Member Registration Form......Page 103
Summary......Page 108
4 Working with Arrays......Page 111
Storing Data in Arrays......Page 112
Processing Arrays with Loops and Iterators......Page 118
Try This 4-1: Averaging the Grades of a Class......Page 121
Try This 4-2: Selecting Pizza Toppings......Page 123
Working with Array Functions......Page 126
Try This 4-3: Checking Prime Numbers......Page 133
Working with Dates and Times......Page 136
Try This 4-4: Building an Age Calculator......Page 142
Summary......Page 144
5 Using Functions and Classes......Page 147
Creating User-Defined Functions......Page 148
Try This 5-1: Calculating GCF and LCM......Page 158
Creating Classes......Page 161
Try This 5-2: Encrypting and Decrypting Text......Page 165
Using Advanced OOP Concepts......Page 169
Try This 5-3: Generating Form Selection Lists......Page 174
Summary......Page 180
Part II: Working with Data from Other Sources......Page 183
6 Working with Files and Directories......Page 185
Reading Files......Page 186
Writing Files......Page 189
Try This 6-1: Reading and Writing Configuration Files......Page 191
Processing Directories......Page 195
Performing Other File and Directory Operations......Page 198
Try This 6-2: Creating a Photo Gallery......Page 206
Summary......Page 209
7 Working with Databases and SQL......Page 211
Introducing Databases and SQL......Page 212
Try This 7-1: Creating and Populating a Database......Page 217
Using PHP’s MySQLi Extension......Page 226
Adding or Modifying Data......Page 231
Try This 7-2: Adding Employees to a Database......Page 235
Using PHP’s SQLite Extension......Page 242
Try This 7-3: Creating a Personal To-Do List......Page 252
Using PHP’s PDO Extension......Page 260
Try This 7-4: Building a Login Form......Page 267
Summary......Page 273
8 Working with XML......Page 275
Introducing XML......Page 276
Try This 8-1: Creating an XML Document......Page 281
Using PHP’s SimpleXML Extension......Page 283
Try This 8-2: Converting XML to SQL......Page 286
Try This 8-3: Reading RSS Feeds......Page 292
Using PHP’s DOM Extension......Page 296
Try This 8-4: Recursively Processing an XML Document Tree......Page 302
Try This 8-5: Reading and Writing XML Configuration Files......Page 310
Summary......Page 315
9 Working with Cookies, Sessions, and Headers......Page 319
Working with Cookies......Page 320
Try This 9-1: Saving and Restoring User Preferences......Page 324
Working with Sessions......Page 328
Try This 9-2: Tracking Previous Visits to a Page......Page 331
Using HTTP Headers......Page 332
Try This 9-3: Building a Better Login Form......Page 334
Summary......Page 339
Part III: Security and Troubleshooting......Page 341
10 Handling Errors......Page 343
Handling Script Errors......Page 344
Try This 10-1: Generating a Clean Error Page......Page 351
Using Exceptions......Page 356
Try This 10-2: Validating Form Input......Page 361
Logging Errors......Page 367
Debugging Errors......Page 368
Summary......Page 373
11 Securing PHP......Page 375
Sanitizing Input and Output......Page 376
Securing Data......Page 379
Validating User Input......Page 382
Try This 11-1: Validating Form Input......Page 394
Configuring PHP Security......Page 399
Summary......Page 401
12 Extending PHP......Page 403
Using PEAR......Page 404
Try This 12-1: Accessing POP3 Mailboxes with PEAR......Page 406
Using PECL......Page 410
Try This 12-2: Creating Zip Archives with PECL......Page 412
Summary......Page 414
Part IV: Appendixes......Page 415
A: Installing and Configuring Required Software......Page 417
Obtaining the Software......Page 418
Installing and Configuring the Software......Page 420
Testing the Software......Page 438
Performing Post-Installation Steps......Page 441
Summary......Page 443
B: Answers to Self Test......Page 445
A......Page 471
C......Page 472
D......Page 473
H......Page 474
N......Page 475
P......Page 476
S......Page 477
T......Page 478
Z......Page 479