PHP & MySQL in easy steps, 2nd edition

Updated to cover MySQL 8.0

Mike McGrath

• Publisher: In Easy Steps Limited
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781840788310
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Programming in PHP
• Index: Computer Science

PHP and MySQL in easy steps, 2nd edition teaches the user to write PHP server-side scripts and how to make MySQL database queries. It has an easy-to-follow style that will appeal to:

• anyone who wants to begin producing data-driven web pages.
• web developers wanting to add database interaction to their web sites.
• the programmer who quickly wants to add PHP and MySQL to their skills set.
• the hobbyist who wants to begin creating scripts for upload to their own ISP.
• the student, and to those seeking a career in computing, who need a fundamental understanding of server-side programming with PHP and MySQL.

PHP and MySQL in easy steps, 2nd edition demonstrates by example how to produce data-driven web pages using the powerful PHP scripting language and the popular free MySQL database server. The book examples provide clear syntax-highlighted code showing how to selectively insert and extract data from databases for presentation on your web browser.

PHP and MySQL in easy steps, 2nd edition begins by explaining how to install a free web server, the PHP interpreter, and MySQL database server, to create an environment in which you can produce your very own data-driven server-side web pages. You will learn how to write PHP server-side scripts and how to make MySQL database queries. Examples illustrate how to store and retrieve Session Data, how to provide a Message Board, and how to create an E-Commerce Shopping Cart.

This book assumes you have no previous experience of any programming or scripting language so is ideal for the newcomer to PHP and MySQL technologies.

Covers MySQL 8.0.

Contents

• Getting started
• Performing operations
• Controlling progress
• Producing forms
• Assembling tables
• Handling data
• Connecting databases
• Registering users
• Providing forums
• Processing shops

1

Getting started

Welcome to the exciting world of the data-driven web with PHP & MySQL. This chapter demonstrates how to create a dynamic development environment incorporating the Abyss Web Server, the PHP engine, and the MySQL database server.

Introducing PHP & MySQL

Understanding The Cloud

Installing Abyss Web Server

Installing the PHP engine

Configuring Abyss for PHP

Embedding PHP script

Installing the MySQL Server

Using the MySQL Client

Creating MySQL users

Connecting PHP & MySQL

Summary

Introducing PHP & MySQL

The most appealing modern websites provide a customized user experience by dynamically responding to some current conditions – user name, time of day, latest blog, shopping cart contents, etc. Many of these dynamic websites are created with PHP and MySQL.

What is PHP?

PHP is a widely-used general purpose scripting language that is especially suited for web development, and can be embedded into HTML. It was created by programmer Rasmus Lerdorf as a set of scripts to maintain his website that he released as “Personal Home Page Tools (PHP Tools) version 1.0” on June 8, 1995. These were extended in the version 2 release of 1997, and the name changed to become a recursive acronym “PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor” in version 3 the following year. Performance, reliability, and extensibility were improved in 2000 with the release of PHP4, which was powered by the new Zend engine – a virtual machine. The current version, PHP5, is powered by the Zend II engine and produced as free software by the PHP group. Today, PHP is installed on over 20 million websites and 1 million web servers.

What is MySQL?

MySQL is the world’s most popular database software. It is used to manage stored data and is described as DataBase Management Software (DBMS) or Relational DataBase Management Software (RDBMS). MySQL was created by Michael Wildenius and David Axmark back in 1995. Its name (“My-S-Q-L” officially, but often pronounced “My Sequel”) is a combination of Michael’s daughter’s name “My” and the term “SQL” (Structured Query Language). MySQL was originally produced by the company MySQL AB, founded by its creators, which was acquired by Sun Microsystems in 2008, and subsequently by Oracle in 2010. The current version, MySQL 8.0, is powered by the InnoDB storage engine, and the MySQL Community Server edition is available as free software. Today, MySQL is used on some of the most frequently visited websites, including Google, Wikipedia, Facebo...