If you know HTML, this guide will have you building interactive websites quickly. You'll learn how to create responsive, data-driven websites with PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript, regardless of whether you already know how to program. Discover how the powerful combination of PHP and MySQL provides an easy way to build modern websites complete with dynamic data and user interaction. You'll also learn how to add JavaScript to create rich Internet applications and websites. Learning PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript explains each technology separately, shows you how to combine them, and introduces valuable web programming concepts, including objects, XHTML, cookies, and session management. You'll practice what you've learned with review questions in each chapter, and find a sample social networking platform built with the elements introduced in this book. This book will help you:

• Understand PHP essentials and the basics of object-oriented programming

• Master MySQL, from database structure to complex queries

• Create web pages with PHP and MySQL by integrating forms and other HTML features

• Learn about JavaScript, from functions and event handling to accessing the Document Object Model

• Use libraries and packages, including the Smarty web template system, PEAR program repository, and the Yahoo! User Interface Library

• Make Ajax calls and turn your website into a highly dynamic environment

• Upload and manipulate files and images, validate user input, and secure your applications

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 3 Ratings

A great starting point for aspiring web developers - 2009-07-22
Reviewer Rating:
I had the pleasure of being a technical reviewer for the book, and this follow-up to O'Reilly's Learning PHP & MySQL is an enormous improvement over its predecessors. Robin Nixon maintains a comfortable, conversational tone throughout the text, so newcomers to the topic should not find the material daunting. The contents are very well targeted to novices of the craft, cutting out needless technical details and jargon to focus on what a new developer ought to know to create a functioning website. This is not a reference manual or intended for advanced users, but most people will find something useful within its pages, even if all you're looking for is a refresher on the topics.

Wow - The Book to read to learn PHP - 2009-10-27
Reviewer Rating:
Here is my background:
Java, Cold Fusion, ASP.net, C#, Rails; sys admin for Windows and Unix boxes.

Picked up several books to learn PHP - yuck!

Picked up this book. Wow. In 2 days I was on my way!

1. all the code examples actually work. Yes, it's true. I know it's shocking.
2. the explanations are excellent. Wow can this person communicate. Again shocking.
3. Tons of examples. Talking is great but I learn through code examples. There are plenty here. That is why in 2 days you will be like: Wow I can code in PHP.
4. Here is the best part - Nixon helps you setup everything so it works. I mean in less than 30min I was running PHP via Apache on my Windows using Mysql. I have days with other books trying to make things work because the author did not care enough to actually help me do setup.

Then pick up the PHP Web Dev Wellin/Thompson book and bang with Nixon's - you are a PHP intermediate level programmer.

Really - that easy.

I wasted so many hours with other books - crap. Live and learn.

Thank you Robin Nixon. This book is a godsend. With the hours I saved, I am partying - yee ha!

Great Introduction! - 2009-08-01
Reviewer Rating:
I've only gotten through the first two and a half chapters, but so far it's a great introduction to the web technologies necessary to make a Web 2.0 site. The author has a great writing style for this kind of book--he is engaging and knowledgeable, while not speaking down at you too much.

No programming knowledge is required, and the book does discuss basic concepts like variables, arrays, etc. But it does look like that is all covered in the first few chapters and that by the end you can create working, powerful websites.

And when you're done with this book, the author himself gives you a list of what books to go onto when you want to learn more about any of the technologies covered.

Overall, a great book so far and a fine addition to the stellar O'Reilly series!

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