How to learn PHP?

JRockfl

What are some ways to learn PHP?

There is so much syntax! Do you have most it memorized or do you cut and paste?

What are some ways you memorized the code?

Also, after looking over some tutorials....I have seen different ways to do the same thing.

Also...any good tutorials you recommend?

cgraz

Do you have most it memorized or do you cut and paste?

Most people probably memorize what they use the most. Not because they try to, you just naturually memorize what you use often. However, PHP.net has online documentation (the best!) and so does mysql.com (if you're using mysql). If you get stuck, need to look something up or know how to do something, just go to either site and find help.

Also, after looking over some tutorials....I have seen different ways to do the same thing.

Yup. There's more than one way to skin a cat. 😉

Also...any good tutorials you recommend?

PHP.net and mysql.com are good references to have bookmarked, but not intro tutorials. I'd recommend getting a book (although PHP can easily be learned by using just the internet and practice). My first book was Fast and Easy Web Development by Julie Meloni, and I also bought PHP and MySQL Web Development by Luke Welling and Laura Thomson. Both of which are good books in my opinion, although I haven't read others to compare them too.

Here are some online tutorials:

http://codebeach.com/index.asp?categoryID=13&TabID=2
http://www.webmasterbase.com/subcats/53
http://www.zend.com/links/links.php?CID=52
http://www.spoono.com/tutorials/php/
http://www.onlamp.com/php/ (only looked through a few tutorials there but I really like that site)
http://www.edevcafe.com/viewcat.php?id=4
http://phpdeveloper.org/index.php

And Devshed has an awesome 5 part series on beginning php (they also have more great tutorials) http://www.devshed.com/Server_Side/PHP/PHP101

I think the best way to learn is do reading definately, looking at other people's code or tutorials especially, but practice and trial and error is my favorite. Reading can only take you so far. You can't learn to ride a bike by looking at pictures and reading how to manuals. You just gotta get out there and do it.

Good luck

Cgraz

mzanimephp

Yeah, this guy has a very good question. When I first heard that PHP had over 700 functions, I was like 'holy crap!!'

LOL. But that doesn't mean I can't learn them. I learn new cascading stylesheets all the time, but I memorize the most important ones. Same thing for PHP, memorize the ones you use often, but keep on learning the rest.

dustbuster

I have found that diving into a project helps you learn.

Find a project like developing your own database driven website. This will help you learn alot about php and databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.).

I also suggest a book that does these step by step. Just so you know where to start

JRockfl

I started off learning Cold Fusion over 2 years ago, so I familiar with the database driven web site concept and SQL. I have heard so much talk about PHP so I thought I would start learning that too.

Then after looking at all that code and tutorials....I just kept thinking...how do these people know all this?!

Thanks cgraz for your post, I looked over some of those urls and found a project to work on.

sneeze

A good way to learn PHP is to analyze THIS forum.. it helped me alot... im still a newbie thou'... but im catching up fast 😉

Kerry_Kobashi

Start off by knowing what you want, then doing it. I cannot stress this enough. That may sound so simple, but half the problem is that people don't know what they want. If something motivates you so strongly, you will go out and put all the energy into it and come out a winner.

A recent example is someone who posted a problem with a database. After looking at his code, it was clear to me this person likes fish/aquarium. He obviously has motivation to put up a nice web site showing different varities of fish. Wonderful!

Find an angle on something you like. Whether it be fish hobbyist, baseball cards, a photo album for the family, or address book, work on something you will have fun with.

Screw the theory at this point. Face it, you will screw up and make lots of mistakes at first. But that is what programming is all about - making tons of mistakes and learning from them.

Only through experience will you hone your skills.

In other words, PAIN IS GOOD! 😃

greg252

It's not as bad as you think.
I wouldn't waste my time memorizing PHP functions-
The on-line manual (at php.net) is very helpful.
Focus your time on structure-
if you write clean code, and you figure out a better way to do something,
it's easy enough to change.

Understand the concepts and everything else will fall into place.
I have to agree with a few of the other posts, focus in on what you
want to do, give yourself a project and work through it to the end.

Plus, we are here to help.
Please do a search first, and paste the code so we can help.

Best of luck.