What orded did you learn languages?

Ascendancy

Right now I am learning HTML, and I don't know where I should go next. Any suggestions?

OniLink

Learn the basics of JavaScript, then move on to PHP.

NogDog

It depends to some degree on what you want to do. If you're interested in doing anything other than displaying static pages, then learning a server-side language such as PHP is the way to go. Concurrently with that you should also be learning basic database and SQL skills, as any project worth doing is likely to include a database.

As far as OnLink's suggestion to learn JavaScript first: while it's useful to know, it really has little bearing on PHP as the two languages are rather different and generally have very different uses. I personally use JS very little, as I prefer to put most of my efforts into server-side programming that I know for sure is going to run and not client-side JavaScript that will probably run, but might not if the client does not have JS available and enabled.

greenie2600

Ascendancy -

As long as you're learning HTML, learn CSS, too. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. (If your HTML books even mention <font> tags, throw them away and buy newer ones; you'll just be learning bad habits that will have to be unlearned later.)

Now, to your question...

NogDog is correct - it all depends on what you want to do. Languages are tools, and the appropriate tools are the ones that are best suited to the task at hand. Since you're posting here, I presume that "what you want to do" includes building dynamic websites in PHP.

Are you completely new to programming? In other words, have you ever worked with any programming language other than PHP?

A lot of programmers (myself included) cut their teeth on BASIC; it's not suitable for anything serious, but it's an easy way to learn the basic principles of programming. A quick trip to Google should turn up an ample supply of free BASIC interpreters for your operating system.

But if you feel like you already understand the basic concepts, more or less, or you're just feeling confident enough to tackle a challenge, go ahead and plunge right into PHP. As programming languages go, it's pretty easy to learn. If you have any background in C (any flavor) or PASCAL, you'll be right at home. This would be the preferred route; BASIC is pretty useless except as a stepping-stone to more advanced languages.

As NogDog said, learning SQL is also pretty essential to doing anything useful with PHP, but wait until you're comfortable with the basics of PHP before tackling SQL.

It's good to be familiar enough with Javascript to know what it can (and can't) do, but I'm not fluent in it; I look up the syntax and other specifics as I need them. It's quite possible to build an entire site without using a scrap of Javascript.

So the best order in which to learn things might be: HTML, CSS, PHP, and SQL. And feel free to dabble in Javascript at any time once you're comfortable with HTML and CSS.