About this course
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is one of the most popular backend languages in the world, powering over 75% of all websites - including WordPress, Joomla, Magento, and Drupal. It's a great first language: approachable for beginners, yet powerful enough to build professional web applications.
This course takes you from the very basics to writing real, dynamic applications. Every topic is explained in plain language with small, practical examples, so you can follow along even if this is your first time programming.
What you'll learn
- The fundamentals - variables, data types, operators, conditions, and loops
- Functions - arguments, return values, typing, and variable scope
- Arrays - indexed, associative, and multidimensional, plus the key array functions
- Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) - classes, objects, inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism
- Good habits - clean code, security basics, and performance optimization
What you'll be able to build
- Contact forms with data validation
- User login and registration systems
- Admin panels and dashboards
- Websites with dynamic, database-driven content
- Apps that integrate external APIs
Who this course is for
It's built for complete beginners as well as developers who want to sharpen their PHP skills. You don't need any prior experience - just a willingness to learn. Each lesson builds on the previous one, so nothing appears out of nowhere.
Why learn PHP?
PHP is versatile and in constant demand - companies use it for e-commerce, SaaS platforms, and custom websites. It opens doors to freelance work and full-time developer roles, and gives you a solid foundation to later pick up frameworks like Laravel or Symfony.
Start from the first lesson and build your skills step by step.
Course curriculum
- Introduction: What Is PHP and Why You Should Learn It? Learn what PHP is, why it's essential for web development, and how to get started. Discover PHP's history, versions, and why it powers 78% of websites worldwide.
- Getting Started with PHP: Installation and First Steps with XAMPP (Windows, macOS, Linux) Step-by-step guide to install XAMPP for PHP development on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Set up Apache, MySQL, and PHP for local web development.
- Hello World: Your First PHP Code Example for Beginners Learn how to create your first PHP Hello World program. Step-by-step tutorial with code examples, best practices, and common beginner mistakes.
- Variables and Data Types in PHP - Complete Beginner's Guide Master PHP variables and data types with this comprehensive guide. Learn about strings, integers, arrays, objects, and best practices for variable naming.
- Constants in PHP - Complete Beginner's Guide Learn how to create and use constants in PHP. Complete guide covering const keyword, define() function, class constants, and best practices.
- Operators in PHP - Arithmetic, Comparison, and Logic Master PHP operators with this comprehensive tutorial. Learn arithmetic, comparison, and logical operators with practical examples and best practices.
- Difference Between Single Quotes and Double Quotes in PHP Single vs double quotes in PHP: the real difference, when variables get interpolated, escape sequences, and which to use - with side-by-side examples.
- Concatenation, Interpolation, and String Manipulation in PHP Learn how to concatenate strings and use interpolation in PHP. Master string manipulation with practical examples and best practices.
- Math Functions in PHP: round, ceil, floor, rand Master PHP math functions including round, ceil, floor, and rand. Learn how to perform calculations and generate random numbers with examples.
- Indexed, Associative, and Multidimensional Arrays in PHP Learn how to work with arrays in PHP. Master indexed, associative, and multidimensional arrays with practical examples and best practices.
- Basic operations on arrays in PHP Master PHP array operations including adding, removing, searching, sorting, and merging arrays. Complete tutorial with practical examples.
- Iterating Over Arrays in PHP: foreach, array_walk, and array_chunk Learn how to iterate through arrays in PHP using foreach, array_walk, and array_chunk. Master array looping with practical examples and best practices.
- Sorting Arrays in PHP: sort, asort, ksort Learn how to sort arrays in PHP using sort, asort, and ksort functions. Master array sorting with practical examples and best practices.
- Additional Array Functions in PHP Master advanced PHP array functions including map, filter, reduce, merge, and search. Learn powerful array manipulation techniques with examples.
- Speed Up Array Operations in PHP: array_map, array_filter, array_walk Learn how to optimize array processing in PHP using array_map, array_filter, and array_walk. Master fast array operations with performance tips and examples.
- Basic Conditional Statements in PHP: if, else, elseif Learn how to use conditional statements in PHP including if, else, and elseif. Master decision-making logic with practical examples and best practices.
- Switch Statement in PHP - Simple and Complete Guide Learn how to use the switch statement in PHP. Master switch syntax, fall-through, ranges, and when to use match instead with practical examples.
- The match Expression in PHP 8+: A Modern Approach to Conditionals Learn the PHP match expression: syntax, strict === comparison, returning a value, and the match(true) trick - with clear, runnable examples for PHP 8+.
- Ending Scripts in PHP: exit and die Learn how to use exit and die in PHP to terminate scripts. Master exit codes, messages, and best practices for web and CLI applications.
- The for Loop in PHP - Complete Lesson for Beginners Learn how to use the for loop in PHP. Master loop syntax, counters, arrays, HTML generation, and best practices with practical examples.
- The while Loop in PHP - Complete Lesson for Beginners Learn how to use while and do-while loops in PHP. Master loop syntax, file reading, database iteration, and best practices with examples.
- The do-while Loop in PHP - Complete Lesson for Beginners Learn how to use the do-while loop in PHP. Master loop syntax, menu systems, input validation, and best practices with practical examples.
- The foreach Loop in PHP - Complete Lesson for Beginners Learn how to use the foreach loop in PHP. Master array iteration, key-value pairs, references, and best practices with practical examples.
- Control Instructions in PHP: break and continue Learn how to use break and continue in PHP loops and switch statements. Master flow control with practical examples and best practices.
- Defining Functions in PHP: Functions and the return Statement Learn how to define functions in PHP with parameters, return values, types, and scope. Master function basics with practical examples and best practices.
- Function Arguments in PHP: Optional Parameters and Default Values Optional parameters, default values, and named arguments in PHP - explained simply with clear examples. Write flexible functions the right way.
- Function Typing in PHP: int, string, array, bool, mixed, void, object, ?int Learn how to use function typing in PHP including int, string, array, bool, mixed, void, object, and nullable types. Master type safety with examples.
- Anonymous Functions (Closures) in PHP Learn how to use anonymous functions and closures in PHP. Master arrow functions, use keyword, callbacks, and functional programming with examples.
- Variable Scope in PHP: Global, Static, and Closures Variable scope in PHP made simple: local, global, static, and closures - where variables live, why, and how to access them, with clear examples.
- Classes and Objects in PHP: Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming Learn Object-Oriented Programming in PHP with classes, objects, properties, methods, constructors, and access modifiers. Master OOP basics with examples.
- Constructor and Destructor in PHP What constructors and destructors do in PHP, when each one runs, and how to use __construct and __destruct - with clear, beginner-friendly examples.
- Properties and Methods in PHP Object-Oriented Programming Object properties and methods in PHP explained for beginners: instance vs static, readonly, visibility, and method chaining - with practical examples.
- Inheritance in PHP: Understanding extends and parent:: Learn inheritance in PHP with extends and parent::. Master method overriding, constructor calls, visibility rules, and OOP inheritance patterns with examples.
- Encapsulation in PHP OOP: public, private, protected Learn encapsulation in PHP OOP with access modifiers public, private, and protected. Master data hiding, getters/setters, and OOP security with examples.
- Getters and Setters in PHP OOP Getters and setters in PHP: how to protect object data, add validation, and write clean, fluent setters - beginner-friendly examples included.
- Class Constants and self vs static in PHP Learn class constants in PHP and the differences between self:: and static::. Master late static binding, visibility, and typed constants with examples.
- Encapsulation in PHP - Key OOP Principles Learn advanced encapsulation in PHP OOP with access modifiers, getters/setters, validation, readonly properties, and immutability. Master data hiding with examples.
- Polymorphism in PHP: Object-Oriented Programming Guide Learn polymorphism in PHP OOP with interfaces, abstract classes, method overriding, and late static bindings. Master flexible OOP design with examples.
- Checking Your PHP Version and What's New in 8.4 and 8.5 Learn how to check your PHP version from the command line and in code, and get a quick overview of what changed in PHP 8.4 and 8.5.
- Creating Objects Without Extra Parentheses in PHP 8.4 PHP 8.4 lets you call a method on a freshly created object without wrapping new in parentheses. Learn the new syntax with clear before-and-after examples.
- Property Hooks in PHP 8.4: get and set on a Property Learn PHP 8.4 property hooks: add get and set logic directly to a property, create virtual properties, and replace one-line getters and setters.
- Asymmetric Visibility in PHP 8.4: Public to Read, Private to Write Learn PHP 8.4 asymmetric visibility: make a property readable from anywhere but writable only inside the class using public private(set), with examples.
- New Array Functions in PHP 8.4: array_find, array_any, array_all Learn PHP 8.4's new array functions: array_find, array_find_key, array_any, and array_all - cleaner ways to search arrays with a callback.
- The #[\Deprecated] Attribute in PHP 8.4 Learn the PHP 8.4 #[Deprecated] attribute to mark functions, methods, and constants as outdated so PHP warns anyone who still uses them.
- The Pipe Operator in PHP 8.5: Chaining Functions Left to Right Learn the PHP 8.5 pipe operator |> - pass a value through a series of functions left to right instead of nesting calls inside out.
- array_first() and array_last() in PHP 8.5 Learn PHP 8.5's array_first() and array_last() functions to get the first and last value of an array cleanly, even with non-numeric keys.
- The #[\NoDiscard] Attribute in PHP 8.5 Learn the PHP 8.5 #[NoDiscard] attribute that warns when you call a function but ignore its return value - catching a whole class of silent bugs.