PHP & MYSQL  (ADVANCED)

Why Use PHP and MySQL?

When setting out to build an e-commerce site, you could use many different products.

You need to choose the following:

-> Hardware for the web server -> An operating system -> Web server software -> A database management system -> A programming or scripting language

Some of these choices are dependent on the others. For example, not all operating systems run on all hardware, not all scripting languages can connect to all databases, and so on.

Some of PHP’s Strengths

Some of PHP’s main competitors are Perl, Microsoft ASP.NET, JavaServer Pages (JSP), and ColdFusion. In comparison to these products, PHP has many strengths, including the following:

-> High performance -> Interfaces to many different database systems -> Built-in libraries for many common web tasks -> Low cost Ease of learning and use -> Strong object-oriented support -> Portability -> Availability of source code -> Availability of support

A more detailed discussion of these strengths follows.

Performance

PHP is very efficient. Using a single inexpensive server, you can serve millions of hits per day. If you use large numbers of commodity servers, your capacity is effectively unlimited. Benchmarks published by Zend Technologies (http://www.zend.com) show PHP outperforming its competition.

Database Integration

PHP has native connections available to many database systems. In addition to MySQL, you can directly connect to PostgreSQL, mSQL, Oracle, dbm, FilePro, Hyperwave, Informix, InterBase, and Sybase databases, among others. PHP 5 also has a built-in SQL interface to a flat file, called SQLite.

Introduction

Using the Open Database Connectivity Standard (ODBC), you can connect to any database that provides an ODBC driver.This includes Microsoft products and many others.

Built-in Libraries

Because PHP was designed for use on the Web, it has many built-in functions for performing many useful web-related tasks.You can generate GIF images on the fly, connect to web services and other network services, parse XML, send email, work with cookies, and generate PDF documents, all with just a few lines of code.

Cost

PHP is free.You can download the latest version at any time from http://www.php.net for no charge.

Ease of Learning PHP

The syntax of PHP is based on other programming languages, primarily C and Perl. If you already know C or Perl, or a C-like language such as C++ or Java, you will be productive using PHP almost immediately.

Object-Oriented Support

PHP version 5 has well-designed object-oriented features. If you learned to program in Java or C++, you will find the features (and generally the syntax) that you expect, such as inheritance, private and protected attributes and methods, abstract classes and methods, interfaces, constructors, and destructors.You will even find some less common features such as built-in iteration behavior. Some of this functionality was available in PHP versions 3 and 4, but the object-oriented support in version 5 is much more complete.

Portability

PHP is available for many different operating systems.You can write PHP code on free Unix-like operating systems such as Linux and FreeBSD, commercial Unix versions such as Solaris and IRIX, or on different versions of Microsoft Windows. Well-written code will usually work without modification on a different system running PHP.

Source Code

You have access to PHP’s source code.With PHP, unlike commercial, closed-source products, if you want to modify something or add to the language, you are free to do so. You do not need to wait for the manufacturer to release patches.You also don’t need to worry about the manufacturer going out of business or deciding to stop supporting a product.

Availability of Support

Zend Technologies (www.zend.com), the company behind the engine that powers PHP, funds its PHP development by offering support and related software on a commercial basis.

What Is New in PHP 5.0?

You may have recently moved to PHP 5.0 from one of the PHP 4.x versions. As you would expect in a new major version, it has some significant changes.The Zend engine beneath PHP has been rewritten for this version. Major new features are as follows:

-> Better object-oriented support built around a completely new object model -> Exceptions for scalable, maintainable error handling -> SimpleXML for easy handling of XML data

Other changes include moving some extensions out of the default PHP install and into the PECL library, improving streams support, and adding SQLite.

Some of MySQL’s Strengths

MySQL’s main competitors are PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle. MySQL has many strengths, including the following:

High performance Low cost Ease of configuration and learning Portability Availability of source code Availability of support

A more detailed discussion of these strengths follows.

Performance

MySQL is undeniably fast.You can see the developers’ benchmark page at http://web.mysql.com/benchmark.html. Many of these benchmarks show MySQL to be orders of magnitude faster than the competition. In 2002, eWeek published a benchmark comparing five databases powering a web application.The best result was a tie between MySQL and the much more expensive Oracle.

Low Cost

MySQL is available at no cost under an open source license or at low cost under a commercial license.You need a license if you want to redistribute MySQL as part of an application and do not want to license your application under an Open Source license. If you do not intend to distribute your application or are working on Free Software, you do not need to buy a license.

Ease of Use

Most modern databases use SQL. If you have used another RDBMS, you should have no trouble adapting to this one. MySQL is also easier to set up than many similar products.

Portability

MySQL can be used on many different Unix systems as well as under Microsoft Windows.

Source Code

As with PHP, you can obtain and modify the source code for MySQL.This point is not important to most users most of the time, but it provides you with excellent peace of mind, ensuring future continuity and giving you options in an emergency.

Availability of Support

Not all open source products have a parent company offering support, training, consulting, and certification, but you can get all of these benefits from MySQL AB (www.mysql.com).

What Is New in MySQL 5.0?

Major changes introduced for MySQL 5.0 include

-> Stored procedures -> Cursor support

Other changes include more ANSI standard compliance and speed improvements. If you are still using an early 4.x version or a 3.x version of the MySQL server, you should know that the following features were added to various versions from 4.0:

-> Subquery support -> GIS types for storing geographical data -> Improved support for internationalization -> The transaction-safe storage engine InnoDB included as standard -> The MySQL query cache, which greatly improves the speed of repetitive queries as often run by web applications

Description:

In PHP with MySQL Advanced Course, expert instructor Jasbir Singh introduces powerful PHP programming techniques using object-oriented programming (OOP). Both novice and experienced PHP developers will benefit from the efficient, well-organized, reusable, and easy-to-understand code that OOP offers. Jasbir Singh shows how OOP techniques can streamline database queries, help manage sessions, and simplify user logins. While building a real-world web application, Jasbir Singh also includes practical advice on topics ranging from structuring code to logging user actions.

Topics include:

-> Defining and using classes, methods, and attributes -> Understanding class inheritance and access modifiers -> Working with files and directories -> Uploading files to a server via forms -> Sending emails with PHP -> Using pagination and View templates

PHP & MYSQL ADVANCED Course Content

PHP - Introduction

Installation and Project Setup

PHP and MySQL installation PHP - Project setup

Intermediate PHP Techniques

PHP - Using variable variables PHP - Applying more array functions PHP - Building dates and times: Epoch/Unix PHP - Formatting dates and times: Strings and SQL PHP - Setting server and request variables PHP - Establishing global and static variable scope PHP - Making a reference assignment PHP - Using references as function arguments PHP - Using references as function return values

Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

PHP - Introducing the concept and basics of OOP PHP - Defining classes PHP - Defining class methods PHP - Instantiating a class PHP - Referencing an instance PHP - Defining class properties

OOP in Practice

PHP - Understanding class inheritance PHP - Setting access modifiers PHP - Using setters and getters PHP - Working with the static modifier PHP - Reviewing the scope resolution operator PHP - Referencing the Parent class PHP - Using constructors and destructors PHP - Cloning objects PHP - Comparing objects

Photo Gallery Project Setup

PHP - Overview of the project PHP - Creating project and asset directories PHP - Creating a MySQL database

Foundations of an OOP Project

PHP - Creating the MySQL Database class PHP - Adding queries to the MySQL Database class PHP - Using the database object PHP - How OOP is an improvement PHP - Creating a User class PHP - Instantiating user objects PHP - Revising find methods to instantiate PHP - Autoload: The undeclared object safety net PHP - Creating the Session class PHP - Logging in using the Session class PHP - Initializing files and path constants PHP - Using path content for layout PHP - Late static binding

Working with Files and Directories

PHP - File system basics PHP - Understanding file permissions PHP - Setting file permissions PHP - Permissions PHP - Accessing files PHP - Writing to files PHP - Deleting files PHP - Moving the file pointer PHP - Reading files PHP - Examining file details PHP - Working with directories PHP - Viewing directory content PHP - Creating a log file: Assignment PHP - Creating a log file: Solution

Uploading Files

PHP - Configuring PHP for file uploads PHP - Sending files as form data PHP - Inspecting uploaded files PHP - Uploading errors PHP - Moving uploaded files

Completing the User Class

PHP - Remaining user CRUD PHP - Creating users PHP - Updating users PHP - Deleting users PHP - Abstracting the database table name PHP - Abstracting the attributes PHP - Finding the database attributes

The Photograph Class

PHP - Starting the Photograph class PHP - Coding the Photograph class PHP - Saving photographs PHP - Uploading photographs PHP - Listing photographs PHP - Storing messages in the Session class PHP - Deleting photographs PHP - Displaying photographs in the public area

The Comment Class

PHP - Creating the Comment class PHP - Building the comment form PHP - Listing comments PHP - Reviewing comments in the staff area

Pagination

PHP - Understanding the concepts behind pagination PHP - Using LIMIT, OFFSET, and COUNT PHP - Finding the pagination variables PHP - Using the Pagination class PHP - Paginating photographs PHP - Using pagination links

Sending Emails

PHP - Configuring PHP for email PHP - Sending email with mail() PHP - Using headers PHP - Reviewing SMTP PHP - Using PHPMailer PHP - Building notification for new comments

Templating and Code Organization

PHP - Using MVC architecture PHP - Simple templating PHP - Using the Smarty PHP - templating engine PHP - Building PHP libraries and frameworks And Shopping Cart, PayPal integration, Joomla CMS and live project.