Learning PHP and MySQL: Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Dynamic, Database-Driven Web Sites

Product Description

PHP and MySQL are quickly becoming the de facto standard for rapid development of dynamic, database-driven web sites. This book is perfect for newcomers to programming as well as hobbyists who are intimidated by harder-to-follow books. With concepts explained in plain English, the new edition starts with the basics of the PHP language, and explains how to work with MySQL, the popular open source database. You then learn how to put the two together to generate dynamic content. If you come from a web design or graphics design background and know your way around HTML, Learning PHP & MySQL is the book you've been looking for. The content includes: PHP basics such as strings and arrays, and pattern matching A detailed discussion of the variances in different PHP versions MySQL data fundamentals like tables and statements Information on SQL data access for language A new chapter on XHTML Error handling, security, HTTP authentication, and more Learning PHP & MySQL explains everything from fundamental concepts to the nuts and bolts of performing specific tasks. As part of O'Reilly's bestselling Learning series, the book is an easy-to-use resource designed specifically for beginners. It's a launching pad for future learning, providing you with a solid foundation for more advanced development.
Product Details

* Amazon Sales Rank: #256570 in Books
* Published on: 2007-08-17
* Original language: English
* Number of items: 1
* Binding: Paperback
* 428 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Michele E. Davis has co-authored and authored over 11 books and has owned a technical writing and software training company since 1988. Michele contributed to the "HTML Bible 4.0" (Wiley), and has an MFA in Writing from Hamline University.

Jon A. Phillips is a software engineer who loves Open Source technology. He's been working with web development and databases for over 12 years and is always exploring new technology. Additionally, he co-authored "Dreamweaver 8 All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies" with Michele Davis and others in July 2006.
Customer Reviews

Riddled with errors - avoid1
This dreadful book is so far below O'Reilly's normal high standard that it's hard to believe anyone at the company saw it before publication. It is riddled from start to finish with typos, technical errors, bad coding practices, contradictions and statements that are just plain wrong. It's quite baffling that O'Reilly would let a book this bad hit the shelves.

What is particularly worrying is that this is the second edition. The first was also full of mistakes (see the reviews on the O'Reilly website) and the publisher seems to have acknowledged this by rushing out this second edition only a year after the first, but the new edition fixes few of the problems of the first while introducing a host of new ones. One of the worst books ever published by O'Reilly. Avoid at all costs.

Not for PHP Beginners2
Maybe a genius or someone who already understands PHP basics will benefit from this book. I have made great progress with a number of instructional books, but got stuck in Chapter three of this one. It seems that important terms and concepts are not explained, not explained well, or explained in pages after the terms and concepts are first used.
I'm going to search for another book on PHP & MySQL.

Contains countless typos and mistakes2
I have not bought a textbook in over five years. Back then, O'Reilly was a reputable brand. So when I needed to learn PHP and MySQL, I bought this book without doing any research. I will never blindly buy an O'Reilly book again.

I got to page 11 before finding my first typo. After that, I lost track of all the typos and coding mistakes I've seen. Mind you, this is the 2nd edition of this book. Clearly, the authors did not proofread their book, nor did anyone else at O'Reilly, nor did anyone who read the 1st edition (?). I have learned to not trust anything in this book and instead use google for my php/mysql questions. Also, the mistakes are not all obvious typos -- some are mistakes in reasoning, which I can catch because I have extensive experience with computers.