How to Learn PHP | Learn PHP Fast | Learn PHP Free | Tips & Tricks

How to Learn PHP Fast and Free

PHP is a great programming language for beginners because it has a syntax that is both flexible and relatively straightforward. However, the idea of putting PHP code into action for the first time might still overwhelm you.

Luckily, there are a lot of free assets you can use to learn PHP. You can quickly learn this popular programming language by watching a few YouTube tutorials or enrolling in an online course.

Here, we'll acquaint you with PHP and make sense of the advantages of learning it. After that, we'll demonstrate a few simple ways to begin. Prepared to make a plunge?

An Overview of PHP PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server-side prearranging language utilized in web improvement. At the moment, it is used on 77.6% of websites, including Instagram, Wikipedia, and Facebook:

PHP's official website is open-source, just like WordPress. Initially, it was utilized basically to fabricate an individual landing page. PHP, on the other hand, has progressed since its inception in 1994 to accommodate more dynamic websites.

The fact that PHP programming takes place on a server is the first thing you need to know. Your server will go through the PHP code on your website when someone tries to visit it before sending any data to the browser.

PHP stands out from other scripting languages because of this. This code will affect what visitors see in their browsers if you write HTML or CSS. However, before the content is loaded, PHP code is processed.

A PHP script, for instance, can serve as HTML's source code. The following is an example of the original PHP script:

html> head> title>PHP Test/title> /head> body>? php echo "Hello World!";? > /body> /html> This will produce the following HTML output:html> head> title>PHP Test/title> /head> body> p>Hello World/p> /body> /html> 

When someone visits your website, their web browser will display the message "Hello World." In spite of the fact that PHP is fueled by HTML, front-end watchers will just experience the HTML yield.

When you download WordPress, you'll notice that many of the files are written in PHP. This is how PHP works in WordPress. This is because WordPress software is based on PHP code:

PHP files for WordPress The WordPress website files are stored in a MySQL database after they are created. This contains all of the data on your website, including your themes, plugins, and posts.

The browser of the person who clicks on the link to your website sends a request to your server. For HTML pages to be created in WordPress, the server must process PHP code. The visitor's browser can then receive the HTML code again.

PHP is a programming language with multiple versions, just like other languages. Important security updates and bug fixes won't be delivered to you if you're using an out-of-date version.

Keeping your PHP version up to date is critical if you use WordPress. WordPress suggests utilizing PHP rendition 7.4 or more prominent. Maintaining your website's speed and security may depend on this.

This code may never be modified by some website owners except to update the PHP version. You probably won't need to learn PHP to manage your website because WordPress includes PHP files built in. Having said that, there are a lot of good reasons to think about becoming an expert PHP coder.

Why Learning PHP Might Be Worth It? 

Given that PHP usage has been steadily declining over the past few years, you might be wondering if learning it is worthwhile. Even though PHP is being used by fewer websites, it is still the most widely used server-side programming language. In addition, many Content Management Systems (CMSs) still rely on it.

All WordPress themes and plugins are written in PHP, the core programming language. PHP coding is probably going to be required if you want to modify these tools.

PHP is also simple to learn. It even embeds some HTML in its code, which shares syntax with HTML. PHP is one of the simplest programming languages due to its built-in functions and the ability to reuse blocks of code.

The following are additional benefits of learning PHP:

It is open-source and free.

It connects to a variety of well-known databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, Sybase, and others.

It works with most browsers.

It provides regular updates to improve support, performance, and security.

To turn into a web engineer, learning PHP is significant. While making new WordPress modules and subjects, you'll have to know how to fabricate and alter PHP documents.

You can eventually become a PHP developer once you understand this programming language. You can write scripts in this position to create and modify software for your customers.

However, having knowledge of PHP can also assist you in pursuing additional career paths, such as:

Cybersecurity Information Technology (IT) Back-end and full-stack development As your PHP development career progresses, you might consider software development management positions, which pay more. You can even take on directorships and become a director of information technology.

How to Learn PHP Fast in Five Steps You can earn a degree in web development, but this can be expensive. Fortunately, you don't have to spend a dime to learn how to code online through a variety of free options. Let's look at free ways to become an expert in PHP.

1. Watch a YouTube Instructional exercise

In the event that you're hoping to become familiar with another ability, one of the most mind-blowing web-based assets is YouTube. You can quickly get a handle on PHP programming by watching in-depth tutorials created by seasoned programmers.

YouTube, in contrast to other social media platforms, typically highlights the most watched videos rather than the most recent ones. If you watch a tutorial that was written years ago, you might get information that is no longer relevant.

To limit your outcomes, you can tap on Channels at the highest point of the page. Next, pick a date that was just uploaded. You can also select the length of your video:

You can then locate a video that meets your requirements using the YouTube search php tutorial. PHP For Beginners, produced by Traversy Media, is one of the most widely used PHP tutorials. The fundamentals of PHP are outlined in this:

You can skip to a section you want to learn in this YouTube video by using timestamps. You can learn everything about PHP, including functions, loops, arrays, and more, if you watch the three-hour tutorial. Your first PHP/MySQL project can be created by following the voiceover.

Envato Tuts+'s PHP Tutorial for Beginners – Full Course is another option. This PHP guide is more in-depth and takes you from being a complete novice to an expert coder: 

envato tuts youtube learn php The instructor, Jeremy McPeak, starts with the fundamentals and demonstrates everything a beginner should know. After that, he shows you how to use variables, syntax, and code decisions. You will be able to respond to GET and POST requests and write your own functions by the video's conclusion.

There are thousands of free PHP tutorial videos available on YouTube when you search for them. Rather than reading a static web page, you can use this method to watch coding in real time.

2. Take an Online Course 

You can enroll in an online course to receive a more in-depth explanation of PHP. Even though it may take longer to complete course modules, this may result in a more comprehensive programming education.

Codecademy You can learn to code on Codecademy whether you want to prepare for a career in web development or just want to learn programming languages for fun. This stage gives the free Learn PHP course, which has been taken by north of 45 million individuals:

Learn PHP with Codeacademy in just 25 hours, and you'll learn about variables, functions, arrays, loops, and more. Instructions on how to immediately put what you've learned into practice are provided in each module:

Codeacademy's PHP exercise can be completed once you have entered the correct code and followed the instructions. You can always use a hint to get help:

Codeacademy php exercise You can use the cheatsheet to go over important ideas at any time. You can also look for that module in the Codecademy community forums. At the conclusion of each exercise, these links are provided:

Codeacademy php concept review forums Because PHP interacts with HTML, you probably won't be able to take this course unless you already know the fundamentals of HTML. Fortunately, you can prepare for the course by taking a Learn HTML course at Codecademy.

Udemy is another website where you can find PHP courses. Join over six million other people and start improving your coding skills here. Udemy, in contrast to Codecademy, offers a wide variety of PHP courses, allowing you to select the one that best meets your requirements:

udemy php courses

With more than 22,000 surveys, the most famous PHP seminar on Udemy is called PHP for Amateurs. You can watch 37 hours of educational videos in this program and receive a certificate at the end:

Udemy's PHP for Beginners course walks you through the fundamentals of PHP, Object-Oriented PHP, and MySQLi if you're completely new to coding. Custom functions, PHP security, control structures, and a lot more will be covered. Additionally, it teaches you how to develop a CMS like Joomla or WordPress.

3. Review the PHP Manual 

The PHP language's best practices can also be learned directly from the developers. Installation instructions, syntax guidance, and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) from other new developers can all be found in the official PHP manual.

An overview of PHP and its functions can be read when the manual is first opened. Additionally, compatible databases and operating systems will be listed:

Then, you can follow the installation and configuration guide to learn more about PHP. You'll find some prerequisites and best practices for getting started that vary based on your operating system:

PHP installation and configuration instructions The Language Reference is one of this manual's most useful sections. A list of external links about basic PHP syntax and how to start writing your own code can be found here:

php manual language reference You can read how-to guides about variables, functions, operators, and more in the same way that you can take online courses. Even more, you'll learn how to deal with PHP errors:

PHP security information is also provided in this manual's basics section. You can read about potential attacks and report errors:

php manual security overview documentation You can keep this manual for future reference as you learn more about PHP. To properly implement certain functions, for instance, you might need to look them up:

PHP manual function reference However, for novices, the PHP manual might not be the best choice. In spite of the fact that its data is important and direct, it incorporates no intuitive activities. During the process of learning, you probably would be better off using this as a reference.

4. Read a Book 

Reading a book is one way to learn PHP if you prefer visual learning. You can learn a lot about the PHP programming language by looking for it in a book or visiting your local library.

You can download PHP Apprentice for free as an online book. You can start understanding PHP and its practices by reading this open-source resource:

php apprentice overview You can find a specific PHP topic by using the table of contents. For every part, there will be composed clarifications alongside instances of coding:

PHP Apprentice is an ever-evolving book. Plus, there's the module. You can request specific topics or more in-depth explanations by providing feedback on its GitHub repository:

php apprentice code Reading an e-book can often be more convenient when learning a new skill like PHP because they are easily accessible online. However, your neighborhood library is another option.

You can look for PHP books in the library's database on its website. Then, you can put a hang on the ones you need to peruse:

learn php book recommendations Some libraries even permit the use of an app like CloudLibrary or OverDrive to check out e-books. You won't have to leave your house to get your hands on library books in this way.

Even though you can find free books at the library, you might not find the most recent information there. You should look for books that were published in the past few years if you decide this method is right for you. You won't be learning an out-of-date PHP version in this way.

5. Attempt an Intuitive Instructional exercise

As opposed to pursuing an instructive course in PHP, you can walk yourself through web-based instructional exercises. You can simply open the website and begin learning at your own pace without having to pay for the learning materials or even create an account. Let's examine a few choices.

W3Schools One of the best places to find free coding tutorials is W3Schools. On this stage, you can become familiar with the nuts and bolts of PHP, CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and considerably more.

At the point when you click on its PHP guide, you'll see that there are lots of free modules to investigate:

Introduction to PHP in a PHP tutorial In the first section, W3Schools will explain the fundamentals of PHP and provide everything you need to get started:

PHP installation tutorial In the learning modules, you can read in-depth explanations of every PHP concept, including syntax, variables, operators, regular expressions, and more. On each page, you'll also find coding examples:

php instructional exercise linguistic structure

By tapping on Attempt it Yourself, you can open a code supervisor in another tab. Changes to the existing code can be made here, and you can see how it will look on the front end:

w3schools coding exercise Once you understand the fundamentals, more complex ideas can be learned. You will learn how to create forms with data validation from W3Schools. AJAX, XML parsers, and Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) will also be covered in this course.

You can put what you've learned to the test with quizzes and exercises when you're comfortable with it:

This may assist you in recalling the material you have studied. In addition, you can determine whether certain concepts require revision and return to those modules if necessary.

Try the interactive tutorial at learn-php.org if you want to learn PHP with a simple but effective interface. Even though this won't make you a developer, it can help you learn how PHP works:

Learn about variables, arrays, strings, loops, functions, and more in just 11 modules in the learn-php.org tutorial. Learn-php.org, like a few other options on this list, provides straightforward concept explanations followed by coding examples:

PHP simple arrays An exercise to test your knowledge is available at the page's bottom. In PHP, for instance, you might need to make a new array:

exercise Despite the fact that learn-php.org does not yet have many modules, it is constantly being updated. Developers can free-of-charge add new tutorials to its GitHub repository.

Start learning PHP right away. You can jumpstart your career in web development by learning the fundamentals of PHP. Since PHP is a crucial piece of WordPress, this expertise can assist you with making new subjects and modules for individual or public use.

 

The following are some beginner PHP learning strategies:

Take a look at a video tutorial on YouTube that was made by Traversy Media or Envato Tuts+.

Take a course via Udemy or Codecademy.

Read the PHP manual again.

Read something similar to PHP Apprentice.

Attempt an intuitive instructional exercise on W3Schools.