Your One-Stop Guide to Web Development with PHP--Covers PHP 5.2
Build dynamic, cross-browser Web applications with PHP--the server-side programming language that's taken the Internet by storm. Through detailed explanations and downloadable code examples, this comprehensive guide shows you, step-by-step, how to configure PHP, create PHP-enabled Web pages, and put every advanced development tool to work.
PHP: The Complete Referenceexplains how to personalize the PHP work space, define operators and variables, manipulate strings and arrays, deploy HTML forms and buttons, and process user input. You'll learn how to access database information, track client-side preferences using cookies, execute FTP and e-mail transactions, and publish your applications to the Web. You'll also get in-depth coverage of PHP's next-generation Web 2.0 design features, including AJAX, XML, and RSS.
Install PHP and set up a customized development environment
Work with variables, operators, loops, strings, arrays, and functions
Integrate HTML controls, text fields, forms, radio buttons, and checkboxes
Accept and validate user-entered data from Web pages
Simplify programming using PHP's object-oriented tools
Build blogs, guest books, and feedback pages with server-side file storage
Write MySQL scripts that retrieve, modify, and update database information
Set cookies, perform FTP transactions, and send e-mails from PHP sessions
My purchase of PHP: The Complete ReferenceDecember 14, 2009 Vk Malangu Before I purchased this book, I was worried if I could get it at cheaper prix and in good conditions. But when I saw it advertised at Amazon.com, I could not think that a fairly new book of high value could be sold at that prix. My big surprise was when I received the book. The delivery was fast and the book was in exceptionally good conditions. It is was actually a new book although I have got it at second-hand price. What's a great deal!
Complete, no - but perfect for beginnersApril 15, 2009 UXysse Initially a front-end designer, I was looking for a book that could explain clearly HOW to code in PHP, and how PHP does work. This book covers all the essentials and give you the know-how to go further with other references. The writing style is clear and very, very pedagogic: it's like having a teatcher in front of you, never hesitating to repeat fundamentals and giving you different examples of a same topic. For the next version I'd love to have a chapter on how to work with REGEX.
Great Books Compliment!December 19, 2008 Adam Barrett(SL, UT) Living up to it's name the PHP Complete Reference is a tome of PHP knowledge. With great detail about each (and just about every) PHP function, the book easily warrants the space it takes on your desk. If you are like me you will spend most of your time flipping back into the book to remember the correct order of arguments for in_array or another function.
Don't expect to learn anything fancy or exciting, the book covers the functions and the basics. It is also not exactly where you want to learn PHP, but that is where my second book I am reviewing comes in. The book PHP: A Beginner's Guide is the perfect companion to the Complete Reference. What you learn in the Beginner's Guide is backed up and reinforced in the Complete Reference.
The Beginner's Guide is really a great starter book for PHP developers, or those who think they will be PHP programmers. The information is provided in usable chunks, but fast enough that the book isn't a boring text book. When paired with the PHP: Complete Reference you will become a better PHP developer in no time at all.
PHP: The Complete ReferenceDecember 12, 2008 PHP Man(Indiana, USA) I do not recommend purchase of this book. This book has many topics but no depth. A beginner can not use this book alone as the cover suggests, the coverage on any particular topic is too thin for useful work. Someone competent in PHP at an intermediate level will be wasting their time reading it. The list price of 49.95 is an exceptionally high price given the books inadequate content. Several other books are much better values to learn PHP from.
[NOT SO] Complete ReferenceAugust 27, 2008 Lee Howard(FL, USA) 8 out of 9 found this review helpful
PHP, The Complete Reference may be a good book to start learning from. In addition, it does touch on most of the major topics.
However, calling it "Complete" is a joke. I have been writing software for over 40 years, and this is the first language "reference" book I have found that does not fully describe the built-in functions supported by the language. For example, on pages 82-84 the author lists about 100 string functions in a 2 column table. The first column is the function name, and the 2nd column is a single phrase that states the purpose of the function. No syntax is shown, no arguments, no return value information and no usage information. In the few pages that follow, there are in-line examples of a couple of the 90+ functions.
The same is true for other groups of functions. Having to go online to find out information that should be in a "complete reference" obviates the need for a book. At the price charged for this book, you'd be better off using the abundant information available online.
