PHP & MySQL For Dummies, 4th Edition

Here's what Web designers need to know to create dynamic, database-driven Web sites To be on the cutting edge, Web sites need to serve up HTML, CSS, and products specific to the needs of different customers using different browsers. An effective e-commerce site gathers information about users and provides information they need to get the desired result. PHP scripting language with a MySQL back-end database offers an effective way to design sites that meet these requirements. This full updated 4th Edition of PHP & MySQL For Dummies gets you quickly up to speed, even if your experience is limited. Explains the easy way to install and set up PHP and MySQL using XAMPP, so it works the same on Linux, Mac, and Windows Shows you how to secure files on a Web host and how to write secure code Packed with useful and understandable code examples for Web site creators who are not professional programmers Fully updated to ensure your code will be compliant based on PHP 5.3 and MySQL 5.1.31 Provides clear, accurate code examples PHP & MySQL For Dummies, 4th Edition provides what you need to know to create sites that get results. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file. PHP & MySQL® For Dummies,® 4th Edition 5 About the Author 7 Author's Acknowledgments 9 Contents at a Glance 11 Table of Contents 13 Introduction 21 About This Book 21 Conventions Used in This Book 22 What You're Not To Read 22 Foolish Assumptions 23 How This Book Is Organized 23 Icons Used in This Book 25 Where to Go from Here 25 Part I: Developing a Web Database Application Using PHP and MySQL 27 Chapter 1: Introduction to PHP and MySQL 29 What Is a Web Database Application? 29 MySQL, My Database 32 PHP, a Data Mover 35 MySQL and PHP, the Perfect Pair 37 Keeping Up with PHP and MySQL Changes 39 Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Work Environment 41 Anatomy of a Web Site 41 Building a Web Site 42 Deciding Where to Publish Your Web Site 43 Deciding Where to Develop Your Web Site 50 Setting Up Your Web Site 51 Setting Up Your Development Environment 54 Testing, Testing, 1,2,3 59 Chapter 3: Developing a Web Database Application 67 Planning Your Web Database Application 67 Presenting the Two Running Examples in This Book 72 Designing the Database 74 Designing the Sample Databases 80 Types of Data 86 Taking a Look at the Sample Database Designs 89 Developing the Application 91 Part II: MySQL Database 93 Chapter 4: Building the Database 95 Communicating with MySQL 95 Building a Database 102 Moving Data Into and Out of the Database 112 Chapter 5: Protecting Your Data 131 Controlling Access to Your Data 131 Setting Up MySQL Accounts 136 Backing Up Your Data 142 Restoring Your Data 147 Part III: PHP 151 Chapter 6: General PHP 153 Adding a PHP Section to an HTML Page 153 Writing PHP Statements 156 Using PHP Variables 159 Using PHP Constants 162 Working with Numbers 164 Working with Character Strings 166 Working with Dates and Times 169 Comparing Values 174 Joining Comparisons with and/or/xor 181 Adding Comments to Your Program 183 Chapter 7: PHP Building Blocks for Programs 185 Useful Simple Statements 186 Using PHP Arrays 193 Useful Conditional Statements 206 Using Loops 211 Using Functions 221 Chapter 8: Data In, Data Out 231 PHP and MySQL Functions 232 Making a Connection 234 Getting Information from a Database 240 Getting Information from the User 252 Putting Information into a Database 285 Getting Information in Files 299 Chapter 9: Moving Information from One Web Page to the Next 305 Moving Your User from One Page to Another 306 Moving Information from Page to Page 309 Using PHP Sessions 318 Part IV: Applications 325 Chapter 10: Putting It All Together 327 Organizing the Application 327 Keeping It Private 336 Completing Your Documentation 338 Chapter 11: Building an Online Catalog 341 Designing the Application 342 Building the Database 343 Designing the Look and Feel 351 Writing the Programs 357 Chapter 12: Building a Members Only Web Site 379 Designing the Application 380 Building the Database 380 Designing the Look and Feel 385 Writing the Programs 389 Planning for Growth 406 Part V: The Part of Tens 407 Chapter 13: Ten Things You Might Want to Do Using PHP Functions 409 Communicate with MySQL 409 Send E-Mail 410 Use PHP Sessions 412 Stop Your Program 412 Handle Arrays 412 Check for Variables 413 Format Values 413 Compare Strings to Patterns 415 Find Out about Strings 415 Change the Case of Strings 416 Chapter 14: Ten PHP Gotchas 417 Missing Semicolons 417 Not Enough Equal Signs 418 Misspelled Variable Names 418 Missing Dollar Signs 418 Troubling Quotes 419 Invisible Output 419 Numbered Arrays 420 Including PHP Statements 421 Missing Mates 421 Confusing Parentheses and Brackets 422 Part VI: Appendixes 423 Appendix A: Installing PHP, MySQL, and Apache from XAMPP 425 Installing XAMPP on Windows 425 Installing XAMPP on Mac 430 Using XAMPP 432 Appendix B: Configuring PHP 435 Changing Settings in php.ini 436 Changing Settings with an .htaccess File 438 Changing Settings with PHP Statements 439 Index 441 9780470527580 "Learn to: create well-formed PHP code that's compliant with PHP 4, 5, and 6; easily install and set up PHP and MySQL using XAMPP; choose a web host and secure your files; build dynamic, database-driven Web sites."--Cover, p.[1]