books for learning PHP and Mysql

I'm giving in, I'm ready to learn more

[greenleaves]

Hi All,

I'm no begginer to web marketing and have had to learn HTML, CSS and basic design tools to get by, and so far this has worked out for me.

But I'm abitious and the things I'm looking to do, well, HTML alone won't cut it.

So I need to learn some server side scripting. I'd like to start by learning PHP and Mysql.

So, what books should I buy to start. And do you guys have any tips?

[limoshawn]

first of all, great idea, you'll be happy you're learning this. I have had lots of fun working with php.
personally i started with a simple php phrasebook, learned some basics from that and then just kind of learned as i went along. Google is your friend, you should see the list of search queries in my history that start with "using php to...." the php website has lots of great information and there are tutorials here and there on the web which will boost you right along. also, WebmasterWorld has a great forum for php questions.

good luck and have fun!

[deejay]

[webmasterworld.com...]

[webmasterworld.com...]

good luck. :)

[thecoalman]

The php manual is a good place o start for some basics and advanced thngs. There is downloadable version here:

[php.net...]

At the very least its nice to have for reference.

One thing you might find very helpful is the bottom of each page is in a forum type format. You'll find thousands of comments, example code and a whole lot of other information that has been contributed by users. It's an enormous resource.

[timster]

Here's the book I'd suggest:

[oreilly.com ]

It won't tell you everything there is to know about PHP or MySQL, but it's everything you need to make basic PHP/MySQL sites. Also includes some of the basic security info you'll need to keep your sites from being hacked.

[MatthewHSE]

I started with Kevin Yank's book, which was excellent to start with, but you'll quickly outgrow it (or at least I did). But it really is a very good introductory tutorial, which is what it was intended to be.

[roscoepico]

Greenleaves, I have a slew of books on the subject that I have long since finished. Sticky me your address and I will send you a few. Someone extended this offer to me years ago, I might as well spread the love. If you are interested, I have several ASP books as well I would be happy to share.

[malcolmcroucher]

i find w3schools a great help .

[w3schools.com ]

[D_Blackwell]

I've got a shelf full of 'good' PHP books, but the one that made the biggest difference in my actually working with examples and learning my way around was "PHP Solutions: Dynamic Web Design Made Easy", by David Powers.

They could drop the 'Made Easy'. Learning anything is hard work, but it made a huge difference in moving me from totally incompetent to somewhat less so:)) I'm terrible at PHP because I just don't do enough of it, but I love working with it when getting the chance to set aside time where I can to pick up something new.

I can work with code okay, but still am terrible at creating something from nothing. Starting from nothing is my favorite way to work and learn, but available time makes that tough.

[Marcia]

>>the one that made the biggest difference in my actually working with examples and learning my way around was "PHP Solutions: Dynamic Web Design Made Easy", by David Powers.<<

100% recommend. I used a couple of his time-saving examples that all by themselves were worth triple the price of the book for saving time. And I also redesigned a website from scratch for automating pages with PHP templates based on what I learned from that book.

I still want another that goes into more detail on certain things, and have one picked out based on a ton of rave reviews and seeing previews in Google Books.

[edited by: Marcia at 12:10 am (utc) on Sep. 13, 2008]