Beginning PHP and MySQL: From Novice to Professional, Third Edition offers a comprehensive introduction to two of the most prominent open-source technologies on the planet: the PHP scripting language and the MySQL database server. Updated to introduce the features found in MySQL's most significant release to date, readers will learn how to take advantage of the features of both technologies to build powerful, manageable, and stable web applications.

Essentially three books in one, readers will not only profit from extensive introductions to the core features of each technology, but also learn how to effectively integrate the two in order to build robust data-driven applications. Packed with practical examples and insight into the real-world challenges faced by developers based on author W. Jason Gilmore's seven years of expertise working with these technologies, readers will repeatedly return to this book as both a valuable instructional tool and reference guide.

What you’ll learn

• The PHP language
• How to back your web site with MySQL
• Templating so that you can apply a consistent design across all pages on your site
• How to authenticate your web site users
• How to use cookies to maintain information (such as items in a shopping cart) while a user is browsing your site

Who this book is for

This book is written for developers seeking to take advantage of the PHP language and MySQL database to create powerful web applications.