PHP Foundations: From Zero to Dynamic Web Developer

Objective: Understand what PHP is, where it runs, and how to set up your local environment.

• What PHP is and how it works
• PHP vs. HTML vs. JavaScript
• Server-side vs. client-side
• The LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)
• Installing LocalWP / XAMPP / MAMP
• Writing your first PHP script
• How the server interprets .php files

Deliverable ✅ Run your first PHP script that outputs "Hello, StreetGeek!"

Assignment Create a folder named php-basics and save your first script as index.php.

Open Module 1 →

Objective: Learn the building blocks of PHP syntax and data handling.

• PHP tags and comments
• Variables and data types
• Constants and scope
• String concatenation & interpolation
• Debugging with var_dump()

Deliverable ✅ Create a PHP file that displays your name, age, and favorite programming language.

Assignment Use var_dump() to inspect different variable types.

Open Module 2 →

Objective: Understand how PHP handles arithmetic and logic.

• Arithmetic and comparison operators
• Logical operators (&&, ||, !)
• Increment/Decrement
• Operator precedence

Mini-Project ✅ Simple “Discount Calculator” script based on user input.

Assignment Calculate total purchase price after discount and tax using PHP.

Open Module 3 →

Objective: Use logic to control the flow of your PHP scripts.

• if, else, and elseif
• switch
• Loops (for, while, foreach)
• break and continue

Mini-Project ✅ Number Guessing Game — randomly generate a number and give feedback until the user guesses correctly.

Open Module 4 →

Objective: Store multiple values and use PHP’s built-in global variables.

• Indexed, associative, and multidimensional arrays
• Sorting and merging arrays
• PHP Superglobals: $_GET, $_POST, $_SERVER, $_COOKIE, $_SESSION

Mini-Project ✅ Create a contact form using $_POST and display the submitted data.

Assignment Experiment with $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] and $_REQUEST.

Open Module 5 →

Objective: Write reusable blocks of code.

• Defining and calling functions
• Parameters and return values
• Default parameters
• Scope and global variables
• Built-in string and array functions

Mini-Project ✅ Create a BMI calculator function that returns the user’s category (Underweight, Normal, Overweight, etc.).

Open Module 6 →

Objective: Build interactive forms with validation.

• Handling form input
• Sanitization and validation
• Error messages
• filter_input() and htmlspecialchars()

Mini-Project ✅ Feedback form that validates email and text input, then displays a thank-you message.

Assignment Enhance your form to handle errors gracefully.

Open Module 7 →

Objective: Read and write data from files using PHP.

• Opening and closing files (fopen, fclose)
• Reading and writing data
• Checking file existence
• File upload validation (intro)

Mini-Project ✅ Guestbook — allow users to submit comments that are stored in a text file.

Open Module 8 →

Objective: Connect PHP to a MySQL database and build dynamic content.

• Introduction to MySQL and phpMyAdmin
• mysqli vs PDO
• CRUD operations (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE)
• Prepared statements (security against SQL injection)

Mini-Project ✅ Build a Task List app with database integration.

Assignment Add a “Mark as Complete” button to your Task List.

Open Module 9 →

Objective: Manage user state and authentication flow.

• Sessions vs Cookies
• Setting and retrieving cookies
• Logging in and out
• Session management and logout flow

Mini-Project ✅ Create a login system using PHP sessions.

Assignment Add “Remember Me” using cookies.

Open Module 10 →

Objective: Learn to handle and log errors effectively.

• Types of PHP errors
• Using try, catch, and finally
• Throwing exceptions
• Logging errors
• Using error_log()

Mini-Project ✅ Debug a broken script and create a custom error message handler.

Open Module 11 →

Objective: Combine all your skills to create a functioning PHP web app.

• Homepage lists all posts
• Add/Edit/Delete posts (CRUD)
• Store posts in MySQL
• User authentication for authors
• Optional comments section

Deliverable ✅ Complete functional blog with database-backed posts.

Bonus Deploy to a live cPanel or StreetGeek VPS hosting account.

Open Module 12 →

Objective: Bridge to WordPress development.

• How WordPress uses PHP
• The Loop and template hierarchy
• functions.php overview
• Hooks and shortcodes

Mini-Project ✅ Create a “Hello StreetGeek” plugin that adds a shortcode [streetgeek_hello].

Open Module 13 →