Over four days, the PHP Developer live virtual classroom course helps you build the server-side skills needed to create structured, database-driven web applications. You will move from PHP fundamentals into more advanced development techniques, including reusable code, object-oriented programming, database access and web service integration. The course is designed to help you write more reliable PHP code and apply it with greater confidence in development projects.
PHP Developer
Develop stronger PHP web applications
Aimed at developers that are new to PHP or those building on existing experience, this four-day course builds capability across the full development workflow: writing clear server-side code, handling user data, structuring applications and connecting to databases. It is suited to early-career developers, web professionals moving into PHP, or team members maintaining PHP applications. The emphasis is on turning language knowledge into dependable coding habits that support day-to-day delivery and future progression in web development.
Learning objectives:
- Run PHP in a web environment
- Use variables and typed values effectively
- Handle submitted data with care
- Control programme flow clearly
- Build reusable PHP functions
- Work with structured data
- Apply object-oriented coding principles
- Link PHP to relational data
- Maintain state across user sessions
- Use common application patterns
Key facts
Certification
This course includes a certificate of completion.
Who it’s for
This course is suitable for new PHP developers or professionals looking to refresh and strengthen their web development skills.
Prerequisites
This course requires a basic understanding of programming concepts. Familiarity with HTML or SQL is helpful but not essential.
Exam information
This course does not include an exam.
Optional extras
This course includes hands-on labs and access to learning materials for continued practice.
Pre-course
No preparation work is required for this course.
Course syllabus
Dive into the detail of the course by looking at the syllabus below.
Day one
- Session 1: Getting started
- About PHP
- Installing PHP
- PHP editors and IDEs
- Executing a script
- HTML recap
- Serving a PHP web page
Day one
- Session 2: Syntax
- Tags
- HTML escaping
- Separating instructions
- Comments
Day one
- Session 3: Variables, constants, and data types
- echo and print
- Defining variables
- Variable naming
- Assignment by reference
- Uninitialised variables
- Defining constants
- Magic constants
- Built-in types: null, bool, int, float, string, array, object
- Other types
- Dynamic typing
- Type casting and juggling
Day one
- Session 4: Handling user data
- HTTP requests recap
- HTML form recap
- Command line arguments
- Superglobals
Day two
- Session 5: Expressions and operators
- Forms of expressions
- Operators by type: arithmetic, comparison, logical, other
- Operator order of precedence
Day two
- Session 6: Control structures
- if, else, and elseif/else if
- while and do-while
- for and foreach
- break and continue
- switch and match
- Alternative syntax
- include and require
Day two
- Session 7: Functions
- Defining functions
- Function arguments
- Passing arguments by reference
- Default argument values
- Variable-length argument lists
- Named arguments
- Return values
- Variable scope
- Built-in functions
- Anonymous functions
- Arrow functions
Day two
- Session 8: Strings
- Defining strings x 4
- Variable parsing
- Indexing/offsetting
- String functions and operators
Day three
- Session 9: Arrays
- Defining arrays with and without keys
- Alternative syntax
- Key casting
- Accessing elements
- Creating and modifying elements
- Destructuring
- Unpacking
- Array functions
Day three
- Session 10: Classes and objects
- Defining classes
- Properties and methods
- $this
- Constants
- Instantiating a class
- Accessing properties and calling methods
- Constructors and destructors
- Static members
- Visibility
- Inheritance
- Abstract classes
- Interfaces
- Traits
- Autoloading classes
- Namespaces
Day three
- Session 11: Errors and exceptions
- Errors
- Error types
- Handling errors
- Exceptions
- Exception types
- try, catch, and finally
- Global exception handler
Day three
- Session 12: Database integration
- Vendor-specific extensions
- The PDO extension
- Installation
- Obtaining a connection
- Transaction management
- Prepared statements
- Error handling
- The PDO and associated classes
Day four
- Session 13: Authentication, cookies, and sessions
- Basic HTTP authentication
- Writing and reading cookies
- Managing sessions
Day four
- Session 14: Patterns, templating, packages, and frameworks
- The MVC pattern
- The DI pattern
- The Singleton pattern
- Templating
- Package management
- PHP frameworks
Day four
- Session 15: Web service integration
- Web service recap
- Asynchronous HTTP requests with JavaScript
FAQs
This PHP Developer course focuses on how PHP is used in working web applications, from server-side logic and user data to databases, sessions and integration. It supports developers in building a clearer, more practical understanding of PHP and how it applies to maintainable web development.
Who is this PHP Developer course designed for?
This course is suited to developers who are new to PHP, as well as professionals who already maintain PHP applications and want to strengthen their approach. It is particularly useful if you need to understand how PHP supports server-side functionality, database activity, user interaction and application structure in a working development environment.
Do I need previous PHP experience?
No previous PHP experience is required, based on the available course information. Some programming experience is recommended, as it will help you follow concepts such as variables, functions, loops and application logic more easily. Familiarity with HTML or SQL is useful, but it is not essential for attending the course.
How practical is the course?
The course includes practical live labs and exercises. You will work through coding tasks that connect language features to common development scenarios, such as handling submitted data, connecting to databases and organising application logic. This supports a more applied learning experience.
Will the course help me work with existing PHP applications?
Yes. The course covers areas that are relevant when maintaining or improving PHP-based applications, including functions, classes, error handling, database access, sessions, cookies and web service integration. This can help you understand existing code more clearly and make more considered changes when working on PHP projects.
What our customers say
“John was a great, kind instructor and thoroughly explained key concepts alongside the use of multiple examples to demonstrate. He was very helpful in answering any questions that arose with detailed explanations and/or examples when relevant.”
Jessica, Systems Developer – IT
“Really informative course, structured to support all forms of learning and at a good pace.”
Owen, Graduate Trainee Engineer, Utilities
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