PHP Developer

Overview Learning objectives What you’ll learn Key facts Module listing FAQs What our customers say Get in touch

Course overview

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.

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

What you’ll learn

This course helps you understand how PHP is used to solve common web development problems: responding to user actions, organising application logic, storing data and connecting with other systems. You’ll gain a solid understanding of the fundamentals before progressing into more structured development practices, with each topic in the syllabus supporting a clear outcome: code that is easier to understand, adapt, test and maintain.

Write clearer PHP code

You’ll start with the foundations that help PHP applications behave predictably: syntax, variables, expressions, operators, decisions, loops and functions. You will learn how these elements work together to create application logic that is easier to read, debug and update, giving you a stronger base for writing code that other developers can understand and maintain.

Control application data

Learn how PHP handles data as it moves through a web application, from submitted values to arrays, strings and database records. You will develop a clearer understanding of how to validate, organise and retrieve information, helping you reduce avoidable errors and create backend behaviour that supports a more reliable user experience.

Structure code for change

Move beyond isolated scripts by using object-oriented PHP to organise code around classes, objects and shared responsibilities. This gives you a stronger way to manage complexity as applications grow, helping you create code that is easier to extend, reuse and maintain within team-based development environments.

Connect wider systems

Understand how PHP applications fit into broader development environments through design patterns, templating, package management, frameworks and web services. These topics help you see how individual coding decisions support application architecture, integration and long-term maintainability, especially when working on systems that need to evolve over time.

What’s included:

Instructor-led training over four-days
Live virtual classroom environment
Hands-on exercises and live labs
All relevant course materials

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.

Full module listing

Click on each day below to see the breakdown of the modules that you'll cover on the course

Day one

Day two

Day three

Day four

Day one

Session 1: GETTING STARTED

About PHP
Installing PHP
PHP editors and IDEs
Executing a script
HTML recap
Serving a PHP web page

Session 2: SYNTAX

Tags
HTML escaping
Separating instructions
Comments

Session 3: VARIABLES, CONSTANTS, & 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

Session 4: HANDLING USER DATA

HTTP requests recap
HTML form recap
Command line arguments
Superglobals

Day two

Session 5: EXPRESSIONS & OPERATORS

Forms of expressions
Operators by type: arithmetic, comparison, logical, other
Operator order of precedence

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

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

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

Session 10: CLASSES & 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

Session 11: ERRORS & EXCEPTIONS

Errors
Error types
Handling errors
Exceptions
Exception types
try, catch, and finally
Global exception handler

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, & SESSIONS

Basic HTTP authentication
Writing and reading cookies
Managing sessions

Session 14: PATTERNS, TEMPLATING, PACKAGES, & FRAMEWORKS

The MVC pattern
The DI pattern
The Singleton pattern
Templating
Package management
PHP frameworks

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

Why study with TSG?

25+ years' experience

Trusted by individuals, businesses and public sector organisations for over 25 years.

20,000+ learners trained

Join a network of learners focused on developing their software testing skills

98% customer satisfaction

TSG trainers are frequently rated as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ by our learners

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