PHP and MySQL For Dummies

Learn to use the tools that bring Web sites to life —it's easy and fun!

Static Web sites don't cut it anymore. To serve up HTML, CSS,and database-driven pages, you need to know your way around PHP and a MySQL backend database. This book shows you how to build two common applications: a product catalog and a member-only site requiring a username and password. You'll learn a basic design you can expand however you choose!

• New to all this? — get acquainted with PHP and MySQL and find out how to install them on Windows®, Mac®, or Linux®

• A perfect partnership — see how the language and database work together to produce dynamic Web pages with less hassle

• MySQL moving and storage — store data in your database and display it on your Web pages

• Up to code — learn to build PHP scripts and program pieces with code that meets the latest standards

• The sum of the parts — organize all the parts of your application, ensure security, and complete your documentation

Visit the companion Web site at www.dummies.com/go/php&mysqlfd4e to find all the code examples used in the book

Open the book and find:

• How to keep up with PHP and MySQL updates

• What's different in the newest versions

• Pros and cons of Web hosting companies

• How to back up and restore data in your database

• Error messages and what they mean

• Why you must plan your database application

• Advice on what offers value to your users

• Ten "gotchas" that will mess up your code