Core PHP Programming, Third Edition

Part I: Programming with PHP

The first part of this book is a thorough discussion of PHP as a programming language. You will be introduced to common concepts of computer science and how they are implemented in PHP. No prior programming experience beyond the use of simple mark-up languages is necessary. That is, you must be familiar with HTML. These chapters focus on building a foundation of understanding rather than on how to solve specific problems. If you have experience programming in a similar language, such as C or Perl, you may choose to read Chapter 1 and skim the rest, saving it as a reference. In most situations, PHP treats syntax much as these two languages do.

Chapter 1 is an introduction to PHP—how it began and what it looks like. ...