PHP Reference Book

[conkermaniac]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know of a good PHP book that I can buy? I'm looking for one that has articulate, easy-to-understand explanations and practice exercises. Even though I already know the basics very well already, I would like for the book to cover the absolute beginner topics to some of the more advanced topics. I don't need anything about MySQL in this guide -- in fact, I would prefer if it didn't have any of the SQL stuff because I only want to become more familiar with PHP functions.

BTW, if you don't know what I mean by practice exercises, check out Thau's JavaScript tutorial at Webmonkey: hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/programming/ javascript/tutorials/tutorial1.html. Towards the end of every lesson, he has a little "assignment", where you have to try and emulate what he does. That would be perfect for my purposes. :)

Thanks!

[wysardry]

I recently wrote a review of the PHP Black Book (http://io.spaceports.com/~wysardry/reviews/books/phpblack.htm), if you're interested.

It's a hefty tome though.

[conkermaniac]

Hi wysadry,

Thanks! Your review was very informative. However, before I actually make a final decision, I want to make sure that the book has what I want. I wasn't able to determine from your review if the book provides any exercises with which readers can test the skills that they have learned. Are there any? :)

Thanks again

[wysardry]

There aren't any set exercises as such, no. But you could use the "immediate solutions" in that way if you wished.

Each chapter explains a topic in detail, then at the end are solutions to particular problems.

What you could do is read the first part of a chapter, then look at the list of immediate solutions, pick one, and then try coding that for yourself before looking at how the author did it.

[conkermaniac]

Originally posted by wysardry
There aren't any set exercises as such, no. But you could use the "immediate solutions" in that way if you wished.

Each chapter explains a topic in detail, then at the end are solutions to particular problems.

What you could do is read the first part of a chapter, then look at the list of immediate solutions, pick one, and then try coding that for yourself before looking at how the author did it. That's a good idea. Thanks for the recommendation and the tip. ;)

It sounds like PHP Black Book is very comprehensive, and I'll definitely be checking it out when I go back to the States. Does anyone else have any recommendations of books that I might want to take a look at? :)

[keith]

here's a good one (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0201727870/qid=1055192191/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/103-1836787-5154264?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

[conkermaniac]

Originally posted by keith
here's a good one (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0201727870/qid=1055192191/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/103-1836787-5154264?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) Yeah, I've heard a lot of good things about that book. Other people have recommended it to me too. It's another one that I'll definitely look into. :)

[Moonman]

anything from Sam's publishing is good.
Teach yourself PHP in 24 hours.
And if you want MySQL
Teach yourself MySQL in 48 hours. (i think)

[conkermaniac]

Originally posted by Moonman
anything from Sam's publishing is good.
Teach yourself PHP in 24 hours.
And if you want MySQL
Teach yourself MySQL in 48 hours. (i think) Thanks, Moonman, but I'm a bit skeptical of these "Teach Yourself in 5 Days" kinda books. I'm worried that they won't be comprehensive enough. I already know enough PHP to create a functioning, secure guestbook, so I would think that I know the basics really well already. ;)