PHP for the Web: Visual QuickStart Guide (4th Edition)

Name: PHP for the Web: Visual QuickStart Guide (4th Edition)
ISBN: 9787115260932

Larry UllmanPosts & Telecom Press2011

4.0

Chapters: 15
Series: Turing Programming Series · Web Development Series
ISBN: 9787115260932

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Summary

This is the 4th edition of PHP for the Web: Visual QuickStart Guide, part of the Turing Programming Series · Web Development Series. In plain, accessible language, it introduces beginners to the basic concepts, usage, and caveats of the PHP language. Through numerous practical mini-examples, it explains syntax and common scenarios, helping readers start writing usable PHP scripts. The content begins with an overview of PHP and its syntax foundations, then covers variables, HTML forms and PHP data interaction, numeric operations, string handling, control structures, and arrays—the core of the language. It then moves to the web application level, explaining how to organize multi-page applications, state management with cookies and sessions, encapsulation with custom functions, reading and writing files and directories, and introductory database use. The regular expressions section introduces basic pattern-matching syntax and practical uses. A notable change in the 4th edition is the final chapter, where the author walks readers step by step through building a fully functional website, tying the previously scattered knowledge points into a complete development workflow. The appendices provide guidance on environment installation and configuration and resources for further PHP study. The book follows a "concept—example—exercise" rhythm, with short chapters, making it suitable as a first systematic PHP textbook. Basic HTML knowledge is required before reading.

Editor's review

PHP 入门书里，能把“讲清楚”和“不啰嗦”同时做到的并不多，Larry Ullman 这本属于其中之一。它的写法非常朴素：先给出一个小目标，再贴出代码，然后逐行解释为什么这样写，最后留一个练习让你自己动手。没有大段的架构空谈，也不假设读者已经懂后端，因此对刚从 HTML 静态页面转过来的人格外友好。第4版的结构比前几版更完整：语言基础部分（变量、数值、字符串、控制结构、数组）一章一个主题，薄而清晰；随后转入 Web 场景，表单接收、cookie 与 session、文件读写、数据库入门都是实际项目里绕不开的内容；最后一章带着读者从零搭一个可用网站，把前面零散的知识串成完整流程，这一步对新手建立“我能做出来”的信心很关键。需要提醒的是，本书面向的是入门，讲的是 PHP 的基础语法与典型 Web 用法，深度上不涉及框架、性能、现代工程化实践。把它当作第一本、而非唯一一本，读完后再接框架或更深入的后端书籍，路径会更顺畅。

Who it's for

A good fit for

有基本 HTML 基础、想学一门后端语言的初学者
在校学生或转行者，需要一本结构清晰的 PHP 入门教材
做静态网站、想给页面加上表单处理和数据库功能的开发者
需要快速了解 PHP 语法与常见 Web 用法的非专职程序员

Not a good fit for

已熟悉 PHP 语法、寻求框架与工程化实践的进阶开发者
希望学习现代 PHP 版本新特性、类型系统与依赖管理的人
只想做纯前端、不准备接触服务端逻辑的读者

Reading tips

阅读前先把 HTML 表单与基本页面结构弄熟，第3章之后的示例会直接用到。
务必边读边敲代码，每章结束处的“回顾和实践”不要跳过，这是本书的主要学习方式。
读到第8章后，尝试把书中示例改造成自己的小项目，如留言板或简单的记账页。
读完全书后不要停留，接着补充现代 PHP 版本特性与一个主流框架，完成从入门到实用的过渡。

About the publisher

Posts & Telecom Press China · Founded in 1953

Posts & Telecom Press is known for its strengths in science and technology, computing, and information and communications titles, and has extended its publishing into photography, art, software learning, and inspirational growth, giving it a fairly diverse range. Its catalog includes computing and communications works such as Refactoring and Patterns (Revised Edition) and Huawei Switch Learning Guide (Second Edition), alongside bilingual collector's editions such as The Little Prince (Chinese-English-French illustrated collector's edition), The Great Gatsby, and Three Days to See. Beijing Ten Years: 1980-1990 and Ghost Blade: WLOP Personal Illustration Collection reflect its presence in photography and art. Its authors include Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Helen Keller, Joshua Kerievsky, Wang Da, Zhang Zhaozeng, and WLOP.

Chapter 1 PHP Overview
Chapter 2 Variables
Chapter 3 HTML Forms and PHP
Chapter 4 Using Numbers
Chapter 5 Using Strings
Chapter 6 Control Structures
Chapter 7 Using Arrays
Chapter 8 Creating Web Applications
Chapter 9 Cookies and Sessions
Chapter 10 Creating Functions
Chapter 11 Files and Directories
Chapter 12 Introduction to Databases
Chapter 13 Regular Expressions
Appendix A Installation and Configuration
Appendix B Resources for Further PHP Study

FAQ

这本书需要什么基础才能读？

官方定位是适合有基本 HTML 经验的读者。只要能写出简单的表单和页面结构，就能跟上书中示例；不需要事先学过其他编程语言，但有一点编程概念会读得更快。

第3版和第4版有什么区别？

第3版于2010年1月出版，ISBN 9787115216786；第4版于2011年出版，ISBN 9787115260932，属于“图灵程序设计丛书·Web开发系列”。第4版最明显的变化在最后一章，改为逐步带领读者构建一个功能完整的网站。

书里的 PHP 内容现在还算过时吗？

作为语法与 Web 基础概念的入门读物，变量、数组、表单、session、文件读写这些内容与语言版本关联较小，仍有参考价值；但书中未涉及新版本特性、命名空间、Composer 等现代实践，建议配合官方手册补充。

这本书讲 MySQL 或数据库操作吗？

有，第12章为“数据库介绍”，讲的是数据库入门层次的用法。它是为 Web 应用打基础，并非数据库专书；若想系统学 MySQL，需要另找专门教材。

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