PHP, a widely-used scripting language, is the backbone of many websites and web applications.
Learning PHP empowers you to create dynamic web content, handle user input, interact with databases, and build sophisticated web applications.
Mastering this language opens doors to exciting career opportunities in web development.
Finding the right PHP course on Coursera can be a challenge, with numerous options vying for your attention.
You’re looking for a course that goes beyond the basics, equipping you with the skills and knowledge to confidently build real-world applications.
For the best PHP course overall on Coursera, we recommend “Building Database Applications in PHP” offered by the University of Michigan.
This comprehensive course not only covers PHP fundamentals but also delves into database interactions using SQL, HTML, and CSS, providing you with a well-rounded skillset.
It’s a great choice for those who want to learn how to create dynamic web applications that interact with databases.
While this course is our top pick, there are other fantastic PHP courses on Coursera that might be better suited to your needs.
Keep reading to discover more recommendations based on different learning levels and career goals, and find the perfect PHP course for your journey.
Building Database Applications in PHP
Provider: University of Michigan
This course covers essential topics, from Object-Oriented Concepts to advanced database operations, making it ideal if you aim to master PHP and related technologies.
You’ll begin with Object-Oriented Concepts, learning to create and manage objects in PHP, and explore object-oriented libraries.
Understanding the object life cycle and inheritance in PHP sets a solid foundation for developing sophisticated applications.
Setting up your development environment is straightforward, with detailed instructions for installing MAMP on Macintosh, XAMPP, and LAMP on Linux.
The course also introduces NGrok, paired with the Autograder, to streamline your learning experience.
Beyond PHP, the syllabus extends to SQL, HTML, and CSS, equipping you with a versatile skill set for web development.
You’ll execute SQL queries in PHP, utilize MySQL with PDO, and address security concerns like SQL injection.
Through practical code walkthroughs, you’ll gain hands-on experience in inserting and deleting data, error handling, and more.
The course delves into web application essentials such as sessions, cookies, and authentication.
You’ll learn to manage user sessions, implement secure login and logout mechanisms, and understand the POST / Refresh / Redirect pattern crucial for web applications.
Additionally, it covers CRUD (Create, Read, Update, and Delete) operations, fundamental for database interaction.
Interactive elements like bonus office hours in various cities, including New York City and Detroit, Michigan, enhance the learning experience.
Fun segments and a graduation ceremony add to the course’s engaging nature.
With auto-graders and peer-reviewed assignments, you receive practical feedback, ensuring you apply what you learn effectively.
By the end, you’ll be proficient in building database applications using PHP, SQL, HTML, and CSS, ready to tackle real-world projects.
Building Web Applications in PHP
Provider: University of Michigan
This course guides you through the essentials of PHP, HTML, and CSS, ensuring you gain the skills needed to develop dynamic web applications.
Starting with PHP, you’ll understand its significance in web development, exploring how it interacts with HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to produce dynamic content.
The course introduces you to the request/response cycle, complemented by practical assignments and an engaging segment where Dr. Chuck shares his musical talents in Geneva, Switzerland.
The journey continues with a deep dive into HyperText Markup Language (HTML), where you’ll learn to structure web pages using HTML tags.
Through detailed code walkthroughs, you’ll grasp the fundamentals and move on to styling these pages with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
The course covers everything from basic styling techniques to incorporating images, colors, and links, ensuring your web pages not only function well but also look appealing.
Setting up your development environment is made easy, whether you’re on Macintosh, Windows, or Linux.
Instructions for installing MAMP, XAMPP, or LAMP are provided, setting the stage for your PHP and MySQL development work.
As you progress, the course delves deeper into PHP, covering basics, keywords, expressions, and control structures.
You’ll even hear insights from Rasmus Lerdorf, the inventor of PHP.
Practical assignments, such as creating your first PHP application and reversing an MD5 hash for password cracking, offer hands-on experience.
The course also tackles forms, teaching you how to effectively use GET and POST methods, understand HTML input types, and process form data securely to avoid HTML injection.
Additionally, you’ll be introduced to the Model View Controller (MVC) architecture, a key concept in web application development.
Your learning culminates in building a Rock Paper Scissors game, applying all the concepts you’ve learned.
This project, along with peer grading and an autograder, tests your newfound skills.
Bonus office hours videos from global locations, from San Francisco to London, provide extra support and insights.