Web Programming using PHP

Aims

• to introduce PHP programming language
• develop the PHP skills required to create dynamic websites, read and write external file data, and analyze and manipulate such data.
• to encourage good programming practice by writing efficient well-documented code that can be easily understood by colleagues.
• to introduce selected PHP libraries to interact with various external resources and expedite the development process.
• to help students to acquire the self-study skills and resources to enable them to further enhance their knowledge and capabilities with PHP.

Content

• Introduction to PHP: Open Source origins. PHP syntax (variables, control structures, functions)
• Data Analysis: Using PHP to open, read, write and close external files and manipulate data. Regex pattern matching.
• Form Processing: Using PHP to process submitted form data. Validating and displaying data/redisplaying form.
• Security: Avoiding security pitfulls by careful coding.
• Maintaining State With PHP: Cookies. Session management.
• Error Handling: Debugging code and handling errors gracefully.
• Classes and OOP: Introducing classes and Object Oriented Programming.

Prerequisites

• Basic PC and internet skills.
• File compression tools (compress files, extract compressed files using WinZip).
• Folder and file management (create, rename and organise folders, recognise filetypes from their file extension, change folder options).
• Searching web using a browser (save a web page, view a page source, open local files, adding to favourites, change browser settings, use History menu, download resources).
• Preferably some programming experience.

Credits

• 15 CATS points at Level 5 NQF