It is not difficult to learn PHP from scratch. The key is to clarify the direction and follow the steps. First of all, it is necessary to clarify that PHP is mainly used for dynamic web development, which is especially suitable for interaction with databases, such as implementing user registration, login and other functions. The first step is to build an environment. It is recommended to use XAMPP or phpStudy to quickly run PHP files, and to improve efficiency with editors such as VS Code. When learning grammar, you should focus on mastering the basic structure, including conditional judgment, loops, function definitions and array operations, and you don’t have to memorize everything by rote. Finally, you need to practice through small projects, such as leaving a message book or logging into the system, contact form submission, database connection, and data addition, deletion, modification and inspection, and gradually improve your practical capabilities.

Learning PHP from scratch is not that difficult. The key is to clarify the direction and not get into the details of the grammar from the beginning. The following stages are the most important things for novices to pay attention to.

Let’s figure it out first: What is PHP used for?

Many people just started learning programming, and they heard that PHP is about to learn quickly, but they don’t know what it does. Simply put, PHP is mainly used for dynamic web development , especially dealing with databases, such as user registration, login, and message. PHP is very good at it.

Many of the blog systems you see now (such as WordPress) are written in PHP. So if your goal is to build a website backend, or want to understand how the website changes from a static page to "interactive", PHP is a good introductory language.

Step 1: Set up the environment, don't get stuck here

It is most likely for novices to get stuck in the "How to run PHP". In fact, there are many tools that can help you quickly start writing code, and you don’t need to mess around with the server at the beginning.

It is recommended that you do this:

• Install an integrated environment, such as XAMPP or phpStudy (the Chinese interface is more friendly)
• Put the written .php file into the http:// htdocs http://localhost/你的文件名.php
• Use a simple editor, such as VS Code, install a PHP plugin, and write code more conveniently

Don't worry about server configuration, write some code first and then run.

Learning grammar, the focus is on "using it" rather than "remembering it all"

PHP syntax is actually quite simple, such as outputting a sentence:

 echo "Hello World";

There is a $ in front of the variable, and the array is used with array() or [] . These basic syntaxes can be started soon. But the mistakes that novices are prone to make are:

• Don't pay attention to the end of the semicolon
• The scope of variables is unclear
• Not proficient in array operation

It is recommended that you first master these basic structures:

• Conditional judgment (if/else)
• Loop (for / while / foreach)
• Function definition and call
• Array operations (add, delete, modify and check)

If you encounter a function you don’t understand, go to the official PHP document to check it directly, and don’t memorize it by rote.

Do a small project and don't just read the tutorial

Just reading tutorials without writing code means not learning. You can try making a simple message book or user login to the system, so you will get in touch with:

• Form Submission (GET/POST)
• Database connection (MySQL is recommended)
• Data addition, deletion, modification and query (CRUD)

For example, with the login function, you will learn how to use $_POST to receive data, and how to query the database to determine whether the username and password are correct.

Don’t pursue “perfect code” from the beginning, and let’s talk about the function first.

Basically that's it. PHP is quick to get started, but to really use it well, you still need to practice more, check more documents, and read more codes written by others. Gradually you will find that programming is actually a process of solving problems, and PHP is just a tool.

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