In just a short time, you can learn how to use PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript together to create dynamic, interactive websites and applications using three leading web development technologies.

No previous programming experience is required. Using a straightforward, step-by-step approach, each lesson in this book builds on the previous ones, enabling you to learn the essentials of full-stack web application development – from HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on the front end, to PHP scripting and MySQL databases on the server.

Regardless of whether you run Linux, Windows, or MacOS, the book includes complete instructions to install all the software you need to set up a stable environment for learning, testing, and production.

Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common web application development tasks.

Practical, hands-on examples show you how to apply what you learn.

Quizzes and exercises help you test your knowledge and stretch your skills.

Learn how to:

• Build web pages with HTML5 and CSS

• Use JavaScript to build dynamic, interactive web pages

• Get PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript to work together to create modern, standards-compliant web applications

• Enhance interactivity with AJAX

• Leverage JavaScript libraries such as jQuery

• Work with cookies and user sessions

• Get user input with web-based forms

• Use basic SQL commands

• Interact with the MySQL database using PHP

• Write maintainable code and get started with version control

• Decide when frameworks such as Bootstrap, Foundation, React, Angular,

and Laravel can be useful

• Create a web-based discussion forum or calendar

• Add a storefront and shopping cart to your site

Contents at a Glance

PART I Web Application Basics

1 Understanding How the Web Works

2 Structuring HTML and Using Cascading Style Sheets

3 Understanding the CSS Box Model and Positioning

4 Introducing JavaScript

5 Introducing PHP

PART II Getting Started with Dynamic Web Sites

6 Understanding Dynamic Web Sites and HTML5 Applications

7 JavaScript Fundamentals: Variables, Strings, and Arrays

8 JavaScript Fundamentals: Functions, Objects, and Flow Control

9 Understanding JavaScript Event Handling

10 The Basics of Using jQuery

PART III Taking Your Web Applications to the Next Level

11 AJAX: Getting Started with Remote Scripting

12 PHP Fundamentals: Variables, Strings, and Arrays

13 PHP Fundamentals: Functions, Objects, and Flow Control

14 Working with Cookies and User Sessions

15 Working with Web-Based Forms

PART IV Integrating a Database into Your Applications

16 Understanding the Database Design Process

17 Learning Basic SQL Commands

18 Interacting with MySQL Using PHP

PART V Getting Started with Application Development

19 Creating a Simple Discussion Forum

20 Creating an Online Storefront

21 Creating a Simple Calendar

22 Managing Web Applications

PART VI Appendixes

A Installation QuickStart with XAMPP

B Installing and Configuring MySQL

C Installing and Configuring Apache

D Installing and Configuring PHP