Beginning PHP

[Xav]

Hi everyone, if you don't know me already, I'm Xav. I'm mainly programming in .NET (C#, VB.NET, that sort of stuff), but I know HTML and some JavaScript.

So, I want to try and learn PHP. This is one of the few forums I hardly ever post in, and I want that to change. Plus, I would like to add some PHP functionality to my website.

First things first, though. What's the best way to learn? I would prefer not to have to spend any money, as I'm a tight git , so an online resource would be great.

I wouldn't mind a little enlightening, though. How is PHP integrated into webpages? How exactly do things work? Do you place the PHP inside the webpage, or does the HTML code trigger a separate file? Please help me on my conquest to learn PHP (and hence rule the world ).

[TcM]

Moved to correct forum

[John]

Clookid wrote a nice tutorial on introducing PHP. PHP Introduction

[Xav]

Short, but sweet - so where does all the .php files come in? And how to I set up a simple form, that sends the data to the php bit, that outputs the result?

[John]

renlok wrote a tutorial introducing forms. Beginners Guide To PHP: *Tutorial*

[Xav]

Thanks again!

[Martin_kp]

If you want to see the code of a wesite to make your own, use Mozzila Firefox, go to an unencrypted webpage (to know weather it's encrypted or not, mozzila tells you in a msgbox form) , right-click your mouse, and click 'view page surce code'. A window is opened, and read the code, right away!!!

P.S.
I learnt this from a book called 'Zero Knowledge Password'.

[Martin_kp]

The title and the index doesn't match. I tought this was for beginner PHP programmers.

[v0id]

Originally Posted by Xav

What's the best way to learn?

Get a great book (or internet resource) and start reading. While you're reading you shall think about the things you learn, and if you once think, "Hey! Why's that?", then go back in the book, and see if the question has already been answered previously.
Also, you will have to make some examples, and actually use what you have learned, in order to successfully continuing without forgetting what you previously read.

Originally Posted by Xav

How is PHP integrated into webpages?

First of all, you'll need a server. This server will listen for incoming connections (also called clients) Every time a client is connecting, it will be serviced by the server, which is done in various ways. If the client is calling a PHP-file, the server will take the PHP-file and pass it to a PHP-interpreter. The PHP-interpreter will interpret the sourcecode, and return the generated HTML. The HTML will then be given by the server to the client, and the client will be able to read the document.

[Xav]

Thanks everyone! I actually learnt before these posts were posted, and I am now confidently building PHP pages!

@ Martin_kp: you don't need Firefox for that. IE will do. And this thread is not in the tutorials section, but in the forum section, so it's going to be some sort of question or other.