PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a powerful, open-source server-side scripting language designed specifically for web development. It's widely used to create dynamic and interactive websites and is the backbone of many popular platforms like WordPress, Facebook (early versions), and Wikipedia.
If you’re just starting out, this guide will help you understand the basics of PHP and provide a structured roadmap to becoming proficient.
Easy to learn for beginners
Strong community and documentation
Runs on almost every server
Powers major CMS platforms (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal)
Before writing PHP code, you’ll need:
A local server stack: Install XAMPP, MAMP, or WAMP to run PHP locally.
A code editor: VS Code, Sublime Text, or PHPStorm.
A browser to test your output.
Install XAMPP from apachefriends.org
Start Apache and MySQL
Place your .php files in the htdocs folder (e.g., C:\xampp\htdocs\project)
Visit http://localhost/project/yourfile.php in your browser
Here is a list of good PHP tutorials on the internet:
PHP Manual – php.net
The official PHP documentation. Covers all functions with examples and user comments.
W3Schools PHP Tutorial
Great for beginners. Easy examples and interactive code editor.
TutorialsPoint PHP
Simple explanations, basic to intermediate topics including OOP.
GeeksforGeeks PHP
Detailed guides and exercises for each PHP topic.
FreeCodeCamp PHP Crash Course (YouTube)
4-hour video tutorial. Good for fast learning with real examples.
Flatcoding PHP Tutorials
Project-based PHP tutorials. Focuses on real-world applications and clean code.
PHP: The Right Way
https://phptherightway.com/
A must-read guide with best practices and modern PHP usage.
Laravel From Scratch (Laravel + PHP)
https://laracasts.com/series/laravel-8-from-scratch
Learn modern PHP development using the Laravel framework.
Codecourse – PHP Tutorials
https://codecourse.com/
Practical tutorials including login systems, MVC, and REST APIs.
Tuts+ – PHP Tutorials
https://code.tutsplus.com/categories/php
Covers a wide range of PHP topics and project-based learning.
Stack Overflow PHP Questions
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/php
Great for problem-solving and learning through community Q&A.