Build Your Own Database Driven Web Site Using PHP & mySQL
One of the best books that I have seen that covers both PHP and mySQL. While it still doesn't cover as much of either topic as separate books do, the information this book provides forms a sound basis for using these two technologies together effectively.
My Rating: 
Pros
- Introduces the matterial in the most logical order.
- Builds on a single example throughout the book making it easier to see how the new information relates to what came before.
- A significant SQL reference in the appendix.
- Provides information oth on how mySQL operates and also on setting up your own test server.
Cons
- Already slightly dated in that it doesn't cover using 'prepare' statements for the database calls.
- Only covers database normalisation indirectly.
Description
- Fourth Edition: July 2009
- 479 page paperback
- Published by Sitepoint
- ISBN: 978-0-9805768-1-8
- Learning PHP & mySQL has never been so easy
- Author Kevin Yank
Review
As the author points out in the preface to this book both PHP and mySQL have changed significantly since the first edition of this book was published and significant rewrites of the material have been required in order to bring the book more up to date. The growing complexity of both languages has made this sort of book which tries to cover how to write what is effectively a content management system both much harder to write in a way that fits into an acceptable sized book and also much harder to actually learn for the reader. I haven't seen the earlier editions of this particular book but I have seen several alternative books that try to cover the same material and this book is far far superior to the current alternatives in its introduction to these two complex languages and how to use them together.
This book is very much a hands on practical introduction to the two languages and covers all of the different things that you need to know to get started. Of course with trying to cover two topics in a single book like this there are limits to the amount of detail that the book can provide compared to what you would get if you purchased a separate book on each topic. The biggest benefit that this book provides is of course that it shows you how to use the two languages together.
Perhaps the biggest hole in what this book covers is that there is no mention of using 'prepare' statements which is now considered to be the most effective way of calling mySQL in a way that avoids many of the security issues associated with building the types of calls that the book does cover. Presumably this will be covered in the next edition.
More Information from the Publisher
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