Subjects / PHP programming

Best books to learn PHP programming, in order

PHP is easy to write badly, which is why order matters. Start with the language cleanly — syntax, arrays, functions — before the object-oriented model that modern PHP is built on. Only then does the crucial layer make sense: security, since PHP powers the web's most-attacked pages. Learn the basics, then OOP and composer, then secure, framework-driven development.

Build your own PHP programming list →Browse all paths

Reading paths for php programming

Popular php programming books

Related reading

Frequently asked questions

How should I approach learning php programming?
PHP is easy to write badly, which is why order matters. Start with the language cleanly — syntax, arrays, functions — before the object-oriented model that modern PHP is built on. Only then does the crucial layer make sense: security, since PHP powers the web's most-attacked pages. Learn the basics, then OOP and composer, then secure, framework-driven development.
What's a good book to start php programming with?
A strong starting point is PHP & MySQL by Jon Duckett. The ordered reading paths above show exactly where it fits and what to read next.
What should I read after php programming?
Once you have the fundamentals, explore closely related subjects like Spring Boot, Google Cloud Platform, Data warehousing.

Related subjects