The best 11 PHP books

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PHP Books: PHP Pocket Reference by Rasmus Lerdorf

PHP Pocket Reference

Rasmus Lerdorf

What's PHP Pocket Reference about?

PHP Pocket Reference by Rasmus Lerdorf is a concise and handy guide for PHP developers. It provides quick access to essential PHP functions and syntax, making it a perfect reference for both beginners and experienced programmers. Whether you need a reminder of a specific function or a quick explanation of a language feature, this pocket reference has got you covered.

Who should read PHP Pocket Reference?

  • Developers who want a quick and easy reference for PHP syntax and functions

  • Students learning PHP who need a compact guide to supplement their studies

  • Experienced programmers who want a portable resource for PHP programming on the go


2
PHP Books: Modern PHP by Josh Lockhart

Modern PHP

Josh Lockhart

What's Modern PHP about?

Modern PHP by Josh Lockhart is a comprehensive guide that teaches you how to write clean, maintainable, and secure PHP code. It covers best practices, design patterns, and modern tools that will help you take your PHP skills to the next level. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, this book will help you stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the PHP language.

Who should read Modern PHP?

  • Developers and programmers who want to stay updated with the latest features and best practices in PHP

  • Professionals who are transitioning from older versions of PHP to modern PHP

  • Individuals looking to improve the security, performance, and maintainability of their PHP applications


3
PHP Books: PHP in a Nutshell by Paul Hudson

PHP in a Nutshell

Paul Hudson

What's PHP in a Nutshell about?

PHP in a Nutshell by Paul Hudson is a comprehensive guide to the PHP programming language. It covers everything from basic syntax to advanced features, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced developers. With clear explanations and practical examples, this book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to master PHP.

Who should read PHP in a Nutshell?

  • Developers who want a comprehensive reference guide for PHP programming

  • Beginners who are looking to learn the basics of PHP and its core features

  • Experienced programmers who need a quick and reliable resource for PHP syntax and functions


4
PHP Books: PHP Hacks by Jack D. Herrington

PHP Hacks

Jack D. Herrington

What's PHP Hacks about?

PHP Hacks by Jack D. Herrington is a practical guide that provides tips, tricks, and techniques to enhance your PHP programming skills. From optimizing code to improving security and creating dynamic web applications, this book offers innovative solutions to common challenges faced by PHP developers. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced programmer, you will find valuable insights to elevate your PHP programming abilities.

Who should read PHP Hacks?

  • Web developers who want to enhance their PHP skills and learn new tricks

  • Programmers looking for practical solutions to common PHP challenges

  • Individuals who want to explore creative and unconventional ways to use PHP for web development


What's Webbots, Spiders, and Screen Scrapers about?

Webbots, Spiders, and Screen Scrapers by Michael Schrenk is a comprehensive guide to web automation and data extraction. It delves into the world of webbots and spiders, teaching readers how to use them to gather information from websites and perform automated tasks. With practical examples and step-by-step instructions, this book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to harness the power of web automation.

Who should read Webbots, Spiders, and Screen Scrapers?

  • Individuals who want to automate repetitive tasks on the web

  • Programmers and developers looking to create webbots and spiders for data extraction

  • Business professionals seeking to gather and analyze data from multiple websites


6
PHP Books: Pro PHP and jQuery by Jason Lengstorf

Pro PHP and jQuery

Jason Lengstorf

What's Pro PHP and jQuery about?

Pro PHP and jQuery by Jason Lengstorf is a comprehensive guide that delves into the integration of PHP and jQuery to build dynamic and interactive web applications. The book covers topics such as handling form submissions, manipulating the DOM, and making Ajax requests, providing practical examples and best practices for seamless integration of these two powerful technologies.

Who should read Pro PHP and jQuery?

  • Intermediate to advanced programmers who want to enhance their PHP and jQuery skills

  • Web developers looking to create dynamic and interactive websites

  • Individuals who want to learn how to integrate PHP and jQuery to build powerful web applications


7
PHP Books: Advanced PHP Programming by George Schlossnagle

Advanced PHP Programming

George Schlossnagle

What's Advanced PHP Programming about?

Advanced PHP Programming by George Schlossnagle is a comprehensive guide that delves into the more complex aspects of PHP development. It covers topics such as performance optimization, security, and scalability, making it an essential resource for experienced PHP developers looking to take their skills to the next level.

Who should read Advanced PHP Programming?

  • Experienced PHP developers who want to take their skills to the next level

  • Web developers looking to build high-performance and scalable PHP applications

  • Professionals working on complex web projects that require advanced PHP programming techniques


8
PHP Books: Beginning PHP 5.3 by Matt Doyle

Beginning PHP 5.3

Matt Doyle

What's Beginning PHP 5.3 about?

Beginning PHP 5.3 by Matt Doyle is a comprehensive guide for beginners to learn PHP programming. It covers the basics of PHP, including variables, data types, control structures, functions, and more. The book also delves into advanced topics such as object-oriented programming, error handling, and web development with PHP. With clear explanations and practical examples, it is a great resource for anyone looking to master PHP.

Who should read Beginning PHP 5.3?

  • Beginners who want to learn PHP programming from scratch

  • Web developers looking to expand their skills and knowledge in PHP

  • Students or professionals who want to build dynamic and interactive websites


9
PHP Books: The Joy of PHP by Alan Forbes

The Joy of PHP

Alan Forbes

What's The Joy of PHP about?

The Joy of PHP by Alan Forbes is a comprehensive guide that introduces readers to the world of PHP programming. It covers everything from the basics of PHP syntax to more advanced topics such as database integration and security. With clear explanations and practical examples, this book aims to make learning PHP an enjoyable and rewarding experience for beginners and experienced developers alike.

Who should read The Joy of PHP?

  • Beginners who want to learn PHP programming from scratch

  • Web developers looking to enhance their skills and create dynamic websites

  • Individuals interested in building interactive web applications with PHP and MySQL


10
PHP Books: PHP & MySQL by Jon Duckett

PHP & MySQL

Jon Duckett

What's PHP & MySQL about?

PHP & MySQL by Jon Duckett is a comprehensive guide that takes you through the process of building dynamic websites using two powerful technologies: PHP and MySQL. With clear explanations and beautifully designed visuals, this book covers everything from the basics of programming to advanced database manipulation. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, this book will help you master the art of web development.

Who should read PHP & MySQL?

  • Beginner to intermediate web developers who want to learn PHP and MySQL

  • Individuals looking to build dynamic and interactive websites

  • Professionals who want to enhance their skills in backend web development


11

What's JavaScript for PHP Developers about?

JavaScript for PHP Developers by Stoyan Stefanov is a comprehensive guide that helps PHP developers transition to JavaScript. It covers the fundamental concepts of JavaScript, such as syntax, data types, and functions, while also delving into advanced topics like object-oriented programming and asynchronous programming. With practical examples and clear explanations, this book equips PHP developers with the knowledge and skills needed to become proficient in JavaScript.

Who should read JavaScript for PHP Developers?

  • PHP developers who want to expand their skill set and learn JavaScript

  • Web developers who want to understand the differences and similarities between PHP and JavaScript

  • Programmers who want to build modern, interactive web applications using both PHP and JavaScript


Related Topics

PHP Books
 FAQs 

What's the best PHP book to read?

While choosing just one book about a topic is always tough, many people regard PHP Pocket Reference as the ultimate read on PHP.

What are the Top 10 PHP books?

Blinkist curators have picked the following:
  • PHP Pocket Reference by Rasmus Lerdorf
  • Modern PHP by Josh Lockhart
  • PHP in a Nutshell by Paul Hudson
  • PHP Hacks by Jack D. Herrington
  • Webbots, Spiders, and Screen Scrapers by Michael Schrenk
  • Pro PHP and jQuery by Jason Lengstorf
  • Advanced PHP Programming by George Schlossnagle
  • Beginning PHP 5.3 by Matt Doyle
  • The Joy of PHP by Alan Forbes
  • PHP & MySQL by Jon Duckett

Who are the top PHP book authors?

When it comes to PHP, these are the authors who stand out as some of the most influential:
  • Rasmus Lerdorf
  • Josh Lockhart
  • Paul Hudson
  • Jack D. Herrington
  • Michael Schrenk