20 Best Books on PHP

We have compiled a list of the Best Reference Books on PHP, which are used by students of top universities, and colleges. This will help you choose the right book depending on if you are a beginner or an expert. Here is the complete list of PHP Books with their authors, publishers, and an unbiased review of them as well as links to the Amazon website to directly purchase them. If permissible, you can also download the free PDF books on PHP below.

1."Beginning PHP and MySQL From Novice to Professional" by W Jason Gilmore
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2."PHP: A Beginner's Guide" by Vikram Vaswani “PHP: A Beginner’s Guide” Book Review: This book is designed for computer science students and individuals who want to learn PHP. It provides detailed explanations on various PHP topics and guides readers in building data-driven web applications. The book covers the integration of MySQL and SQLite databases with PHP for web page development. Additionally, it includes bonus information and useful tips in the Q&A sections, along with exercises to enhance understanding and cautionary notes about common errors and pitfalls. Each chapter concludes with a self-assessment quiz to facilitate self-evaluation.
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3."Learning PHP 5" by David Sklar “Learning PHP 5” Book Review: This book is targeted towards computer science students and individuals interested in learning PHP. It provides comprehensive explanations of PHP 4 as well as the newer PHP version 5. The book covers fundamental PHP topics, including language basics such as data types, variables, logic, and looping. Additionally, it delves into more advanced concepts such as arrays, functions, and creating web forms. Furthermore, the book offers insights into integrating MySQL databases with web pages, enabling readers to enhance the functionality of their PHP applications.
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4."PHP Object - Oriented Solutions" by David Powers “PHP Object – Oriented Solutions” Book Review: This book is for people who want to learn PHP, especially computer science students. It teaches the basics of object-oriented programming (OOP) in a simple and easy-to-understand way. The book includes practical projects that show how OOP concepts can be applied in real-life situations. It covers the fundamental principles of OOP and explains how to create code that can be reused and used on different platforms. Whether you’re new to programming or want to expand your knowledge of PHP, this book provides a solid foundation in OOP concepts and techniques.
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5."Build Your Own Database Driven Web Site Using PHP & MySQL" by Kevin Yank “Build Your Own Database Driven Web Site Using PHP & MySQL” Book Review: This book is designed for computer science students and individuals seeking to learn PHP. It provides comprehensive guidance for creating a functional content management system with CRUD capabilities. The book covers essential topics such as setting up automated database backups, enhancing database security, optimizing website loading speed, and more. It includes practical code samples and explores advanced subjects like storing binary data in MySQL, as well as handling cookies and sessions in PHP.
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6."PHP Programming For Beginners: The Simple Guide to Learning PHP Fast!" by Tim Warren “PHP Programming For Beginners: The Simple Guide to Learning PHP Fast!” Book Review: This book is specifically designed for computer science students and individuals interested in learning PHP, especially beginners with no prior knowledge of the language. It offers comprehensive insights into the fundamentals of PHP, covering essential topics such as PHP syntax, usage, and string manipulation. The book also delves into operators and control structures, providing a solid foundation for understanding PHP’s core concepts. With its beginner-friendly approach, this book serves as an ideal resource for those looking to start their journey in PHP development.
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7."Modern PHP: New Features and Good Practices" by Josh Lockhart
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8."PHP: Learn PHP in 24 Hours or Less - A Beginner’s Guide To Learning PHP Programming Now" by Robert Dwight “PHP: Learn PHP in 24 Hours or Less – A Beginner’s Guide To Learning PHP Programming Now” Book Review: This book is designed for computer science students and individuals interested in learning PHP. It covers the fundamentals of PHP in detail, including syntax, variables, and constants. Additionally, it provides comprehensive explanations and examples for key topics such as object-oriented programming (OOP), classes, subclasses, and the integration of PHP with MySQL. With practical examples and actual code samples, readers can gain a solid understanding of PHP concepts and enhance their coding skills. advertisement advertisement
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9."PHP for the Web: Visual QuickStart Guide" by Larry Ullman “PHP for the Web: Visual QuickStart Guide” Book Review: The book is designed to be used by both beginners as well as experts. This book is designed for beginners and intermediate users who want to learn PHP. It offers clear explanations and step-by-step instructions with plenty of screenshots. Whether you’re a computer science student or someone interested in PHP, this book provides comprehensive coverage of both PHP 5 and PHP 7. It includes real-world examples and guides you through the process of building a dynamic website using PHP. Additionally, it covers a wide range of basic and advanced topics in PHP, giving you a thorough understanding of the language.
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10."Programming PHP: Creating Dynamic Web Pages" by Kevin Tatroe and Peter MacIntyre
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11."Web Technologies: HTML, JAVASCRIPT, PHP, JAVA, JSP, ASP.NET, XML and Ajax, Black Book: HTML, Javascript, PHP, Java, Jsp, XML and Ajax, Black Book" by Kogent Learning Solutions Inc.
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12."Web Enabled Commercial Application Development Using HTML, JavaScript, DHTML and PHP ( 4th Revised Edition ) CD-ROM Included" by Ivan Batross
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13."PHP: The Complete Reference" by Steven Holzner “PHP: The Complete Reference” Book Review: This book is a comprehensive guide for both beginners and experienced programmers. The book covers all aspects of PHP programming, including its syntax, functions, data types, control structures, file handling, and more. It explores advanced topics like object-oriented programming, MySQL database integration, XML processing, and web services. With clear explanations and practical examples, the book helps readers understand PHP’s capabilities and use it effectively for web development. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to enhance your PHP skills, this reference book is a valuable resource.
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14."HTML 5 Black Book, Covers CSS 3, JavaScript, XML, XHTML, AJAX, PHP and jQuery" by DT Editorial Services
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15."PHP Microservices" by Carlos Perez Sanchez and Pablo Solar Vilarino “PHP Microservices” Book Review: This book serves as an introduction to microservices, offering valuable insights for readers interested in building a basic platform using Docker and Vagrant. It covers essential topics including testing, securing, and deploying microservices, as well as explores key DevOps techniques applicable to more complex domains. Additionally, the book provides detailed guidance on transforming monolithic applications into microservices, enabling readers to embrace this architectural approach effectively.
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16."PHP Programming and MySQL For Beginners: A Simple Start To PHP & MySQL (Written By A Software Engineer)" by Scott Sanderson “PHP Programming and MySQL For Beginners: A Simple Start To PHP & MySQL (Written By A Software Engineer)” Book Review: This book is an excellent introductory book for individuals new to PHP and MySQL. The book covers fundamental concepts and techniques, guiding readers through the basics of PHP programming and database management with MySQL. Each chapter provides clear explanations and practical examples, making it easy for beginners to grasp the concepts. Topics covered include PHP syntax, variables, arrays, functions, database design, SQL queries, and more. This book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to learn PHP and MySQL from scratch and build a strong foundation in web development.
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17."Beginning PHP 5.3 (WROX)" by Matt Doyle “Beginning PHP 5.3 (WROX)” Book Review: This book is a comprehensive guide for beginners to learn PHP programming. The book covers all the essential concepts and features of PHP 5.3, making it an ideal resource for individuals starting their journey in web development. The chapters include topics such as PHP syntax, variables, operators, arrays, functions, object-oriented programming, file handling, database integration with MySQL, and web application development. With clear explanations and practical examples, this book provides a solid foundation in PHP programming. It is a valuable resource for aspiring web developers seeking to master PHP 5.3.
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18."Programming: C ++ Programming : Programming Language For Beginners: LEARN IN A DAY! (C++, Javascript, PHP, Python, Sql, HTML, Swift)" by Os Swift
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19."Modular Programming with PHP 7" by Branko Ajzele “Modular Programming with PHP 7” Book Review: This book is a comprehensive guide that focuses on modular programming techniques in PHP 7. The book provides step-by-step instructions and practical examples to help developers build modular and maintainable PHP applications. It covers topics such as namespaces, autoloading, dependency injection, and design patterns like MVC and SOLID principles. The chapters also delve into topics like error handling, testing, and deployment strategies. With its clear explanations and hands-on approach, this book is a valuable resource for PHP developers looking to enhance their coding practices and create more robust and scalable applications. advertisement
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20."PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide" by Ullman “PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Web Sites: Visual QuickPro Guide” Book Review: This book is designed for web designers at the beginning to intermediate level. It starts by introducing the scripting language PHP, followed by the database program MySQL. The book comprehensively covers important topics such as security, sessions, cookies, and the latest features and techniques in PHP and MySQL. Additionally, it includes dedicated chapters that introduce jQuery and delve into object-oriented programming techniques.
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We have put a lot of effort into researching the best books on PHP and came out with a recommended list and their reviews. If any more book needs to be added to this list, please email us. We are working on free pdf downloads for books on PHP and will publish the download link here. Fill out this PHP books pdf download" request form for download notification.