PHP Reference: Beginner to Intermediate PHP5
Product Description
A collection of over 250 PHP functions with clear explanations in language anyone can understand, followed with as many examples as it takes to understand what the function does and how it works. This book includes numerous additional tips, the basics of PHP, MySQL query examples, regular expressions syntax, and two indexes to help you find information faster: a common language index and a function index. When the internet is not around or you want a simpler explana… More >>
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The examples are clear for beginners and easy to follow. Even functions I’ve never tried to understand before when looking on php.net. As I’ve started looking into object-orientated programming, I wish this book covered that as well, but I guess that would be more advanced.
Rating: 4 / 5
As a casual PHP coder (I pick it back up every few months to add to my websites or tweak something), I have found this book to be a perfect fit.
The author breaks the whole book down into the typical sections: String functions, Array functions, MySQL, etc. Like many other books I’ve purchased, I can always learn more by flipping through a chapter page-by-page, but I pick this book up more often because I can quickly get around to exactly what I need because it is focused around the functions and operators that are key to doing everything in PHP.
I actually keep a bookmark in the RegEx and Date() pages because I refer back to them so frequently to ‘refresh’. It’s an excellent book that hasn’t disappointed me yet when I dust it off and start coding again.
Rating: 5 / 5
From the very first page, the author of this book lets us know exactly its purpose – to act as an off-line reference to the hundred or so domestic PHP functions one might use in the course of writing software, and a couple of their lesser-used variants.
One of my favorite parts was the list of related functions below each description: this allows you to hyperlink your way around the book in a more semantic way than simply reading it front-to-back.
This is certainly not a book just for beginners, because I wouldn’t consider output buffer functions to be used by beginners (if you don’t know what I mean when I say ob_start() or ob_flush(), then you should probably pick up a copy).
This is the kind of book you should throw in your laptop bag as you get started on a new project, or keep on the shelf of your cubicle. Think about which is faster – tabbing back and forth between your browser window with the current page you’re testing, and your text editor, AND the php.net site, or just having a small reference book next to your keyboard.
Also consider your ability to make notes next to functions about your own personal tricks and experiences – I always find myself digging back into my own code as a reference, but if you just had this paper version to carry with you everywhere, you could save yourself a lot of time by not having to grep through your code.
Completely worth your time and money.
Rating: 5 / 5
I kept getting stuck forgetting little things when coding and I like to get away from my desk a lot, so carrying a 500 page all inclusive book didn’t work for me, but this fit the bill. It doesn’t have everything in PHP in it, and that’s a good thing, because it makes it more portable and fits 95% of my needs. Incredibly handy.
Rating: 5 / 5