PHP MySQL
Interactive Website Design
Introduction
PHP and MySQL when used together become powerful tools that are used to create dynamic and interactive websites. Both are opensource tools and can be easily acquired for free.
The information you'll find on this website is for novices. We don't claim to be experts on the subject and our intention is to help the less technical minded website developer to become familiar with PHP and MySQL.
If your purpose in learning PHP/MySQL is to develop an interactive website, there is now a much easier way to accomplish the task. In the past, I didn't recommend Content Management Systems for this purpose. Most are Opensource and the documentation for them was terrible. That has changed.
I now recommend Joomla! and only Joomla! to experienced website authors for creating interactive websites. See Our Joomla Website. See also Our FAQ page & Screenshots
If you already have a web hosting account, see if your account includes the Fantastico or Elefante Script Installer. If you have one of these you already have Joomla! Only takes a few seconds to install it. When you do, you instantly get built in member registration, polling, blogging, web links page, site search and mass mailing. Adding a message board and live chat only takes a few minutes.
For the Novice
PHP and MySQL are fast becoming the tools of choice for developing interactive websites.
We recommend that beginners first learn the art of website construction using HTML. Once grounded in HTML, step 2 would be to learn to develop forms using Perl or PHP.
A Possible Shortcut
If you are in a hurry and want to jump right into dynamic website creation, there is a lot of software being developed for this purpose.
Many of these scripts and programs have been organized into a single resource called Fantastico. The Fantastico package is now provided by many web hosts.
PHP and MySQL?
Structured Query Language or SQL has been around for a long time. The language provides a standard syntax for accessing relational databases.
Until recently the process of manipulating databases on the internet was difficult and time consuming. The addition of PHP (HyperText Preprocessor) a simple but powerful scripting language and MySQL a portable SQL server, have made the task of building and accessing relational databases a much simpler task.
Database?
Databases are collections of data stored in table form. They can be built using software programs like Oracle and Visual Basic.
The same databases can now be built and maintained using the combination of PHP , SQL and the MySQL server.
The Lessons
The lessons provided in this tutorial will be short and simple. You'll learn to create and manipulate a simple database of names and birthdates.
- Connecting to the MySQL Server
- Creating the Database
- Creating a Table
- Adding a Record
- Displaying Records
- Updating a Record
- Deleting a Record
- Altering Tables
Download the Scripts
The Birthdays Database management files can be downloaded in a zip file. The package contains an integrated db management system, with a simple interface. This Instruction file is included in the download.
Download birthdays_db.zip
Last tested on PHP 4: 10-22-08
Try the Scripts Demo
Add a First Name and a birthday as: Example: Mar 22
You can also edit, delete and display entries.
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MySQL Tutorial
To extend your knowledge of MySQL study the Docs and Tutorials at the official MySQL website. MYSQL.com
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