Sold by: Amazon.com. ... At least one free return option available. ... At any of our 50,000 US locations. Amazon.com Murach's PHP and MySQL: Ray Harris - Amazon.com

| Platform | Link (as of 2024) | What you’ll get | |----------|-------------------|-----------------| | | https://www.murach.com/shop/murachs-php-and-mysql-4th-edition | Direct purchase of print or Kindle edition, plus a free sample PDF of the first chapter. | | Amazon | https://www.amazon.com/dp/1943872745 | New or used print copies, Kindle edition, and often an “Look Inside” preview. | | Barnes & Noble | https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murachs-php-and-mysql-4th-edition | Print and Nook e‑book formats. | | Google Books | https://books.google.com/books?id=... (search “Murach PHP and MySQL 4th edition”) | Limited preview; can buy the e‑book via Google Play. | | Safari Books Online / O’Reilly | https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/murachs-php-and/9781943872744/ (requires a subscription) | Full online access if your institution or employer provides an O’Reilly subscription. | | Your local library | Use WorldCat ( https://www.worldcat.org/ ) to locate a nearby library that holds the title. Many libraries also offer OverDrive or Libby digital lending. | Borrow a physical copy or a short‑term e‑book loan (no cost). |

The book starts by introducing the basics of PHP, including data types, variables, control structures, functions, and arrays. The authors provide clear explanations, along with practical examples and exercises to reinforce learning. I appreciate the focus on best practices, security, and error handling, which are essential for building robust PHP applications.

The "Murach Method" is famous in the programming world for its unique paired-pages format. On the left page, you find detailed explanations; on the right, you find corresponding code examples, syntax boxes, and screenshots. This layout allows you to learn concepts quickly without getting bogged down in dense blocks of text.

This section provides an introduction to front-end development with HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. While not exhaustive, it provides a good overview of these technologies and how they integrate with PHP and MySQL.

To give you the full picture, here is the complete breakdown of the 4th edition's contents:

Previous editions relied heavily on older procedural patterns. This edition assumes PHP 8.x. This is crucial because it forces the reader to use modern features immediately. You aren't learning PHP 5 and then trying to unlearn bad habits later. The book introduces: