Best Books and Tutorials for PHP

Introduction

Learning PHP effectively requires the right mix of books, tutorials, and hands-on practice. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced developer, having reliable learning resources can accelerate your PHP journey. This guide lists the best books, free tutorials, and recommended online courses to master PHP.

Top PHP Books for All Levels

1. Programming PHP

A comprehensive book covering core PHP concepts, best practices, and modern features. Ideal for beginners to intermediate developers.

2. PHP & MySQL Web Development

Perfect for those who want to build real-world database-driven web applications.

3. PHP & MySQL in Easy Steps

Beginner-friendly, easy-to-read, and visual — great for newcomers.

4. PHP & MySQL: The Missing Manual

Practical examples and detailed explanations for full‑stack PHP development.

5. PHP – The Complete Reference

A highly useful reference book that covers functions, libraries, and PHP features in depth.

6. Mastering PHP 7/8

For intermediate to advanced developers focusing on modern PHP, performance, and scalability.

7. PHP 8 Objects, Patterns, and Practice

Recommended for mastering OOP, design patterns, and enterprise‑grade PHP coding.

8. Modern PHP (Josh Lockhart)

Covers new PHP features, PSR standards, dependency injection, Composer, and best practices.

Best Free & Online PHP Tutorials

1. Official PHP Documentation (php.net)

The most authoritative resource for PHP functions, features, and language rules.

2. PHP: The Right Way

A must‑read guide for writing clean, modern, professional PHP code.

3. W3Schools PHP Tutorial

Simple, structured, and easy to follow — ideal for basics and quick learning.

4. Codecademy PHP Course

An interactive, browser-based learning environment for hands‑on practice.

5. TutorialsPoint PHP

Beginner-friendly textual tutorials with examples.

6. GeeksforGeeks PHP Guide

Good for solving PHP coding problems and learning concepts.

🎓 Recommended PHP Online Courses

1. Udemy — PHP for Beginners

Step-by-step course with real projects.

2. Coursera — Web Applications with PHP

Offered by University of Michigan — beginner to intermediate friendly.

3. LinkedIn Learning — PHP Essential Training

Great for professionals wanting structured learning.

4. Laracasts (for Laravel + Modern PHP)

The best resource for those transitioning into Laravel and modern PHP.

🧰 Bonus: Tools for Practicing PHP

XAMPP / WAMP / MAMP
VS Code with PHP IntelliSense
PHPStorm
Composer
GitHub for version control & projects

Conclusion

Whether you prefer books, free tutorials, or interactive courses, PHP offers countless resources for all skill levels. Combining these learning materials with real project development will help you become a confident and job‑ready PHP developer.