PHP Development Track — Step 2
PHP Application Developer
Server-Side Scripting, Databases & Dynamic Web Applications
Course Overview
This intermediate course moves beyond scripting fundamentals into object-oriented PHP and database-driven development. You will learn OOP principles — classes, inheritance, and interfaces — connect to MySQL using PDO with prepared statements, handle file I/O, and manage user state with sessions and cookies.
On completion you can build structured, maintainable PHP applications ready for the PHP Framework Developer track.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply object-oriented programming: classes, objects, inheritance, and interfaces in PHP
- Connect to MySQL databases using PHP PDO with prepared statements
- Handle file I/O and implement robust error handling and exception management
- Process HTML form data and manage user state with sessions and cookies
- Manipulate arrays and strings using PHP's built-in function library
- Build and deploy a structured PHP web application from scratch
Curriculum
- Basic HTML page structure and HTML forms
- Receiving and using form data in PHP
- Finding the length of a word or sentence
- Counting words in a string
- Replacing characters in a string
- Randomising a string in PHP
- Double vs single quotes and escaping strings
- PHP arrays and looping through them
- String split and inserting into arrays
- Sorting data in an array
- String implode and explode
- Adding and removing elements from arrays
- Selecting random elements from an array
- Structure of associative arrays
- Looping through an associative array
- Basic array functions
- Creating functions in PHP
- Arguments & variables in functions
- Custom function output and return values
- How to create, read, update, and delete cookies
- How to create, read, update, and delete sessions
- Final project: Multi-page PHP application with user session management
Assessments & Grading
| Assessment | Type | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Module Exercises | Online exercises | 20% |
| Mid-programme Assignment | PHP scripting task | 30% |
| Final Application Project | Multi-page PHP app | 50% |
Certificate on completion
Pinuno Academy certificate awarded to graduates who meet the assessment requirements.
Prerequisites
- Completion of PHP & MySQL Foundations or equivalent PHP basics
- Ability to write basic PHP variables and control flow
- A laptop, tablet, or desktop with internet access is all you need
You need a PHP environment to complete the exercises. Two free options — choose based on your device and connection speed.
Who Should Attend
- Students who completed PHP & MySQL Foundations
- Developers seeking to strengthen PHP data-handling skills
- Freelancers building PHP-based client websites
- Anyone preparing for PHP Framework Developer