PHP for Beginners

From your first script to strings, arrays, functions, closures, classes, exceptions, Composer and how PHP answers a web request.

Free15 modules120 lessons3 exercises≈ 7 h

Tests check every exercise: in your browser and in the cloud

Quizzes are answered right on the site, so you need nothing installed to take the course. The course has no code exercises in the browser yet, so run the lesson examples on your own computer: set it up in three steps.

1
Install PHP
The lessons use PHP 8.5; examples also run on 8.3 and 8.4.
- Windows: download Laravel Herd for Windows, a free app that installs PHP, and run its installer. The installation guide explains the first launch.
- macOS: download Laravel Herd for macOS and follow its installation guide.
- Linux: on php.net/downloads, choose your distribution and follow the instructions for its packages. Also install the mbstring extension: on Ubuntu and Debian it is a separate package, php8.5-mbstring, and the mb_* functions of the strings theme need it.
- The PHP manual has a full installation chapter for every system.
Install VS Code
Download VS Code and add the PHP Intelephense extension.
Composer (for theme 14)
Theme 14 uses Composer, the PHP package manager. Laravel Herd already includes it; on Linux, install it separately by following the Composer download page.

Set up your computer

Install PHP

Install VS Code

Composer (for theme 14)

Syllabus

01First program≈ 35 min7 lessons

02Variables and types≈ 20 min6 lessons

03Operators and comparison≈ 25 min8 lessons

04Conditions≈ 25 min8 lessons

05Loops≈ 20 min6 lessons

06Strings≈ 40 min9 lessons

07Arrays≈ 25 min8 lessons

08Functions≈ 35 min11 lessons

09Functions as values≈ 20 min8 lessons

10Array functions≈ 30 min8 lessons

11Classes and objects≈ 35 min11 lessons

12Inheritance and interfaces≈ 25 min8 lessons

13Errors and exceptions≈ 40 min8 lessons

14Files, namespaces and Composer≈ 25 min7 lessons

15PHP and the web≈ 25 min7 lessons