PHP

What you'll learn

• Explain PHP's request model and set up modern projects with the CLI, php.ini and Composer.
• Write typed PHP with strict types, match, functions, closures, arrays and multibyte strings.
• Design object-oriented code with promotion, readonly classes, enums, interfaces, traits and PHP 8.4 property hooks.
• Handle errors, types, namespaces and autoloading, and use static analysis to catch bugs early.
• Build secure web features with validation, sessions, PDO, JSON APIs and defences against XSS, CSRF and SQL injection.
• Use PSR standards, frameworks, testing tools, OPcache and container-based deployment in real projects.

Syllabus

Modern PHP Foundations

1. What PHP Is Today
2. Running PHP: CLI, Built-in Server, php.ini and Composer
3. Syntax, Variables, Types and strict_types

Control Flow, Functions, Strings and Arrays

1. Control Flow and match
2. Functions, Named Arguments and Closures
3. Strings and Arrays

Object-Oriented PHP

1. Classes, Constructor Promotion, Readonly and Enums
2. Inheritance, Interfaces, Abstract Classes and Traits
3. Property Hooks, Asymmetric Visibility, Attributes and Magic Methods

Errors, Types and Code Organisation

1. Exceptions and Error Handling
2. The Type System and Static Analysis
3. Namespaces, Autoloading and Composer Packages

PHP on the Web

1. The Request Lifecycle, PHP-FPM and Front Controllers
2. Forms, Validation, Sessions and Cookies
3. Security: XSS, CSRF, SQL Injection and Passwords

Databases, JSON, HTTP and Files

1. Databases with PDO
2. JSON APIs and HTTP Clients
3. Files, Dates and Times

Standards, Frameworks and Testing

1. PHP-FIG Standards: PSRs and Coding Style
2. Laravel and Symfony at a Glance
3. Testing and Code Quality: PHPUnit, Pest, PHPStan and Rector

Performance, Deployment and Revision

1. Performance: OPcache, JIT and Profiling
2. Deployment and Configuration
3. Legacy PHP Versus Modern PHP
4. Revision and Interview Questions