How Long Does it Take to Learn PHP & MySQL?

Like many aspiring or back end web developers, you may want to start learning PHP and MySQL but worry about how long it will take. PHP is a server-side programming language that can work on any operating system. MySQL is an open-source database management system; as a relational database source, it sorts data into separate tables rather than one big storage room. To learn these languages, experts argue that it will take 3-8 months to become proficient. Of course, this will depend on several factors. Keep reading to learn how you can learn PHP and MySQL and some resources to help speed the process along. 

What is PHP & MySQL?

PHP is a widely used open-source scripting language on the server side of web development. This free and open-source coding language is one of the more accessible coding languages to learn while offering advanced features for professional programmers. The majority of the time, PHP is used for making web servers. One thing that makes PHP simple is that it is platform-independent and can run on any operating system without a problem.

Typically when you work with PHP, you will also work with MySQL as the database management system. MySQL is a structured query language that plays a central role in computing. Instead of storing data in a big storage room, MySQL stores all of the data in separate tables that efficiently tracks and manages all of the data from the websites. You can find that both PHP and MySQL power several of the most accessed web applications, including Facebook, Netflix, Uber, and Twitter. 

Read more about PHP and MySQL and why you should learn them.

What Can You Do with PHP & MySQL?

When thinking about what you can do with various programming languages, you'll probably think of the countless websites and web applications you could create; however, with PHP and MySQL, you can do much more. 

You can create dynamic page content by working with a server-side programming language. Many programmers working with PHP and MySQL work with ecommerce and WordPress themes. You can write the script for and create desktop applications. However, these are things that other programming languages can accomplish as well. PHP is great for web security as you can easily set up user authentication and two-step verification with PHP. This security trick will allow your websites to use the cornerstones of web security with a few simple steps. You have easy database connectivity, which is why you often see PHP paired with MySQL. 

With PHP, you can implement real-time applications like chats, bots, social networks, and games into your website. To do this, you need to create the application using a different language, then use local PHP back end code to implement it into the website. However, these are just a few things you can accomplish with PHP; the more familiar you become with the language, the more you will be able to accomplish.

Average Time it Takes to Learn PHP & MySQL

Learning web development and various programming languages can take several years. That can be overwhelming, especially if you don't know where to start. One of the simple languages you could start with is PHP. 

To learn PHP by itself, experts agree that it will take 3 to 6 months. PHP is one of the easier languages to learn as it has a logical syntax that is beginner friendly. MySQL will take an average of 6 to 7 months to learn. It is more complicated to learn as it can do more than PHP. You will often find the two together, so it may be better to learn them simultaneously. Doing that will take longer than learning one, as you are learning two skills simultaneously. 

If you are more interested in learning back end web development, you will be looking at a longer learning time; you may spend between 3 months and four years learning the various languages to start your web development career. You may shorten that time if you only learn one or two languages instead of many.

Other Factors

Learning any new skill will take time to master; PHP and MySQL are no different. However, several factors can help speed up the time it takes to learn those skills. 

Prior Coding Experience

PHP and MySQL are simple languages to learn, even for beginners. The most important factor determining how long it will take to learn PHP and MySQL is whether you have experience with coding. If you already have experience with more difficult code, learning PHP and MySQL will go more smoothly. Working with syntax will make learning much faster if you work with more complicated scripts.

Reason to Learn

Do you want to learn PHP and MySQL to enter a new career or enhance your programming toolbelt? The answer to these questions can affect how long you learn the languages. This answer also means you should plan to apply these skills and knowledge once you learn them. 

Back End Developers typically need to learn multiple languages, including PHP and MySQL, to be successful in their positions. Most languages require a programmer to be comfortable with HTML and CSS. If you are new to programming, this may add an extra step you may have to consider.

Regardless of what your goals are, you can rest assured that you will be able to master the fundamentals of PHP and MYSQL in just a short few months. 

Code as You Go

To become proficient in any programming language, you must be comfortable using it. One way to ensure you are comfortable using it is to practice the language as you learn it. 

If you have a busy schedule and cannot fit much practice in each day, doing so can significantly increase your comfort level and allow you to learn new concepts with the language faster. 

By starting to practice as soon as you learn the script, you begin to nail down those initial concepts. As you continue to learn, you will continue building off those concepts. Mastering those fundamental concepts early on will allow you to learn more complicated concepts faster later on. Having to remember or relearn the fundamentals won't slow you down. 

Learning Speed

Everyone learns at their own natural pace. Some individuals pick up concepts and skills quickly. Others may take more time to acquire the same level of understanding. When learning a skill like PHP and MySQL, your learning speed will be an essential factor in the amount of time it will take you to learn. Knowing your learning speed can help estimate how long learning PHP and MySQL will take you. 

However, there are options you can take to increase the speed at which you learn. You may enroll in a course like the PHP and MySQL bootcamp that Noble Desktop offers in a structured environment to learn new skills. Enrolling in a course will decrease the time it takes you to learn as you have the most critical information given to you rather than having to find it on your own. 

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

Learning any programming language is daunting, as learning to code is challenging. There are ways to make the transition into web development more straightforward. One of those ways to begin is by learning PHP and MySQL. PHP and MySQL provide beginners with a simple and forgivable syntax that is easy to learn. Beginners can become proficient in both in under a year. 

To start learning PHP and MySQL, one should consider having a high level of basic computer skills. Entering the tech world, you will need to know how to navigate your way around your computer, troubleshoot any issues, and know essential software like Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. You should also learn the basics of HTML and CSS before getting started with PHP HTML can be embedded with PHP code. This task is unnecessary but can make the learning process easier. 

PHP and MySQL are open-source languages. This designation means you can download the code free from the correlating websites and begin manipulating the language as you see fit. You will encounter the cost of PHP and MySQL from website hosting, upgrading equipment, and training. 

Read about how difficult it is to learn PHP and MySQL.

Watch a Free PHP & MySQL Online Course

If you cannot commit to a lengthy course but want to start your programming journey, you can learn for free online. Check out Noble Desktop's free Intro to WordPress for Developers course. This course will give a basic overview of how to use PHP in WordPress. In this course, students will focus on the developer side of WordPress, learning how to develop themes, how they work, and how to upload them. Noble Desktop also provides other free seminars in various programming languages. 

Other schools also provide free web development courses. Coursera provides courses on how to build websites using WordPress and how to build web apps in PHP. You can also audit their longer web development courses for free. Udemy also offers several free introductory courses for PHP and MySQL. You can also find hundreds of web development videos on YouTube to help you get started with various programming languages. You can check out Noble Desktop's YouTube Channel for various web development videos. 

Read about more free PHP and MySQL videos and online tutorials.

Learn Web Development with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop provides various web development classes that meet various scheduling needs and learning styles. No matter which class you enroll in, you’ll learn from expert instructors in small intimate classes. Any students can attend in-person training at Noble's Manhattan campus or remotely from anywhere worldwide. In addition to the courses, students can retake the course within of year of completion for no additional charge, giving them more time to hone their skills.

For those interested in beginning their web development journey, Noble offers a short Intro to WordPress for Developers course that covers the basics of PHP. This course covers how WordPress Themes work and how to develop and upload them onto a live site. For a more in-depth look into web development through WordPress, consider the WordPress Bootcamp. This course goes more in-depth on how to use HTML, CSS, and PHP to develop websites for WordPress. 

If you want a general overview of PHP and MySQL, you can take the PHP and MySQL bootcamp course. In this course, you learn the fundamentals of both PHP and MySQL. Before taking this course, you should have basic HTML and CSS knowledge. 

For those interested in learning other back end web development languages to start their web development career, consider enrolling in the JavaScript Development Certificate course or the Python Developer Certificate course. Both courses go in-depth into each language. After learning PHP and MySQL, you should consider learning JavaScript and Python, as you will encounter them throughout your programming career. Having each of these languages on your programming toolbelt with help jumpstart your web development career!

Key Insights

• PHP and MySQL are simple back end languages to learn
• PHP takes an average of 3 to 6 months to learn
• MySQL takes an average of 6 to 7 months to learn.
• You can learn both simultaneously in less than a year.
• It can take up to 4 years to learn several different back end languages. 
• Learning speed will depend on several factors, including
• Prior experience
• Reason for Learning
• Coding as you go
• Personal Learning Speed 
• You can decrease the time it takes you to learn PHP and MySQL by enrolling in a comprehensive in-person or live online course through Noble Desktop.