How to Learn PHP & MySQL Online

No matter what new skill you are learning, you can find dozens of tips and resources online; PHP and MySQL are no different! PHP and MySQL are server-side programming languages and databases. You will typically see them working together in back end web development. They power some of the most powerful websites like Facebook and Netflix. If you have wanted to learn PHP and MySQL as part of your web development training, you have plenty of options available at your fingertips. The options here range from free tutorials to live classes, so you can choose how you want to learn. 

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.

Live Online PHP & MySQL Training

Live online learning has increased in popularity as an alternative to in-person training. These online learning options give students the flexibility they need if they have full schedules or long commutes from rural areas. Some students may excel in environments where they are comfortable; however, live online training does have some drawbacks. It can be hard to hold yourself accountable with various distractions pulling you away from class or coursework. It may also be hard to see a separation between work and home. More extroverted students may struggle with the lack of interactions; however, there are ways to work around that. 

Noble Desktop offers several live online web development courses for students pursuing online learning. When students first hear about online learning, they often assume these courses are asynchronous and self-paced; however, these courses are taught live over teleconferencing platforms. Live online learning is similar to in-person training in a virtual classroom. Students interact fully with their instructor and classmates in real time, just as they would in an in-person class. This interaction level allows them to receive instant feedback and answers to any questions. 

Virtual training options are available through other providers like Thinkful, Juno College of Technology, Bloom Institute of Technology, and Altcademy. Like Noble, these providers offer web development courses covering programming languages ranging from beginner to advanced. You can check out other live online web development courses using Noble's Classes Near Me tool. 

On-Demand PHP & MySQL Classes

Suppose you want to learn PHP, MySQL, or any other programming language but are balancing several personal and professional responsibilities. In that case, you may need more time to devote to a full class to learn one of those languages. A self-paced web development course is an alternative for learning new skills without adding another responsibility to your busy schedule. These courses are available where ever and whenever you can complete them.

Upon browsing through these courses, you will find multiple courses designed for beginners starting with web development; however, there are classes available for all skill levels. You may find several free options through different providers, although most of these courses will require either a platform subscription or a set fee to gain access to the class. However, these classes provide a more budget and schedule-friendly alternative for those learning a new skill. 

On-demand courses differ from live classes as they require more discipline on the student's behalf. These courses provide students with more flexibility; however, students need to hold themselves accountable for watching the material as they will not have an instructor or classmates to motivate them through the course. With a busy schedule, it can become easy to forget about these courses, making it hard to keep up and retain the information. However, this provides an excellent alternative if one lacks time or money to devote to a live class.

Free Intro Courses & Tutorials

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.

Comparing Online Methods with In-Person Learning 

It can be overwhelming when deciding which training format works best for you, and you may need help knowing where to begin. With each format's benefits and drawbacks, knowing the best fit for you may be challenging. 

Attending live classes, either in-person or online, will provide the most engaging and interactive training. Live classes provide students with training from masters of the field, immediate feedback, and peer interaction. Choosing an in-person course allows networking opportunities and labs with up-to-date software. Live online training provides more flexibility with scheduling, and you can attend the class from anywhere. 

Choosing on-demand courses provides a way to start learning for those with little free time. These self-paced courses are more budget-friendly; however, you miss out on the other benefits of live training and risk receiving outdated information.

Tips to Succeed when Learning PHP & MySQL Online

With the growing popularity of online learning, you may need to familiarize yourself with the learning environment. Before starting your line course, you may wonder how to succeed in this new learning environment. Here are some times to help you succeed in an online course. 

• Take handwritten notes. Coding is not easy to learn. Experts agree that you retain more information if you write it out. Engaging more than one sense when taking notes, the more powerful the memory of that information will be. By putting pen to paper, you tell your brain that the information is more important than other information. Doing this may make remembering certain coding aspects, like particular code segments, easier. 
• Create a schedule. When starting an online class, whether asynchronous or live, it can be easy to misuse time in your schedule, especially if you are not used to online learning. From the beginning of the class, it is important to set a regular schedule that will be easy for you to follow. You can keep a class and weekly calendar to keep track of due dates and meeting times. Set up reminders for due dates, so they do not sneak up on you or you miss them altogether. Set aside time each week to go over coursework or practice the material. 
• Stay organized. When learning in a comfortable space, it can be easy to misplace an item or become distracted. Keeping a distraction-free, organized space when starting online classes may not seem important initially. However, taking the time to eliminate distractions, in the beginning, will help you remain focused on your work. You are more likely to remember the information taught early on if you start in an organized, distraction-free environment. 
• Set up virtual study groups. One benefit of in-person classes is the inherent connection to other classmates. This regular interaction allows you to benefit from one another as you learn the material. In in-person courses, you do not have the option to avoid your classmates. Live virtual classes may isolate you as you are not actively in the same room as your peers. However, you can still interact with your peers by setting up virtual study groups. You can use these groups to review information, ask questions, or prepare for exams. 

Now, these tips will help you be successful in any online course. To be successful in PHP, MySQL, or any web development course, here are a few other tips to consider. 

• Write code as soon as possible. In many classes, you will learn code on the first day. Students who had more success started coding on the first day. If you start coding from the beginning, you can check your understanding of the information and ask questions as they come up rather than later on. You will work through the concepts, making them more likely to stick.
• Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Every coder makes mistakes, even if they have been programming for years. The only way to prevent mistakes is to make them and learn how to fix them. Code error is common. You see new versions of applications come out for two main reasons: to fix bugs or add new features. Part of coding is troubleshooting those bugs. Sometimes, they are not avoidable. In the end, you will make mistakes, but you will also learn from those mistakes.

Key Insights

• PHP and MySQL are simple-to-learn server-side languages
• A large supportive community surrounding both have provided various free resources for beginners to take advantage over. 
• Online courses have increased in popularity over the last several years. 
• To help be successful in any online course, you should
• Set up a schedule to follow
• Stay organized both in space and schedule.
• Take the time to write out notes.
• Set up virtual study groups to help yourself and others retain information
• Experts in coding recommend coding right away to solidify concepts
• All programmers make mistakes, so do not be afraid to make those mistakes and learn from them. 

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 some basic knowledge of HTML and CSS. 

Those interested in learning other back end web development languages to start their web development career should 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!