How to learn PHP from scratch on your own? Lessons and courses for beginners

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is one of the most popular programming languages widely used for developing server-side applications and websites. You can learn PHP on your own if you have the desire and a bit of patience. Let's look at where to start and what resources to use for successfully learning PHP from scratch.1. Understanding the basics of programmingBefore starting to learn PHP, it is important to master the basic programming concepts. This includes understanding fundamentals such as variables, operators, functions, and loops. If you already have experience in programming with other languages like Python or JavaScript, this stage may be easier.2. Setting up the development environmentTo write code in PHP, you will need a special development environment. The most popular solution is to install a local web server like XAMPP or WAMP. These programs include an Apache server, PHP, and MySQL, which allow you to test your code locally.3. Learning PHP basicsFor the initial study of PHP, you can use the following resources:<ul> <li><a href="https://www.php.net/manual/">Official PHP documentation</a> - Here you will find a detailed description of the syntax and functions of the language.</li> <li><a href="https://www.w3schools.com/php/">W3Schools</a> - This site provides step-by-step lessons and code examples.</li> <li><a href="https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-php">Codecademy</a> - On this platform, you will find interactive courses.</li> </ul>4. Practicing tasks and projectsPractice is key to successfully mastering PHP. Start with small exercises that can be found on resources like:<ul> <li><a href="https://www.hackerrank.com/domains/tutorials/10-days-of-php">HackerRank</a> - A platform for coding challenges.</li> <li><a href="https://www.codewars.com/">CodeWars</a> - A site with tasks of varying difficulty.</li> <li><a href="https://www.practicephp.online/">Practice PHP Online</a> - Specialized tasks for PHP.</li> </ul>It is also useful to try developing small projects such as a simple blog, user registration system, or guest book.5. Advanced concepts and frameworksAfter mastering the PHP basics, you can move on to advanced concepts like Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and working with databases. There are many courses and textbooks for this.Frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony, or CodeIgniter will help you organize and simplify the development of complex projects. You can start by studying the official documentation of each framework and taking the respective courses.6. Useful courses and tutorialsFor those who prefer watching video tutorials, there are many quality courses on platforms such as:<ul> <li><a href="https://www.udemy.com/topic/php/">Udemy</a> - Various courses from leading instructors.</li> <li><a href="https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=php">Coursera</a> - Courses from universities and companies.</li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=php+tutorial">YouTube</a> - Plenty of free video tutorials on various topics.</li> </ul>7. Community and feedbackJoining the PHP developer community will help you get feedback and support. Forums like <a href="https://www.stackoverflow.com/">Stack Overflow</a> and groups on social networks are great places for this. It is also helpful to participate in hackathons and meet-up events.Learning PHP from scratch on your own may seem challenging, but with the right motivation and the use of various resources, you can achieve success. Gradually progressing from basics to more advanced topics, you will master this powerful and flexible programming language.