This new edition has been redesigned around the rich offerings of PEAR. Several of these, including the Template package and the database-independent query API, are fully integrated into examples and thoroughly described in the text. In addition, through a complex sample application--Hugh and Dave's Wine Store--all the important techniques of dynamic content are introduced. Good design is emphasized, such as dividing logic from presentation. The book introduces PHP 5 and MySQL 4.1 features, while providing techniques that can be used on older versions of the software that are still in widespread use.

There are lots of PHP and MySQL resources. So why did we decide to add this book to the market? We made the decision after we started teaching graduate students how to program with PHP in 1999. We found that the PHP and MySQL manuals, as well as most books, train people to use particular tools. But almost no resources explained the principles of programming for the Web. We realized that Web administrators and programmers needed to know more than what PHP functions to use and how to write SQL queries. That's where this book comes in: it'll help you learn about web database development, as well as understand the principles.

This book explains what to do and why, along with how it's done in PHP and MySQL. You'll find information here that you won't find elsewhere. Hopefully, you'll use this knowledge with whatever web tools you choose in the future. But you'll also learn about the breadth and depth of PHP and MySQL. When you finish this book, you'll be able to build an online store, a portal, or a content management system.