# Lecture 1: PHP Backend Development - Environment Setup & PHP Basics
**Duration:** 3 Hours
**Trainer:** Fadi Ramzi
**Course:** PHP Backend Development using Laravel (Upcoming)\
**Target Audience:** Beginners and Fresh Graduates
---
## Objectives
By the end of this session, trainees will be able to:
- Set up a modern PHP development environment on Windows.
- Use Visual Studio Code (VS Code) effectively for PHP development.
- Understand PHP fundamentals with real-world examples.
---
## Section 1: Development Environment Setup (60 mins)
### 1.1 Recommended Environment: XAMPP (Modern Beginner-Friendly Choice)
> In 2025, XAMPP remains a fast, practical tool to get beginners started quickly with PHP + MySQL + Apache in one package.
**Steps:**
1. Download XAMPP from [https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html](https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html)
2. Install it to the default path (e.g., `C:\xampp`)
3. Open the XAMPP Control Panel:
- Start Apache
- Start MySQL
4. Test PHP installation:
- Go to `C:\xampp\htdocs`
- Create a file `test.php` with:
```php
<?php
phpinfo();
?>
```
- Open your browser: [http://localhost/test.php](http://localhost/test.php)
> ✅ You now have a working local web server + PHP runtime ready to execute scripts.
### 1.2 Visual Studio Code Setup
- Download: [https://code.visualstudio.com/](https://code.visualstudio.com/)
- Recommended Extensions:
- **PHP Intelephense** — Smart PHP intellisense
- **PHP Debug (Later)** — Debug with breakpoints
- **Prettier** — Optional, for formatting
---
## Section 2: PHP Basics & Fundamentals (1 hour 30 mins)
> Each concept below includes a real-world use case and a breakdown to make it beginner-friendly.
### 2.1 Introduction to PHP
- PHP stands for **Hypertext Preprocessor**
- Server-side scripting language
- Powers major platforms (WordPress, Laravel, Magento)
- Executes on the server and sends HTML back to the browser
### 2.2 PHP Syntax & Tags
**Example:**
```php
<?php
echo "Welcome to our website!";
?>
```
**Explanation:**
- `<?php ... ?>` tells the server to execute the code inside as PHP.
- `echo` outputs the message.
- Variables prefixed with `$` inside strings will be parsed (interpolated).
### 2.3 Variables and Data Types
**Example:**
```php
<?php
$product = "Laptop"; // String
$price = 999.99; // Float
$quantity = 2; // Integer
$inStock = true; // Boolean
echo "$product costs \$$price.";
?>
```
**Explanation:**
- `$` is used to declare all variables.
- PHP supports dynamic types: string, int, float, bool, null.
- Use `\$` to escape the dollar sign inside double-quoted strings.
### 2.4 Strings & String Functions
**Example:**
```php
<?php
$name = "John Doe";
echo strlen($name); // Length
echo strtoupper($name); // Uppercase
echo strtolower($name); // Lowercase
echo str_replace("Doe", "Smith", $name); // Replace
echo substr($name, 0, 4); // Partial
?>
```
**Explanation:**
- Strings are commonly used for usernames, messages, file paths.
- Use built-in string functions to manipulate content safely and efficiently.
### 2.5 Constants (define vs const)
**Example 1 - Using **``**:**
```php
<?php
define("SITE_NAME", "MyShop");
echo SITE_NAME;
?>
```
**Example 2 - Using **``**:**
```php
<?php
const CURRENCY = "USD";
echo CURRENCY;
?>
```
**Explanation:**
- `define()` is old-style, allows defining constants in global scope only.
- `const` is modern and can be used inside classes too. Preferred in modern PHP.
### 2.6 Arrays (Basics & Functions)
**Indexed Array:**
```php
<?php
$fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Mango"];
echo $fruits[1]; // Banana
?>
```
**Associative Array:**
```php
<?php
$user = ["name" => "Ali", "role" => "admin"];
echo $user["role"];
?>
```
**Array Functions:**
```php
<?php
$numbers = [10, 20, 30];
echo count($numbers); // 3
echo array_sum($numbers); // 60
var_dump(in_array(20, $numbers)); // true
?>
```
**Explanation:**
- Arrays hold groups of values (products, users, etc.).
- Useful for grouping, looping, and managing related data.
### 2.7 Control Structures (if, else, elseif)
**Example:**
```php
<?php
$stock = 0;
if ($stock > 0) {
echo "In stock";
} else {
echo "Out of stock";
}
?>
```
**Explanation:**
- Executes code conditionally based on values.
- Common in product availability, user permissions, logic branching.
### 2.8 Loops (foreach, for) with Arrays
**Example:**
```php
<?php
$cart = ["Laptop", "Mouse", "Keyboard"];
foreach ($cart as $item) {
echo "Item: $item<br>";
}
?>
```
**Explanation:**
- Loops let us repeat actions over lists.
- Often used for displaying arrays of data like product listings.
### 2.9 Functions (Detailed)
**Example:**
```php
<?php
function greetCustomer($name) {
return "Hello, $name!";
}
echo greetCustomer("Ali");
?>
```
**Explanation:**
- `function` defines reusable code.
- Functions may take parameters (inputs) and return values (outputs).
- Use meaningful names, camelCase style (e.g., `calculateTotal`, `getUserInfo`).
---
## Homework / Practice
## ✅ Environment Setup Task (Must Complete Before Lecture 2)
### Task 1: Local Environment Validation
1. **Download & Install the following:**
- [XAMPP](https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html)
- [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/)
2. **Start Apache** using the **XAMPP Control Panel**.
3. **Create a file** inside:
```
C:\xampp\htdocs\hello.php
```
4. **Paste this PHP code in `hello.php`:**
```php
```php
<?php
echo "Hello from PHP!";
?>
```
5. Open your browser and visit:
```
http://localhost/hello.php
```
6. Expected Output:
```
Hello from PHP!
```
## 🧠 Hands-on Practice Task (Covers All PHP Basics)
### Task 2: Build a Simple Product Display Page
Create a file named `product.php` and write code to demonstrate all PHP basics you’ve learned:
---
### 🔹 1. Define Variables
- Define the following variables:
- `$productName`
- `$price`
- `$quantity`
- `$category`
- `$isAvailable` (boolean)
---
### 🔹 2. String Manipulation
Use at least **three string functions** from this list:
- `strtoupper`
- `strtolower`
- `strlen`
- `str_replace`
- `substr`
Apply them to `$productName` or `$category`.
---
### 🔹 3. Array Handling
- Create an **indexed array** of three product names
- Use array functions:
- `count()`
- `in_array()`
---
### 🔹 4. Control Logic
- Write an `if...else` block to:
- Check if the product is available
- Show: `"In Stock"` or `"Out of Stock"`
- Use a `foreach` loop to display the list of products in your array
---
### 🔹 5. Functions
Create a function named `calculateTotal($price, $qty)` that:
- Multiplies the price by the quantity
- Returns the result
Call this function and print the result using `echo`.
---
---
## Next Lecture (Lecture 2 Preview)
- PHP Object-Oriented Programming
- Classes, Objects, Inheritance
- Introduction to Laravel Framework (installation and structure)
---
## Useful Resources
- PHP Manual: [https://www.php.net/manual/en/](https://www.php.net/manual/en/)
- W3Schools PHP: [https://www.w3schools.com/php/](https://www.w3schools.com/php/)
- Laracasts (Free Laravel Tutorials): [https://laracasts.com](https://laracasts.com)
---
Prepared by: Fadi Ramzi
Date: 25-06-2025
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