PHP5 and MySQL Bible 1st Edition

Overall, I was very impressed with this book, like most books in the Bible series. Everything they seem to cover is pretty well covered. Like others have said, the writers "writing" style is going to be hit or miss with some people. I found it a little dry but it had little impact on me. Some of the more advanced concepts of php aren't very well covered. If you are looking for a more in depth look at OOP programming with php, this book only gets you started. The rest of the general information about php is pretty solid though.Only down side, the author doesn't always show examples that follow the "normal" programming conventions that they talk about.

This is my go to book on PHP and MySQL. The author does a great job of being very thorough in his explanations! You can simply skim a function and get the brief overview or read the entire entry and get a very in-depth look. There is also a pretty good introduction on object oriented programming. Using this in conjunction with the php.net website makes for a rock solid source of php/mysql info.

Great product will buy again If possible.

The product was as described and the shipping was fast.

Good book! Recommend for beginners and as a reference!

Do not bother to get "PHP5 and MySQL Bible" unless you're a complete PHP beginner.The one OO chapter is not much more than is in the PHP manual. I got it and wish I hadn't. Overall it's long-winded and the humor is dry. Tons of useless chatter in between the information you really want.I have read this book in whole and these are the facts as I know them.

This book is not meant to be a profound cache of code-snippets. Indeed there are some coding errors. I freely admit that I learned raw html "OJT" years ago, with little reason or time to learn anything more involved that wasn't required of me. I was a designer, typesetter and layout hanger, not a programmer. I have no experience in C or in Java. Call me a programmer groupie, I have dozens of family, friends and acquaintances who program miracles daily in all different alleys while I play a "very aesthetic game of tiddleywinks". When I began getting clients who wanted websites that DID things instead of just glorified yellow-page ads, this "turkey" asked all of the "eagles" which way to turn -- they looked at what I needed and what paths that might lead to, and they all said PHP. I started playing around with canned PHP webapps about two years ago, and I quickly picked up how to install mods and then modify those same mods no sweat, but even with a few different sorts of PHP/MySQL in 24 hours, one week, etc. books -- I never really understood the WHY's and HOW's of the GUTS of those webapps [framework, huh?!], let alone how to create even the simplest of freestanding flat calls, all of which have recently begun to make my life SO much easier. I quickly learned that those 24 hours/one week/etc. style books are ALMOST STRICTLY made for folks with C and Java experience even though the books desperately claim otherwise. Why did I choose this book? Because a few friends of mine who have been working with PHP since near the beginning told me that this was one of the few version'd books that always has a worthwhile amount to offer both beginners and seasoned pro's, as well as everyone in between. I actually started reading this one cover to cover, and was not the slightest bit disappointed in my investment. Let me clarify -- I actually COULD read this one cover to cover without wondering what magical decoder ring I was missing. Instead of a code snippet "Instant PHP" book, I finally wound up with one that I can look at the examples in the book, and without even trying the examples verbatim, write my own similar but original code for what *I* want to accomplish. I don't know Jane Adams, I am not her banker, and I don't know what I would do with her recipe database so 6 page long examples of how to code any of that to be used verbatim in 24 hours are of little value to me. Yes, the book jumps around -- there's a heck of a lot to cover here! 1000+ pages might seem rather hefty, but it has been a godsend for me. Take the reviews however you will; I found it extremely educational AND entertaining, and having seen dog-earred copies in the offices of some of said "eagles" -- I am fairly certain there is some great stuff in here for PHP pro's too. If you really feel the need, give it a few minutes at your local bookshop -- then come back to Amazon for the killer discount. You won't be disappointed!

This book is full of faulty grammar - spelling and style - but no matter how annoying, you'll find out that's not the worst that can happen when trying to learn PHP from a book. Far worse is that even some of the most basic, three lined examples of code contain fatal errors.Unfortunately, most examples of code are unnecessary long and complicated and seem to be chosen randomly. I agree with other reviewers that the first few chapters about the history and variables are OK but from then on it gets really hairy.I can't believe this book still gets 3 out of 5 stars. I would never buy this book again, or recommend it to others. In fact, I'm on Amazon to order a different book on learning PHP. I have bought other books from this 'bible' series in the past but after this one I will think twice before picking up another 'Wiley bible'.

all as expected

great php reference. i use php all the time and its useful to have a solid reference book to guide you through the proper way of doing things.