A Web-Based Introduction to Programming: Essential Algorithms, Syntax, and Control Structures Using PHP, HTML, and MariaDB/MySQL

"A Web-Based Introduction to Programming combines basic HTML and CSS with PHP and MySQL to introduce essential programming syntax, operations, and control structures. The hands-on Web-based approach engages students and offers a suitable first course for a range of disciplines, including computer science, digital media, database management, technical writing, and Web development. Students use a freely available lamp distribution that can be installed in minutes and allows them to work locally on any Windows, Macintosh or Linux computer with no need to access a remote Web server. Chapters include: Introduction to Programming; Getting Started with Client/Server Applications; Basics of Markup; Basics of PHP; Working with Text Files; Selection Structures; Multiple Selection; Count-Controlled Loops; Event-Controlled Loops; Arrays; Associative Arrays and Web Sessions; Functions; MySQL (MariaDB); Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming; and Where to Go From Here. The Appendices provide additional references and topics: Data Representation; File Addressing Schemes; Working from the Command Line; Debugging Help; Security and Validation; FTP; Version Control with Git and GitHub; and PHPMyAdmin. Most appendix topics and tutorials are also available as handouts on the textbook Web site. Learning outcomes are identified at the start of each chapter, and these are tested by end-of-chapter quizzes and short, targeted code exercises designed to help beginners gain understanding and confidence: "fixit" exercises challenge students to identify syntax and logical errors; "modify" exercises require changes to existing code based on material learned in the chapter; "complete code" exercises build on work that was completed in previous chapters. All the textbook examples and coursework files are provided on the textbook Web site and, once copied to the standalone Web server, these provide a complete work and study environment. Note that the approach works just as well if students have access to accounts on an online Web server. This fifth edition has been significantly updated to include: revisions and improvements to most chapters; more about file navigation (Windows, OSX, and Linux); updated HTML and CSS examples (including use of the label element and CSS layout for form input); greater focus on the use of selection structures for input validation and security; two new chapters to provide more comprehensive coverage of PHP and HTML tools and elements; new options to incorporate Git and GitHub for version control, FTP for file transfer, and PHPMyAdmin for database management; new appendices and hands-on tutorials"--