Unit 382: Server-side Web Application Development with PHP

1. Introduction to Server-side Web Applications

• Overview of web architecture: client-server model
• Role and importance of server-side applications in web development
• Understanding HTTP protocol: requests and responses
• Server-side scripting languages overview: PHP, Python, Node.js, etc.

2. Setting Up Development Environment with PHP

• Introduction to local development stacks: XAMPP, WAMP, MAMP
• Installing and configuring PHP
• Setting up Apache server and understanding its role
• Configuring MySQL database server
• Verifying environment setup and troubleshooting common issues

3. PHP Basics and Syntax

• PHP syntax and embedding PHP in HTML
• Variables and data types (strings, integers, floats, booleans, arrays)
• Operators (arithmetic, comparison, logical)
• Control structures: if, else, switch, loops (for, while, foreach)
• Functions: declaration, parameters, return values
• Working with arrays: indexed, associative, and multidimensional arrays

4. Working with Forms and User Input

• Creating HTML forms: input elements, method attribute (GET vs POST)
• Accessing form data in PHP via _GET and _POST
• Validating user input: server-side validation techniques
• Sanitizing and securing user input
• Storing user input data into MySQL databases
• Best practices for handling form submissions

5. Handling Sessions and Cookies

• Understanding HTTP statelessness and the need for sessions
• Creating and managing sessions in PHP
• Setting, retrieving, and deleting cookies
• Implementing user authentication and maintaining login state
• Securing sessions and cookies against hijacking and fixation

6. Database Connectivity with PHP and MySQL

• Introduction to relational databases and MySQL
• Connecting to MySQL using mysqli and PDO extensions
• Executing SQL queries: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE (CRUD operations)
• Using prepared statements to prevent SQL injection
• Handling database errors and exceptions
• Closing connections and resource management

7. Working with PHP Frameworks

• Overview of popular PHP frameworks: Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter
• Benefits of using frameworks: MVC architecture, rapid development, code organization
• Setting up a basic project with a PHP framework
• Routing and controller basics
• Introduction to ORM and database abstraction layers

8. Security Best Practices in PHP

• Common web application vulnerabilities: SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
• Techniques to prevent SQL injection: prepared statements, input sanitization
• Mitigating XSS attacks through output encoding
• Implementing CSRF tokens in forms
• Password hashing and secure user authentication practices
• Secure session management

9. RESTful API Development with PHP

• Principles of RESTful API design
• Setting up routing for API endpoints
• Handling HTTP methods: GET, POST, PUT, DELETE
• Authenticating API requests (API keys, tokens, OAuth basics)
• Data serialization formats: JSON, XML
• Responding with appropriate HTTP status codes

10. Testing and Debugging PHP Applications

• Importance of testing in software development
• Unit testing PHP code using PHPUnit
• Integration testing concepts
• Debugging techniques and tools: error reporting, Xdebug setup
• Logging and monitoring PHP applications

This unit outline provides a structured pathway to mastering server-side web development with PHP, starting from foundational concepts through to advanced topics such as API development and security.