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Back-end web — from Zero to Expert

PHP

Language basics, PHP & the Web, databases & OOP, Laravel/Symfony frameworks, deployment.

7progressive levels
31detailed sections
100%free resources
ENinterface in English

🇫🇷 Version française 🇪🇸 Versión española 🌐 العربية

Updated September 21, 2026

How to follow this guide?

Guide resources

0

Level 0 — Getting started

Understand PHP, install a local server and run your first script.

  1. What is PHP? (server-side role)
  2. Install a local environment (XAMPP / Laragon / WampServer)
  3. Basic syntax: tags, echo, comments
Start level 0 →
1

Level 1 — Language basics

Variables, conditions, loops, functions and arrays: the foundation of every PHP program.

  1. Variables, types & operators
  2. Conditions (if/else, switch, ternary)
  3. Loops (for, while, foreach)
  4. Functions & variable scope
  5. Arrays & strings
Start level 1 →
2

Level 2 — PHP & the Web

Forms, sessions, cookies and file management: building dynamic pages.

  1. Forms & superglobals ($_GET, $_POST)
  2. Sessions & cookies (simple authentication)
  3. Includes, organization & file management
  4. Dates, regular expressions & emails
Start level 2 →
3

Level 3 — Databases & OOP

Connect MySQL with PDO and structure your code with objects: the “pro” turning point.

  1. MySQL & PDO: connection and prepared statements
  2. Object-oriented programming (classes, inheritance, interfaces, traits)
  3. Namespaces, autoloading & Composer
  4. Security: SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, password hashing
Start level 3 →
4

Level 4 — Frameworks & APIs

Scale up with the MVC pattern, Laravel/Symfony and REST APIs.

  1. Understanding the MVC pattern
  2. Laravel: routes, Blade, Eloquent ORM, migrations
  3. Symfony: components, Twig, Doctrine
  4. Building a REST API & authentication (JWT)
  5. Automated tests with PHPUnit
Start level 4 →
5

Level 5 — Pro level & deployment

Design patterns, performance, containerization and production.

  1. Design patterns & clean architecture (SOLID)
  2. Performance & caching (OPcache, Redis)
  3. Docker for PHP & reproducible environments
  4. Deployment & CI/CD (Git, server, hosting)
Start level 5 →
6

Level 6 — Practice & mastery

Case studies, troubleshooting and production reflexes.

  1. Guided case studies
  2. Quick troubleshooting
  3. Best practices & pitfalls
  4. Checklists & templates
  5. Going further
  6. Resources & references
Start level 6 →

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