PHP and MySQL are the engine under the hood of every dynamic website, including Drupal and WordPress. Yet, most webmasters don't truly understand what happens when a user clicks a button, fills out a form, or registers on a site. This 100% practical course is designed to bridge that gap.
Through nine progressive lessons, you will go from zero to backend mastery. You will learn to build real-world web applications using modern code, including PDO for secure database management and password_hash to protect user credentials. No shortcuts, no "magic" plugins—just clean, professional code that you can understand, modify, and reuse.
The course uses a local development environment with XAMPP: no external hosting to pay for, and no dependence on third-party services. You simply install, launch, and start coding on your own computer in minutes.
What you will learn:
- Create dynamic pages that read from and write to MySQL databases.
- Manage user sessions, logins, and registrations securely.
- Structure PHP projects in an organized and maintainable way.
- Secure your database with prepared statements to prevent SQL injections.
- Understand the HTTP request flow, from the browser to the server and back.
By the end of this journey, you won't just have learned PHP and MySQL—you will understand why Drupal is the natural next step for anyone wanting to work professionally on the web, moving beyond the limits of pre-packaged plugins and rigid WordPress themes. When you know the foundations, choosing and using any CMS becomes a conscious professional decision, not an act of faith.
Updated for 2026. Featuring modern syntax, current security practices, and concrete examples you can apply immediately.
