This book was written for a wide range of people within the beginner-to-intermediate range. The book makes use of XHTML for future compatibility, so solid experience with XHTML, or its forebear HTML, is a must. Although this book covers many things, it does not formally teach HTML or Web page design. Second, this book expects that you have one of the following:
Make no mistake: This book covers PHP and MySQL from A to Z, teaching everything you'll need to know to develop real-world Web sites, but particularly the early chapters cover PHP at a quick pace. For this reason I recommend either some programming experience or a curious and independent spirit when it comes to learning new things. If you find that the material goes too quickly, you should probably start off with the latest edition of my PHP for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide, which goes at a more tempered pace. No database experience is required, since SQL and MySQL are discussed starting at a more basic level. |