Secure PHP Development
Learn PHP programming from fundamentals to dynamic web application development, including forms, sessions, MySQL integration, CRUD applications, file handling, and secure database operations with hands-on practical exercises.
Duration
1 Month / 4 Weeks / 30 Hours
Level
Beginner to Intermediate
Modules
19 Modules
Format
Hands-on Labs
What You'll Learn
The PHP Programming Essentials course is designed for beginners and aspiring web developers who want to build dynamic and database-driven web applications using PHP and MySQL. This course provides practical training on PHP fundamentals, variables, control structures, functions, form handling, sessions, cookies, MySQL database integration, CRUD application development, file handling, and secure coding practices. PHP powers the majority of dynamic websites and understanding it is essential for both web developers and security professionals.
// Prerequisites
- - Basic computer knowledge
- - Basic understanding of HTML (recommended)
- - Familiarity with any text editor
- - No prior programming experience required
$ armour --training php-sec --info
[*] Course: Secure PHP Development
[*] Duration: 1 Month / 4 Weeks / 30 Hours
[*] Level: Beginner to Intermediate
[!] 19 modules | 151 topics
[+] Lab environment: READY
[+] Certification prep: INCLUDED
$ _
Complete Course Modules
Introduction to PHP
- > Introduction to PHP
- > What is PHP?
- > History of PHP
- > Advantages of PHP
- > Server-Side vs Client-Side Scripting
- > PHP Installation Overview
- > Development Environment Setup (XAMPP/LAMP)
First Steps in PHP
- > Embedding PHP Code in HTML
- > PHP Tags and Syntax
- > Outputting Dynamic Text
- > echo and print Statements
- > Operational Trail
- > Code Comments (Single-line and Multi-line)
- > PHP Configuration (php.ini)
Variables & Data Types
- > Variables in PHP
- > Strings and String Functions
- > Integers and Floating Points
- > Booleans
- > NULL and Empty Values
- > Type Juggling and Type Casting
- > Constants
- > Variable Naming Conventions
Arrays & Associative Arrays
- > Indexed Arrays
- > Associative Arrays
- > Multidimensional Arrays
- > Array Functions
- > Array Manipulation
- > Array Sorting
- > Array Iteration
- > Array Pointers
Control Structures
- > Logical Expressions
- > If Statements
- > Else and Elseif
- > Logical Operators
- > Comparison Operators
- > Switch Statements
- > Ternary Operator
- > Match Expression
Loops & Iterations
- > While Loops
- > Do-While Loops
- > For Loops
- > Foreach Loops
- > Loop Control (Break and Continue)
- > Nested Loops
- > Infinite Loop Prevention
- > Iteration Best Practices
User-Defined Functions
- > Defining Functions
- > Function Arguments
- > Returning Values from Functions
- > Multiple Return Values
- > Default Argument Values
- > Type Declarations
- > Anonymous Functions and Closures
- > Recursive Functions
Scope & Global Variables
- > Variable Scope Rules
- > Local vs Global Scope
- > Global Keyword and $GLOBALS
- > Static Variables
- > Superglobal Arrays ($_GET, $_POST, $_SESSION)
- > Environment Variables
- > Variable Variables
Debugging & Error Handling
- > Common PHP Problems
- > Warnings and Errors
- > Error Types (Notice, Warning, Fatal)
- > Debugging Techniques
- > var_dump and print_r
- > Error Reporting Configuration
- > Troubleshooting Strategies
- > Error Logging Best Practices
Building Dynamic Web Pages
- > Links and URLs
- > GET Values and Query Strings
- > HTML Encoding and Security
- > Include and Require Statements
- > include_once and require_once
- > Modifying HTTP Headers
- > Page Redirection
- > Output Buffering
Working with Forms & Validation
- > Building HTML Forms
- > GET and POST Methods
- > Detecting Form Submissions
- > Single-Page Form Processing
- > Form Validation Techniques
- > Displaying Validation Errors
- > Input Sanitization
- > CSRF Protection Basics
- > File Uploads via Forms
Cookies & Sessions
- > Working with Cookies
- > Setting Cookies
- > Reading Cookie Values
- > Unsetting Cookies
- > Cookie Security Considerations
- > Working with Sessions
- > Session Creation and Management
- > Session Security (Fixation, Hijacking Prevention)
- > Login System Implementation
MySQL Fundamentals
- > MySQL Introduction
- > Relational Database Concepts
- > SQL Commands Overview
- > Creating Databases
- > Creating Tables
- > Data Types and Constraints
- > Relational Tables and Foreign Keys
- > SQL Joins (INNER, LEFT, RIGHT)
CRUD Operations
- > Create Records (INSERT)
- > Read Records (SELECT)
- > Update Records (UPDATE)
- > Delete Records (DELETE)
- > CRUD Workflow
- > WHERE Clauses and Filtering
- > ORDER BY and LIMIT
- > Aggregate Functions
PHP & MySQL Integration
- > Connecting PHP with MySQL
- > PDO (PHP Data Objects)
- > MySQLi Extension
- > Retrieving Data from Database
- > Inserting Data from PHP
- > Updating and Deleting Records
- > Error Handling in Database Operations
- > Connection Management
SQL Injection Prevention
- > Understanding SQL Injection
- > SQL Injection Attack Vectors
- > Input Validation Techniques
- > Parameterized Queries
- > Escaping User Input
- > Security Testing for SQLi
- > OWASP Guidelines
- > Secure Database Design
Prepared Statements
- > PDO Prepared Statements
- > MySQLi Prepared Statements
- > Binding Parameters
- > Binding Results
- > Named vs Positional Placeholders
- > Transaction Handling
- > Secure Query Execution
- > Performance Benefits
File & Directory Handling
- > File System Basics
- > File Permissions
- > Reading Files (fopen, fread, file_get_contents)
- > Writing Files (fwrite, file_put_contents)
- > Deleting Files (unlink)
- > Directory Handling (opendir, readdir)
- > File Upload Security
- > Path Traversal Prevention
Secure PHP Development Practices
- > Input Validation and Sanitization
- > Output Encoding (XSS Prevention)
- > Secure Session Configuration
- > Password Hashing (bcrypt)
- > HTTPS and Secure Headers
- > File Inclusion Vulnerability Prevention
- > Error Handling in Production
- > Security Audit Checklist
Learning Outcomes
- Write PHP applications following security best practices
- Build dynamic web applications with MySQL integration
- Process user input securely with validation and sanitization
- Implement secure authentication and session management
- Prevent SQL injection using prepared statements
- Prevent XSS, CSRF, and file inclusion vulnerabilities
- Handle file operations and uploads securely
- Create complete CRUD applications with proper validation
- Connect PHP applications to MySQL databases
- Debug and troubleshoot PHP applications effectively
- Understand PHP vulnerabilities from both developer and attacker perspectives
Hands-On Labs
- LAMP/XAMPP local development environment
- MySQL database server with phpMyAdmin
- Code editor with PHP support (VS Code)
- Browser developer tools for debugging
- Vulnerable PHP applications for security exercises
- Progressive project-based CRUD application development
Certification Preparation
- + Zend PHP certification foundations
- + Web development security fundamentals
- + OWASP secure coding principles
- + Foundation for web application pentesting
Meet Your Instructor
Armour Infosec Security Team
Secure Development Instructor
Our PHP instructors combine web development expertise with security knowledge. They teach you to write code that is both functional and resistant to common exploitation techniques like SQL injection, XSS, and file inclusion attacks.
What Students Say
“Finally a PHP course that teaches security from the start. The prepared statements and SQL injection prevention modules are essential knowledge.”
Siddharth A.
Web Developer
“Understanding PHP helps me find vulnerabilities in web apps. This course bridges the gap between development and security perfectly.”
Priti R.
Security Student
“Practical and security-focused. I can now build complete CRUD web applications that follow best practices from day one.”
Kunal M.
Freelancer
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the course, enrollment, and certification.
Ready to Enroll?
Secure your spot in the next batch. Limited seats available for hands-on lab access.