■ INTRODUCTION
xix
This book avoids this mistake; a few useful tricks are introduced gradually and are fully explained in
plain English. This book is based on a quote from the composer Brahms.
It is easy to compose but wonderfully hard to let the superfluous notes fall under the table.
Almost all the PHP/MySQL/MariaDB books were written backward; they grind away for chapter after
chapter with PHP functions and statements (yawn), and then they add the MySQL/MariaDB bit. Practical
PHP and MySQL Website Databases explains the necessary PHP and MySQL/MariaDB topics in context
within each database tutorial.
MySQL/MariaDB books are nearly always written assuming that the web designer will administer the
databases. However, small e-commerce websites, clubs, and societies cannot afford to do this and would
prefer that their membership secretary be able to administer the database using a user-friendly interface.
The majority of the databases created in this book can be administered by both an unskilled membership
secretary and the web designer.
Eventually, Adrian W. Wood concluded that he must write his own manual based on what he could
learn by concatenating snippets of information from multiple resources. He also based the manual on his
own trial-and-error approach as a raw beginner. This automatically ensured that the manual’s content was
presented in simple, logical, and progressive steps without suddenly introducing unexplained items.
The homegrown manual was so useful that he decided that it should be shared with other website
designers; the first edition of this book was the result of that decision.
Computer software and database techniques are constantly improving and updating. Because of this,
we have researched the latest versions of the scripts, tools, and the available software. This ensures that, in
this second edition, the content and illustrations will remain relevant for as long as possible.
Following the tutorials in this book requires an absolute minimum of software. Some manuals ask
readers to download and learn a new piece of software before they can proceed to each new chapter. In
fact, Adrian came across one book that required readers to download MySQL, Apache, PHP, phpMyAdmin,
Prototype 1.5, Scriptaculous, Zend Framework, Smarty Template Engine, FCK editor, jQuery, and Ajax. In
this book, besides a code editor, the software required is limited, as described next.
What Equipment Is Required
The book assumes that, as a web designer, you will already have an HTML editor such as Blue Griffon (free)
or Notepad++ (free).
You will need:
• A notebook (real or electronic) for recording the passwords and file names for your
databases and table entries. Don’t rely on memory. Write everything down.
You will need to download:
• The sample code from the book’s page, available at www.apress.com
• XAMPP or EasyPHP, which are free, all-in-one packages for testing your work
• The latest browsers (all free): Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Chrome,
and Opera