CS 199: Programming in PHP, Databases with MySQL, and Web Applications

Introduction

This course provides an introduction to computer scripting language, databases, and dynamic Web pages. Imperative problem solving with the PHP scripting language will include variables, functions, conditionals, and loops. Discussions of databases will include tables and their design, utilization of the Standard Query Language (SQL) to specify queries to store and retrieve dataes. Study of both static and dynamic Web page will include formatting with the HyperText Markup Language (HTML), retrieval of user data, integration of PHP programming within Web pages, and connections with a MySQL databases.

High-level specific topics may include:

• Programming with PHP

  • Variables
  • Functions
  • Conditionals
  • Iteration/loops

• Database organization and use with MySQL

  • Tables for data storage
  • Table design for efficient and flexible data retrieval
  • SQL queries to select and update databases
  • Retrieving data from combinations of tables

• Static Web page construction

  • HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
  • Page organization and format
  • World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards
  • Style sheet basics

• Dynamic Web page construction

  • Integration of PHP programming within Web pages
  • Utilization of Web forms
  • Retrieving user data (GET and POST methods)
  • Security and privacy issues

Student Learning Objectives

Students should be able to

• write PHP programs of modest size, illustrating the use of variables, functions, conditionals, and loops.
• create and use tables within a MySQL database.
• write a PHP program that uses standard SQL queries to store and retrieve data from one or a few MySQL tables.
• create static Web pages with HyperText Markup Language (HTML) using a simple editor (e.g., notepad or textedit).
• create simple dynamic Web pages, using PHP to retrieve data from Web forms, query a MySQL database based on the user's data, and formulate a new Web page in response.

sample page created 13 January 2019 revised 15 January 2019
For more information, please contact Henry M. Walker at walker@cs.grinnell.edu.