PHP has historically been one of the most popular web programming languages. Things have changed a bit, as a growing number of programmers are shifting towards using Python. However, PHP remains one of the 10 most popular programming languages in the world. It is used on nearly 79% of websites. PHP is widely chosen as a programming language due to its versatility and object-oriented programming capabilities.
PHP has a tremendous number of benefits. Unfortunately, many beginning PHP programmers struggle to use the language effectively. The good news is that there are plenty of steps that programmers can take to master the language more quickly. Some of the best guidelines are listed below. You should be able to start creating great PHP scripts in no time.
Use Docker Tools
There are a lot of great benefits of using Docker in PHP applications. You can use tools like pg admin to get more value out of them. You should learn more about Docker, so you can get more value out of your PHP code.
Learn how to take full advantage of object-oriented programming capabilities
Object oriented programming was by far the biggest breakthrough in the history of computer programming. With object-oriented programming, you can structure your code with objects, which are defined in classes.
The basic premise of object-oriented programming is relatively simple. You can store variables, functions and even other objects within objects to refine your code. If you find yourself creating a lot of the same code repeatedly, then you can simply structure it with an object-oriented approach. You will simply define all of the initial variables when creating your new code, which can be done in a single line.
The non-object-oriented approach would require you to take at least a dozen lines of code to accomplish the same task. You can also keep track of data more easily when it is stored within an object.
However, the idea behind object-oriented programming might be a little confusing for new programmers. You should familiarize yourself with the basic premise before learning how it works in PHP specifically. This is one of the most important steps towards becoming a great PHP developer.
Join open source projects right away
You might find that creating PHP code is incredibly frustrating in the beginning. It is going to be a hundred times more difficult if you are trying to reinvent the wheel every time that you create new code. Some programmers think that you will learn better by doing everything from scratch. The reality is that you are more likely to get frustrated and want to give up.
A better option is to join an open source community. You will have access to lots of code that you can incorporate into your own projects. You will also get to see insights from highly experienced coders that will help you learn more quickly. You can find a list of 15 great ones for beginners on Github.
Avoid using functions that allow code to run with fatal errors
There are a couple of methods that seem convenient for programmers. Two of them are include_once() and require_once(). These functions are designed to help programmers make sure their code is executed even if it has fatal errors within it.
Despite the apparent convenience, there are obvious problems with these functions as well. Many new programmers don’t realize how much of a strain they can place on server resources.
It is best to avoid using these functions at all costs. You won’t need to use them at all if you know how to structure and debug your code. Focus on learning the fundamentals and pay close attention to your syntax, rather than taking shortcuts with these problematic functions instead.
Use the built-in functions rather than doing everything from scratch
You should carefully read your PHP manual. It will cover a number of built-in functions that you can use.
These functions can simplify your code dramatically. They will save you countless hours creating similar functions from scratch. Also, they will minimize the amount of lines of code that you have to write, which will allow it to run and compile more quickly.
Bite the bullet and get started
PHP programming is just like many other fields. One of the biggest reasons people never make any progress is that they are too scared to take any action.
The process can understandably seem intimidating at first. However, it will seem more intuitive once you have written a couple of programs. The best solution to your concern is to just start writing good code.
You can become an efficient PHP programmer
There are a lot of benefits of writing PHP code. You may face some challenges in the beginning, but it will be well worth the initial investment of your time.
