PHP Master is aimed at intermediate PHP developers—those who have left their
newbie status behind, and are looking to advance their skills and knowledge. Our
aim as authors is to enable developers to refine their skills across a number of areas,
and so we’ve picked topics that we felt have stood us in the best stead to grow as
developers and progress our skills and careers.
It’s expected that you’ll already be working with at least some of the topics we
cover; however, even topics that may already be familiar to you are recommended
reading. PHP, perhaps more than many other languages, seems to attract people
from different walks of life. There’s no sense of discrimination against those with
no formal education in computing or in web development specifically. So while
you may be actively using several techniques laid out here, dipping in to the chapters
that follow could reveal new approaches, or illustrate some underlying theory that’s
new to you. It is possible to go a long way with the tricks you pick up in your dayto-
day work, but if you’re looking to cement those skills and gain a more solid
footing, you’re in the right place.
This book will assist you in making that leap from competent web developer to
confident software engineer—one who uses best practice, and gets the job done reliably
and quickly. Because we’re writing PHP as a way to make a living, just like
many of you do, we use a “how to” approach. The aim is to give you practical,
useful advice with real examples as you move through the sections of the book.
Whatever path brought you here, we hope you find what you’re looking for, and
wish you the best of everything as you travel onwards.