PHP & MYSQL: 200 Solved Exercises and Projects for Practice

PHP & MYSQL:

200 Solved Exercises

and Projects for Practice

Master dynamic web development

Maximilien Lambert

Copyright © 2025

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in this book. However, the examples provided in this work are functional at the time of writing in the context of specific browser versions and current PHP and MySQL versions. Neither the author, the publisher, nor their distributors and resellers can be held responsible for any direct or indirect damages resulting from this book.

Author: Maximilien Lambert

Publisher: Maximilien Lambert

Production Designer: Élise Dubois

First Publication: 2025

www.skilldeve.com

Acknowledgements

Dear reader, I would like to express my profound gratitude for choosing my book. Your support and trust are an invaluable source of inspiration.

Your purchase of my book fills me with gratitude. It is an honor to share my knowledge with such passionate readers as you.

Thank you very much for acquiring my book. Your interest in the subject motivates me to continue providing quality content.

I invite you to download the source code for the solutions to all the exercises presented in this book, as well as the completed projects. You will find the download link on the Download Links page at the end of this book.

About the Author

Maximilien Lambert is an experienced web developer and an eminent trainer in the field of digital technologies. With recognized expertise, he has led numerous international training sessions and seminars at renowned institutions worldwide. His exceptional pedagogical approach has earned him a reputation for excellence among his students, thanks to his ability to simplify complex concepts and make them accessible to everyone.

As a university teacher for over 20 years, Maximilien Lambert shares his passion for learning and imparting knowledge in computer science. His extensive experience in education allows him to inspire multiple generations of learners around the world, transmitting not only technical skills but also a comprehensive vision of the web development sector.

Passionate about knowledge sharing, Maximilien Lambert excels in transmitting computer skills, thus inspiring several generations of learners worldwide. Besides his teaching activities, he offers specialized training to professionals, helping them to perfect their skills and stay at the forefront of their respective fields.

His dedication to excellence, passion for teaching, and technical expertise make Maximilien Lambert a key reference in the field of web development and digital training.

Table of contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1: Variables and Operators in PHP

Chapter 2: Conditional Structures

Chapter 3: PHP Loops

Chapter 4: Functions in PHP

Chapter 5: Arrays

Chapter 6: Predefined Functions in PHP

Chapter 7: Sessions and Cookies and Advanced Management of Browser Data

Chapter 8: Introduction to MySQL

Chapter 9: Integrating PHP with MySQL - Creating Web Applications

Chapter 10: Security of PHP/MySQL Applications

Chapter 11: Developing a Member Area Project

Chapter 12: Object-oriented PHP

Preface

In a constantly evolving digital world, mastering PHP and MySQL is more relevant than ever for those aspiring to develop dynamic and robust web applications. This book, Solved Exercises and Projects on PHP and MySQL, is designed to guide you through the fundamentals and advanced concepts of these key technologies with practical exercises and detailed solutions.

Throughout the different chapters, we will explore the essential building blocks of PHP programming, starting with Variables and Operators, Conditional Structures for decision making, and Loops, which are at the heart of flow control in programming. Each exercise is designed to reinforce your theoretical understanding through practical application, allowing you to grasp the nuances and applications of each concept.

The chapters on Functions and Arrays reveal strategies for efficiently organizing code and manipulating complex data sets.

Addressing the interactive and persistent dimension of the web, we delve into Sessions and Cookies, as well as Advanced Data Management from Browsers, which are essential for creating personalized and secure user experiences.

The journey continues with an introduction to MySQL, followed by an in-depth exploration of Integrating PHP with MySQL. These chapters prepare you to design and interact with databases, an invaluable skill for any web developer.

The Security of PHP/MySQL Applications is covered to make you aware of the best practices for securing your applications. The final project, Developing a Member Area Project, will allow you to apply the skills acquired throughout the book in a concrete project.

Finally, the chapter on Object-Oriented PHP opens the doors to advanced programming techniques that have become the norm in modern software development.

This book is more than a technical manual; it is a journey designed to transform you from a novice to a proficient in PHP and MySQL. Whether you are a student, a professional seeking to enhance your skills, or simply passionate about web development, the exercises in this book are steps towards mastering PHP and MySQL programming.

Happy reading and happy coding!

Introduction

Welcome to PHP & MySQL: 200 Solved Exercises and 2 Mini-Projects for Practice, a book designed for aspiring developers and those looking to solidify their web programming skills. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of PHP and MySQL, two pillars of modern web development.

Throughout the pages, you will discover a series of meticulously crafted exercises, divided into several chapters covering the fundamental and advanced aspects of PHP and MySQL. Each chapter is designed to provide you with a solid theoretical understanding accompanied by intensive practice:

Variables and Operators: Explore the basics of PHP by manipulating data through variables and using various operators to perform calculations and logical operations.

Conditional Structures: Learn to control the flow of your programs with control structures, essential for decision-making in your scripts.

Loops: Master techniques for executing code repeatedly with loops, a key concept for iterating over data and automating tasks.

Functions: Develop and use functions to structure your code efficiently and reusable, a cornerstone of good programming.

Arrays: Handle complex data sets using arrays, and discover how to process them effectively.

Predefined PHP Functions: Utilize PHP's built-in functions to speed up development and simplify data processing.

Sessions and Cookies and Advanced Data Management from Browsers: Manage user information through sessions and cookies, and learn to secure and optimize data exchange between the browser and the server.

Introduction to MySQL: Dive into database management with MySQL, an essential tool for any web developer.

Integration of PHP with MySQL - Building Web Applications: Construct dynamic web applications by linking PHP to MySQL, illustrating real-world use cases.

Security of PHP/MySQL Applications: Secure your applications against common vulnerabilities and learn the best practices for web security.

Developing a Member Area Project: Apply your skills by completing a full member area project.

Object-Oriented PHP: Dive into object-oriented programming to organize your code more efficiently and modernly.

In addition to the exercises, two practical mini-projects await you at the end, allowing you to consolidate your knowledge in real development scenarios.

This book is more than just a programming manual; it is your companion on the journey to mastering PHP and MySQL. Whether you are a computer science student, a self-taught developer, or a professional looking to update your skills, PHP & MySQL: 200 Solved Exercises and 2 Mini-Projects for Practice is the ideal tool to advance on the path to excellence in web development.

Chapter 1

Variables and Operators in PHP

In this first chapter of your book on PHP dedicated to Variables and Operators, we will explore the foundations of PHP programming, starting with the basic concepts essential for building any application. This chapter is designed to introduce you to the elementary tools for data manipulation in PHP, which are variables and operators. Through a series of targeted exercises, you will learn to declare, initialize, and effectively use variables to store, retrieve, and manipulate information. Additionally, we will explore how operators enable mathematical, logical, and comparison operations.

Chapter Objectives

Understanding Variables:

Learn to declare and initialize variables.

Discover the different data types supported by PHP.

Examine naming rules and variable scopes.

Mastering Operators:

Study arithmetic operators for numerical calculations.

Explore comparison operators and their use in control structures.

Use logical operators to formulate complex conditions.

Applying Knowledge Through Examples:

Solve practical problems to reinforce theoretical understanding.

Use variables and operators in various contexts to see their practical utility.

This chapter forms the basis of your PHP learning, and mastering these concepts is crucial for progressing to more advanced topics. Each section is accompanied by concrete examples and practical exercises designed to reinforce your understanding and improve your ability to use PHP effectively in your development projects.

Exercises

Exercise 1:

What is the correct syntax for declaring a variable in PHP?

a) $var = value;

b) var $ = value;

c) variable = value;

d) $variable = value;

Exercise 2:

Which operator is used to concatenate strings in PHP?

a) +

b) &

c) .

d)

Exercise 3:

What is the value of the variable $x after executing the following code: $x = 10; $x += 5;

a) 15

b) 10

c) 5

d) 50

Exercise 4:

What is the result of the following expression in PHP: 5 == 5?

a) true

b) false

c) null

d) error

Exercise 5:

What does the === operator do in PHP?

a) Compare the values of variables

b) Compare the types and values of variables

c) Assign a value to a variable

d) Check if a variable is defined

Exercise 6:

Define two variables $a and $b, assign them the values 5 and 10 respectively. Display the sum of these two variables.

Exercise 7:

Create a variable $c with the value 20 as a string. Convert this variable to an integer and display it.

Exercise 8:

You are given a variable $d = 10. Increase its value by 5 using the increment operator.

Exercise 9:

Use the modulo operator to find the remainder of the division of 15 by 4.

Exercise 10:

Compare two variables $g = 100 and $h = 100 and check their equality in type and value.

Exercise 11:

Write a PHP script that swaps the values of two variables $i and $j.

Exercise 12:

Calculate the exponentiation of 2 to the power of 3.

Exercise 13:

Create a variable $p and assign it the value 10. Double its value using the assignment operator.

Exercise 14:

Concatenate two strings $first and $last to form a full name.

Exercise 15:

Convert a string $r = 123 into an integer and a float, then display both.

Exercise 16:

Create a variable $s = 50 and reduce its value by 30% using the assignment operator.

Exercise 17:

Check if two strings $str1 = Hello and $str2 = hello are equal, ignoring case.

Exercise 18:

Find the remainder of the division of 456 by 33.

Exercise 19:

Increase the value of a variable $v = 99 by 1 using the increment operator.

Exercise 20:

Use a comparison operator to determine if $x is strictly greater than $y.

Exercise 21:

Assign the sum of two numbers to a variable without defining the numbers as variables.

Exercise 22:

Check if a variable $z is equal to 10 using a comparison operator.

Exercise 23:

Multiply a variable $aa by itself.

Exercise 24:

Divide a variable $bb by 2 using the assignment operator.

Exercise 25:

Increase the value of a variable $ee by 5% using the assignment operator.

Exercise 26:

Compare two variables $ff = 1000 and $gg = 1000 to check their equality in value.

Exercise 27:

Display the greater value between $hh = 25 and $ii = 35.

Solutions to the exercises

Solution of Exercise 1

d) $variable = value;

Solution of Exercise 2

c) .

Solution of Exercise 3

a) 15

Solution of Exercise 4

a) true

Solution of Exercise 5

b) Compare the types and values of variables

Solution of Exercise 6

$a = 5;

$b = 10;

echo $a + $b; // Display 15

?>

Solution of