PHP and MySQL For Dummies, 4th Edition

To be on the cutting edge, Web sites need to serve up HTML, CSS, and products specific to the needs of different customers using different browsers. An effective e-commerce site gathers information about users and provides information they need to get the desired result.PHP scripting language withPHP& MySQLFORDUMMIESTH EDITIONPHP & MySQLFORDUMMIESITH EDITIONy Janet ValadeWILEYWiley publishing, incPHP MysQl For Dummies, 4th EditionPublished byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River streetHoboken. NJ07030-5774www.wiley.comCopyright o 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc, Indianapolis, IndianaPublished by Wiley Publishing, Inc, Indianapolis, IndianaPublished simultaneously in CanadaNo part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form orby any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior writtenpermission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to theCopyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978)750-8400, fax(978)646-8600Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley&sonsInc.,11lRiverStreet,Hoboken,Nj07030,(201)748-6011,fax(201)748-6008,oronlineathttp:/www.wiley.com/go/permissionsTrademarks: Wiley, the wiley Publishing logo, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, A Reference for theRest of Us!, The Dummies Way, Dummies Daily, The Fun and Easy Way, Dummies. com, Making EverythingEasier, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley sons, Inc and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permissionMySQL is a registered trademark of MySQL AB. 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Some content that appears in print maynot be available in electronic booksLibrary of Congress Control Number: 2009940274ISBN:978-0470527580Manufactured in the united states of america10987654321WILEYAbout the AuthorJanet valade is the author of php MysQl Web Development All-in-One DeskReference For Dummies, PHP 5 For Dummies, PHP MySQL Everyday AppsFor Dummies, and PHP& MysQL: Your visual blueprint for creating dynamicdatabase-driven web sites as well as the first second and third editions ofthis book. In addition, Janet is the author of spring into Linux and a coauthorof Mastering Visually dreamweaver 8 and Flash 8Janet has twenty years of experience in the computing field. Most recently,she worked as a Web designer and programmer in an engineering firm forfour years. Before that, Janet worked for thirteen years in a university environment, where she was a systems analyst. During her tenure, she supervised the installation and operation of computing resources, designed anddeveloped a data archive, supported faculty and students in their computerusage, wrote numerous technical papers, and developed and presented semi-nars on a variety of technology topicsTokeepintouchseejanetvalade.comAuthor' s AcknowledgmentsFirst, I want to express my appreciation to the entire open source commu-nity Without those who give their time and talent, there would be no coolPHP and MysQL for me to write about. Furthermore I never would havelearned this software without the lists, where people generously spend theirtime answering foolish questions from beginnersI want to thank my mother for passing on a writing gene, along with manyother things. And my children always for everything. My thanks to my friendsArt, Dick, and Marge for responding to my last-minute call for help I particularly want to thank Sammy, Dude, Spike, Lucky, Upanishad, Sadie, and E.B. forheir important contributionsAnd, of course, I want to thank the professionals who make it all possibleWithout the people at Wiley, this book would not exist Because they all dotheir jobs so well, I can contribute my part to this joint project.Publishers AcknowledgmentsWereproudofthisbookpleasesendusyourcommentsathttp://dummies.custhelp.comForother comments, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877-762-2974, out-side the l.s.at317-5723993, or fax317-572-4002Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the followingAcquisitions and editorialComposition ServicesProject Editor: Rebecca SenningerProject Coordinator: Kristie Rees(Previous Edition: Pat OBrien)Layout and graphics: melissa k JesterAcquisitions Editor: Kyle LooperChristine WilliamsCopy Editor: Virginia SandersProofreader: Toni settleTechnical Editor: John gosneyIndexer: BIM Indexing ProofreadingEditorial Manager: Leah CameronEditorial Assistant: Amanda foxworthSr Editorial assistant: Cherie CaseCartoonsRichTennant(www.the5thwave.comPublishing and Editorial for Technology dummiesRichard wadley, vice President and Executive group publisherAndy Cummings, Vice President and PublisherMary bednarek, Executive Acquisitions DirectorMary c. Corder Editorial DirectorPublishing for Consumer DummiesDiane graves steele. Vice President and publisheromposition servicesDebbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services