Advanced PHP Tips And Tricks That Can Make

Developers Life Easier

Whenever it comes to web development, many developers want tips to improve the
website. Web development in PHP is pretty easy for newbies. All you need is PHP
tutorials for beginners and the easiest way to optimize PHP website.

PHP is one of the most loved and widely used languages that developers loves to
build their website from. The best part of PHP development is that developers can
find Guide for PHP developers and best PHP tips and tricks on the official site of
PHP. Another advantage of PHP is that as a PHP developer you can find good
frameworks and CMSs to work on. Many people tend to ask, ‘how can I improve my
PHP code?’ The answer to this lies in practice and being capable of build your own
confidence in creating a project and releasing it. You can also learn PHP by building
web applications

This blog post is all about the best PHP tips and tricks for Web development in PHP
so that you can develop your website in PHP
(http://www.arpatech.com/blog/choose-php-for-developing-website/) without any
hassle and you can enjoy your professional life.

Develop with error reporting enabled

Error reporting feature, an important feature in PHP website, is one of the best
Useful PHP trick for Developers. The best thing to cope with errors is to set the
system to display errors. To set the settings you have to alter the php.ini file when
you develop your site. Include these two lines in the beginning.

error_reporting ( E_ALL ) ;
ini_set ( 'display_errors' , 1 ) ;
The following code helps you to see both types of errors whether the fatal errors that
produce the dreaded white screen as warnings and notices that may be bugs to fix.

Prevents SQL injection

Security holes are the biggest cause of the bad reputation of PHP but PHP tips for
website development (http://www.arpatech.com/blog/7-php-security-blunders/) are
here.

There are many ways to avoid SQL injection but the simplest one escapes any
variable that we will use in the database. The code should look like this:

$query_result = mysql_query ( "SELECT * FROM WHERE Ex_table

ex_field = \" " . mysql_real_escape_string( $ ex_field ) . " \ " "
) ;

Use the _once() function with caution

PHP developers prefer using include() or function require() to call other files,
libraries or classes, but using the include_eleven() and require_eleven(), are the PHP
tricks for web developer. Both the functions have the same functionality but the
advantage is that it prevent the files, classes or loaded libraries to be loaded again
which cause duplication and undesired states in the code.

Learn to handle ternary operators

The best PHP tips and trick for good performance is to use ternary operators as an
alternative to simple IF constructions. For instance:

$age = ( !empty ( $ _ GET [ 'age ] ) ? $ _ GET [ 'age' ] : 58 ) ;

This would help your code to get lighter and can be nested without problems.
Retire the MySQL driver

This is 2017 and the technology that we are using is advanced now this is the time
for PHP7. A high time to retire your MySQL database and start using PDO. A PHP
extension that helps you to connect with different other managers databases.

A very important feature of MySQL driver is MySQL Connector/Python that supports

almost all features provided by MySQL version 5.7. Designed specifically to MySQL,
MySQL Connector/Python lets you translate the parameter’s value between Python
and MySQL data types. Obviously, PHP works other than MySQL too. As a PHP web
developer, this tip is one of the best PHP tips and tricks for me for website
development with PHP (http://www.arpatech.com/web-development). The code to
connect with databases is:

try {
$conn = new PDO ( "mysql: host = localhost; dbname = database ' , $
user , $ pass ) ;
$conn -> setAttribute ( PDO :: ATTR_ERRMODE , PDO ::
ERRMODE_EXCEPTION ) ;
} Catch ( PDOException $e ) {
Echo "ERROR:" . $e -> getMessage ( ) ;
}

Use single quotes rather than double

Are you a speedy programmer who can type code fastly?

Well here’s a trick for you! Just use single quote (“) other than double (” “). Trust me!
it saves you a lot of time and the performance of your server. Best PHP tips and
tricks code! ha?

Clean URLs quickly with .htaccess

The file .htaccess – the best yet simple way to make the URLs more simpler for
human eye as well as for SEO. A hidden file that serves a lot with Apache directives.
The services that this file provides are performing redirection and clean URLs do not
cease to be redirected to after all. One of the best tip and trick for PHP based
application improvements.

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^ ( [ a - zA - Z0 - 9 ] + ) $ index . Php? Page = $ 1

This code is the life saver for many PHP developers that can prevent horrible URLs
and make it sleek and simple, phew!

Know all the Problems of isset()

One of the PHP tricks for web developer is to understand what isset() function do.
Make sure that you know at what time isset() function returns false and on which
time it answers true. This function returns True if the variable is not NULL. Yes you
read it not NULL.

Just like so, if NULL can be a valid value of the variable,We surely have a problem
sire!

$foo = null ;
if ( isset( $ foo ) ) // returns false
And the solution is: Use get_defined_vars( );
$foo = NULL ;
$vars = get_defined_vars( );
if ( array_key_exists ( 'foo' , $ vars ) ) // returns True

Use a switch instead of stringing If Statements

The useful PHP trick for Developers- use Switch instead of crazy Ifs. Advantage? The
code will execute faster thus performance is increased. The usage of Switch
statements allows you to go beyond the use of if-else if-else chains.
 switch ($color ) {
case 'white' :
echo "The color is White" ;
break ;
case 'blue' :
echo "The color is Blue" ;
break ;
case 'green' :
echo "The color is Green" ;
break ;
case 'black' :
echo "Color is black" ;
break ;
}

Take up cURL

The method to retrieve a file from another server is to use the powerful way cURL,
instead of using file_get_contents() function which is easy to use but come on, it’s
like having death on your computer. The following code is the example of the use
cURL:

$c = curl_init ( ) ;
curl_setopt ( $c , CURLOPT_URL , $URL ) ;
curl_setopt ( $c , CURLOPT_TIMEOUT , 15 ) ;
curl_setopt ( $c , CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER , true ) ;
$content = curl_exec ( $c ) ;
$status = curl_getinfo ( $c , CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE ) ;
curl_close ( $c ) ;

Password Encryption

Often developers ask Tips to improve the website, well here is one, PHP is always on
your side and it encrypts your passwords for you. I am talking about the PHP 5.5+
versions, Just store the passwords in your database as.
 $enc_pass = password_hash ( $submitted_pass , PASSWORD_DEFAULT ) ;

To check if password is correct or not:

if ( password_verify ( $submitted_pass , $stored_pass ) )

{
// User successfully authenticated
}

Advanced PHP Tips to Improve Your Programming

Typically used for web development, PHP is the server-side scripting language.
Invented in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf, PHP has done a remarkable job in the
technology-based world and made the whole work of web development extremely
easy for developers.

There’s little doubt that working knowledge of PHP is too important to sustain in
today’s cut-throat technology sphere. Here are the 5 advanced PHP tips to learn PHP
programming.

I. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is the Rudimentary Requirement

OOP is the basic requirement of PHP that every developer should know. PHP follows
object-oriented programming and therefore items and programs link things together
for developing a program. Using OOP approaches, you can skip the replication of
code and can complete the code in a much simpler way. Objects are demarcated
under the programs and then you can reclaim this purpose again and again in the
whole programming. OOP is faster, easy to correct, and uses slighter server
resources, less code and quicker loading process to evade long events. Going with
OOP, you can make your coding style more effective and simpler.

II. Intrinsic Functions of PHP are Extremely Usable

PHP language is extremely easy to learn and adjustable for a developer to develop
the best websites. Using the inbuilt advanced PHP techniques, you will get the
concealed benefits which are very valuable throughout the coding process. If you are
doing a custom PHP development or web development, the need for displays and
functions is very significant. For example, if you want to count the numbers then you
can use count() and like that PHP has a number of built-in functions that are very
beneficial for making the coding procedure easy and quick.

III. Keep the Database Secure

The first thing prior to starting any PHP project is that you should use
mysl_real_escape_string() for all the database. Doing this will help you keep all the
strings safe from any kind of unwelcome threats that may have some malicious
code. This should be your first step to protect your database. The other vital thing is
that never use $_REQUEST – instead, go with POST or GET strings for submitting the
data into the database query.

IV. Always Use POST and Never GET

A good programmer is well aware of the difference between these two. Get method
displays the address in the URL and gives simpler ways for the hacker to totally hack
your entire project. Going with POST, you can face a secure journey throughout your
coding and development procedure.

V. Make a Copy Before Going for CODE

Before you explore the real platform, just stop for a few minutes and make a coarse
draught of your whole coding. This will give you better comprehension and will clear
your opinions for developing the website. Also, you will discover the main glitches
that you will face in the future journey of the coding.

Wrapping things Up
One of the best programming language to develop websites is PHP, which is open-
source. Although it is easy to use it’s normal when it takes the time to learn but if
you know all the advanced PHP tips and tricks for good performance and for
Website development in PHP then you are a champ!

Whatever it takes you to use PHP based frameworks and CMSs consider, use it over
Core PHP, as it can give a better performance, a lightweight website and yes you can
develop your website in PHP more faster.

These were the tips and tricks for Guide for PHP developers. Do you like any of
them? or know any tip better than these? Let us know in the comment section below.
Also, PHP beginners are much appreciated to ask. 😉
Wajid Hussain
Wajid Hussain has a vast experience in Magento and PHP fields. He is currently a
Community Manager at Arpatech. He keeps himself engaged with latest e-
commerce and Magento trends and also happens to be an avid football fan. You can
follow him on Twitter at @wajidstack or contact him through e-mail
wajid.hussain[at]arpatech.com