What to Learn After PHP & MySQL

PHP is an open-source server-side programming language, and MySQL is an open-source database management system. If you are already familiar with PHP and MySQL, consider learning Python, Java, and Node.js. We will discuss these skills below so you know what skills you should tackle next.

What is PHP & MySQL?

PHP is a widely used open-source scripting language on the server-side of web development. This free and open-source coding language is one of the more accessible coding languages to learn while offering advanced features for professional programmers. The majority of the time, PHP is used for making web servers. One thing that makes PHP simple is its platform independence; it can run on any operating system without issue.

Typically when you work with PHP, you will also work with MySQL as the database management system. MySQL is a structured query language that plays a central role in computing. Instead of storing data in a large storage space, MySQL organizes it in separate tables that efficiently track and manage website data. Both PHP and MySQL power some of the most accessed web applications, including Facebook, Netflix, Uber, and X.

Read more about PHP and MySQL and why you should learn them.

What Can You Do with PHP & MySQL?

When thinking about what you can do with various programming languages, you'll probably think of the countless websites and web applications you could create; however, with PHP and MySQL, you can do much more.

You can create dynamic page content by working with a server-side programming language. Many programmers working with PHP and MySQL work with ecommerce and WordPress themes. You can write the script for and create desktop applications. However, these are things that other programming languages can accomplish as well. PHP is excellent for web security, as it allows for easy setup of user authentication and two-step verification. This security trick will allow your websites to use the cornerstones of web security with a few simple steps. You have easy database connectivity, which is why you often see PHP paired with MySQL.

With PHP, you can implement real-time applications such as chat systems, bots, social networks, and games on your website. To do this, you need to create the application using a different language, then use local PHP back-end code to implement it into the website. However, these are just a few things you can accomplish with PHP; the more familiar you become with the language, the more you will be able to accomplish.

Python

Python is one of the more popular server-side programming languages. Python is useful for object-oriented programming. Similar to PHP, it is a simple and easy-to-learn syntax that helps reduce the program maintenance cost. Python encourages modularity and code reuse within its modules and packages. It has multiple frameworks, allowing you to use the language in various ways. Since it is another easy-to-learn language you will encounter in your career as a Back-end Developer, Python is a logical choice to learn after PHP and MySQL.

Java

Java is another general-purpose, object-oriented back-end programming language you will encounter in your career. Like PHP, Java allows you to code across multiple operating systems. The key difference is that Java is a more complex language to learn. With its various frameworks and libraries, mastering Java can take quite some time. However, once mastered, Java helps produce more reliable code, offering a better development experience than many other programming languages.

Node.js

Node.js is a framework built on JavaScript. Back-end Developers use Node.js to build scalable network applications with the streamlined code it provides. It creates event loops as runtime constructs rather than using them as a library. Learning Node.js can help you build more robust and scalable websites.

Key Insights

• PHP and MySQL are relatively simple to learn.
• You can enhance your skills as a Back-end Developer by learning other back-end languages.
• Python is another easy-to-learn language.
• Java is more complex to learn but provides a better development experience.
• Node.js is used to build scalable network applications.

Learn Web Development with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop provides various web development classes that meet various scheduling needs and learning styles. No matter which class you enroll in, you’ll learn from expert instructors in small intimate classes. Any students can attend in-person training at Noble's Manhattan campus or remotely from anywhere worldwide. In addition to the courses, students can retake the course within a year of completion for no additional charge, giving them more time to hone their skills.

For those interested in beginning their web development journey, Noble offers a short Intro to WordPress for Developers course that covers the basics of PHP. This course covers how WordPress Themes work and how to develop and upload them onto a live site. For a more in-depth look into web development through WordPress, consider the WordPress Bootcamp. This course goes more in-depth on how to use HTML, CSS, and PHP to develop websites for WordPress.

If you want a general overview of PHP and MySQL, you can take the PHP and MySQL bootcamp course. In this course, you learn the fundamentals of both PHP and MySQL. Before taking this course, you should have some basic knowledge of HTML and CSS.

Those interested in learning other back-end web development languages to start their web development career should consider enrolling in the JavaScript Development Certificate course or the Python Developer Certificate course. Both courses go in-depth into each language. After learning PHP and MySQL, consider learning JavaScript and Python, as you will encounter them throughout your programming career. Having each of these languages on your programming toolbelt will help jump-start your web development career!