What a Senior PHP Developer Should Know

PHP has been dominating the web development world for a long time. It is an open-source scripting language that is used by many developers as their primary scripting language. Over 20 million domains use PHP as their scripting language, and it is the main language used on various well-known sites like Facebook, Wikipedia, Slack, and Mailchimp. As the most popular open-source scripting language, it is a prerequisite for anyone who wants to succeed in web development. Hence, if you are planning to pursue a career in web development, you need to be familiar with PHP. In this article, we will talk about the essential knowledge that a senior PHP developer should have.

What is PHP Development?

PHP is a server-side scripting language rooted in HTML. It is usually integrated with many standard databases such as MySQL, Oracle, Informix, Microsoft SQL Server, and PostgreSQL, among others. The primary purpose of PHP development is to manage various types of content and databases. It also helps to track sessions and can be used to build complete e-commerce sites. There are many fundamental aspects of PHP that every professional web developer must be familiar with. Even though you don't have to be a professional PHP developer right from the start, there are certain essential facets of the scripting language that you need to understand as you progress.

Important Things a Senior PHP Developer Must Know

Understand PHP Language

As a senior PHP developer, it is expected that you possess a profound comprehension of the language, enabling you to peruse source files with ease while effortlessly locating necessary documentation. Distinguishing between credible and dubious information sources is a skill set every adept PHP developer should possess, with the official manual being the go-to option in cases of uncertainty. Furthermore, you must have the aptitude to write PHP code swiftly and efficiently.

Use PHP Core Functions

Being well-versed in the core functions of PHP is essential for any proficient developer as it facilitates the smooth execution of intended tasks. PHP, being open-source, empowers developers to create their own functions if needed. However, it is vital to first acquaint oneself with the PHP manual before engaging in such activities. It is more advisable to save time by finding an already existing PHP function that can accomplish the same task, instead of creating one from scratch. For instance, there is no need to create an XML parser for RSS feeds since there are numerous PHP XML parser functions available, such as xml_parse_into_struct.

Create Configuration Files

Having the ability to create a configuration file is a valuable skill for a seasoned PHP developer as it ensures that database connections are not scattered randomly throughout the project. The configuration file serves as a master document that contains all the settings and can be effortlessly integrated into PHP scripts. A senior PHP developer must be well-versed in creating and modifying this file, as it eliminates the need for creating multiple files. This proficiency also proves useful when applying various constants and functions across multiple scripts, making the PHP code more unified and simpler to oversee.

Sanitizing Data

As you advance in your PHP development journey, it is crucial to comprehend the numerous methods available for sanitizing data when entering the database. With the prevalence of SQL injections in the present-day landscape, it is imperative to know various data sanitization techniques aside from simply sanitizing database inputs. This knowledge empowers you to safeguard your application against cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, especially when rendering HTML submitted by users.

Avoid Over-Commenting Your Code

Commenting on your PHP code is essential for proper documentation, but as a senior PHP developer, you should avoid the common mistake of commenting on every single line of code. Ideally, well-written code should be self-explanatory and only require comments on the most complex or intricate parts. Over-commenting can make the code harder to read and understand, and can even hinder your professional growth in the long term if you have been in the industry for several years. Therefore, you should aim to strike a balance between writing clear code and adding necessary comments for better understanding.

Keep Your Preferred Code Snippets Ready

As a Senior PHP developer, you will find yourself writing the same code repeatedly throughout your career. It is important to have your favorite code snippets readily available to save time in the long run. Luckily, there are various applications available that can help you to organize and sync your code snippets, making them easily accessible whenever you need them. This will not only save you time but also improve your productivity and efficiency as a developer.

Choosing the Right Source Editor

As a Senior PHP developer, it's essential to find the best source code editor for your work. The editor you choose will be where you spend most of your time, so it's important to have one that allows you to highlight syntax and easily navigate your code. A good editor should also have built-in debugging tools to make troubleshooting easier. Ultimately, the choice of editor is up to you and your personal preferences.

Using a PHP Framework

Using a PHP framework can help you to adopt best practices in web development, such as Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, which can make your code more organized, maintainable, and scalable. While learning a new framework may take some time, it can ultimately improve your productivity and efficiency in the long run by providing you with a solid foundation to build on. Moreover, working with a framework can also save you time by providing pre-built modules and functions that can be easily integrated into your projects.

In Summary

As a senior PHP developer, it's important to have a solid understanding of the most important aspects of PHP. While you don't need to memorize everything about this scripting language, you should have a strong foundation in the fundamental concepts that underlie PHP development. Many of these concepts are used by large companies and can be learned through hands-on experience with the language. By continually working with PHP, you can develop your skills and become a more proficient developer on UpMyChain.

Easy Answer

Understand PHP Language
Use PHP Core Functions
Create Configuration Files
Sanitizing Data
Avoid Over-Commenting Your Code
Keep Your Preferred Code Snippets Ready
Choosing the Right Source Editor
Using a PHP Framework

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