PHP Roadmap
The complete skill map for learning PHP: from core language fundamentals through the Laravel framework and into real web application development.
Phase 1: Web Foundations
HTML and CSS
Structure and style web pages. PHP generates HTML, so knowing what valid HTML looks like is the baseline.
How HTTP Works
GET vs POST, request/response, status codes, and cookies. PHP is a request-handling language and this context makes everything else make sense.
Basic SQL
Almost every PHP app reads from a database. SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, WHERE: the queries you will write from day one.
Phase 2: PHP Language Core
Variables and Types
PHP is loosely typed but has a type system. Learn when PHP coerces types automatically and when that causes bugs.
Arrays and Functions
PHP's array functions (array_map, array_filter, usort) are the heart of most PHP data processing. Learn them well.
Forms and HTTP in PHP
How PHP reads $_GET and $_POST, validates input, and responds. The core request/response cycle every PHP developer writes constantly.
OOP in PHP
Classes, inheritance, interfaces, and traits. Modern PHP (7.4+) and especially Laravel rely on object-oriented patterns throughout.
Phase 3: Laravel
Routing and Controllers
How Laravel maps URLs to code. Every Laravel app starts here.
Eloquent ORM
Laravel's database layer. Write database queries as PHP instead of raw SQL, with relationships, scopes, and migrations.
Blade Templates
Laravel's templating language for generating HTML. Clean, extensible, and separates logic from presentation.
Authentication and Deployment
Laravel Breeze gives you login, registration, and password reset in minutes. Then deploy to a real server so you have a live portfolio project.
Keep exploring
Languages in this roadmap