I am looking for a great resource to learn php for a novice. Can anyone suggest a great book or web resource?

I am growing interest in building and designing websites and have gotten through learning html. Now, I would like to move on to php, but I would like your help in deciding which book is a good source for learning about this topic. Thanks for your help! =]

I want to know how to write scripts and program in PHP, so that I can add opinion polls to my web site. I can’t find any good books that teaches php in depth from beginning to end. The books seem to teach how to use servers that use php, but not php itself. I learned html and css using books easily. Are there any great books out there that can teach a beginner like me PHP?

Amazon.co.uk Review
A revolution in developing software is coming and it’s called the .NET Framework. This broad Microsoft strategy opens doors to exciting new concepts such as Web services, which deliver the software you create as services that dish out data via XML over the Net. ASP.NET and ADO.NET are very key elements to this new approach, improving the efficiency of Web page coding and database access respectively. Programming Data-Driven Web Applications with ASP.NET provides an excellent introduction to this brave new world of database-driven Web development for seasoned and novice programmers alike. The book dives into ASP.NET with a breakdown of its new features such as server side controls and event handling, Web services and session state management. It then clearly points out the advantages of ADO.NET–interoperability, a strong-typed programming model, higher disconnected performance and better scalability. Readers will learn about managed providers, get a tu (more…)

As the usage of PHP grows, the need for a globally-recognized redentials program for professional developers is becoming more and more important. The Zend Engineer Certification Program, launched by worldwide PHP leader Zend Technologies, finally creates a professional designation that represents consistently high-quality skills and knowledge in the PHP world. Written and edited by four members of the Zend Education Board who also helped create the actual Zend Certification Exam, this book contains 200 questions on every topic that is part of the exam. The Zend Certification Practice Test Book is an invaluable resource in testing your preparedness in every area of the exam, from the basics to the most advanced topics. Each question comes with a clear answer that provides an explanation of the question’s topic, its goals and end result. Answering the questions in this book will allow you to clearly and quickly identify the areas of PHP in which you are strong and those (more…)