Best way to learn PHP basics

[SamT71]

Can anyone suggest the best way to go about learning some basic PHP coding?

I have recently begun work on a website and trying to take the easy option, being a newbie to website design, I purchased a template which is coded in PHP.

I am trying to customise my template to make it more original, using Dreamweaver as an editing tool. I can handle some of the very basic changes through trial and error etc but I would really like to gain some basic knowledge of PHP which would help me in this sort of task.

Any reccomendations of where to start?

[Andy]

Certainly! I have produced the ultimate free tutorial series on PHP coding right here on this website!

Check it out here: Quickly learn PHP coding basics - maybe I went beyond basics 

I would really like to gain some basic knowledge of PHP

This is the place to start! It gives you all the basic knowledge at a rapid yet understandable pace. Also, I don't care what software you use, it doesn't really matter  Get up to Geek speed fast!

oh... make sure you don't copy and replicate this tutorial series anywhere else! :-)

[Manu]

well If you know any other programming language like c or c++ then php going to be a very easy task for you.........

some php learning resources you would like to try out

http://www.phpbuddy.com/

http://www.w3schools.com/php/default.asp

[alwaysweb]

I also found http://www.php-builder.com 's articles at:  http://www.phpbuilder.com/columns/index.php3?cat=all

very helpful.  There is no need to re-invent the wheel, so I usually find an article along the lines of what I want to accomplish and then take it from there.