A: No. Murach still sells the 3rd edition for legacy system maintenance. Ensure the URL slug contains php4 or the title says "4th Edition" with a cyan/yellow cover (the 3rd is red/gray).
| Source | Format | Notes | |--------|--------|-------| | Murach.com | Print + eBook bundle | Direct from publisher, often includes free shipping (US) | | Amazon | Print, Kindle | Look for “4th Edition” (ISBN: 978-1943873005) | | O’Reilly Online Learning | Digital (subscription) | If your employer or school provides access | | InformIT / Pearson | eBook | Occasionally on sale | | Your local library | Print or digital | Check WorldCat or OverDrive/Libby |
Used copies: Cheaper, but make sure you get the 4th edition (covers PHP 8). Earlier editions (3rd, 2nd) use PHP 5/7 and outdated MySQL APIs.
A: No. As of 2024/2025, the 4th edition is actively in print. If murach.com is down, try the Amazon link as a backup. murachs php and mysql 4th edition link
The 4th Edition represents a significant update over previous iterations, acknowledging the rapid shift in PHP development standards.
1. Embracing Modern PHP (The Version Jump) Previous editions relied heavily on older procedural patterns. This edition assumes PHP 8.x. This is crucial because it forces the reader to use modern features immediately. You aren't learning PHP 5 and then trying to unlearn bad habits later. The book introduces:
2. The Database Layer: PDO vs. MySQLi
Many older PHP books teach the mysqli procedural functions. This book correctly identifies PDO (PHP Data Objects) as the industry standard. By teaching PDO exclusively for database interaction, the book prepares the reader for using other databases (like PostgreSQL) later, while utilizing prepared statements to prevent SQL injection from Day 1. This is a major security win. A: No
3. MVC Architecture Without Frameworks A standout chapter involves building a simple "Music Store" application using an MVC (Model-View-Controller) structure. Most modern PHP jobs require frameworks like Laravel or Symfony. However, jumping straight into a framework can be overwhelming. This book builds a "micro-framework" from scratch.
By building the architecture manually, the reader understands why Laravel works the way it does. This is the "teach a man to fish" philosophy applied to web architecture.
To understand the value of the 4th edition, one must first understand the "paired-pages" format that defines the Murach brand. Unlike traditional textbooks that force the reader to wade through pages of dense theory before seeing a line of code, Murach organizes every topic into a two-page spread. Used copies : Cheaper, but make sure you
This structure transforms the book from a linear narrative into a reference manual. A developer can read the left page for understanding, then glance at the right for implementation. Later, when the developer is working on a project, they can quickly find the specific spread they need to refresh their memory without having to re-read entire chapters.
If you need the book through a library database or need to cite it, here are the identifiers for the 4th edition:
Using these numbers helps you avoid accidentally buying the 3rd edition (ISBN 978-1-890774-86-2).
