Effortless E-Commerce with PHP and MySQL

In this comprehensive guide to creating an e-commerce Web site using PHP and MySQL, renowned author Larry Ullman walks you through every step–designing the visual interface, creating the database, presenting content, generating an online catalog, managing the shopping cart, handling the order and the payment process, and fulfilling the order–always with security and best practices emphasized along the way. Even if you’re an experienced Web developer, you’re guaranteed to learn something new. The book uses two e-commerce site examples–one based on selling physical products that require shipping and delayed payment, and another that sells non-physical products to be purchased and delivered instantly–so you see the widest possible range of e-commerce scenarios. In 11 engaging, easy-to-follow chapters, Effortless E-Commerce with PHP and MySQL teaches you how to:

• Think of the customer first, in order to maximize sales
• Create a safe server environment and database
• Use secure transactions and prevent common vulnerabilities
• Incorporate different payment gateways
• Design scalable sites that are easy to maintain
• Build administrative interfaces
• Extend both examples to match the needs of your own sites

Table of Contents

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS
Chapter 1: Getting Started
Chapter 2: Security Fundamentals

PART TWO: SELLING VIRTUAL PRODUCTS
Chapter 3: First Site: Structure and Design
Chapter 4: User Accounts
Chapter 5: Managing Site Content
Chapter 6: Using PayPal

PART THREE: SELLING PHYSICAL PRODUCTS
Chapter 7: Second Site: Structure and Design
Chapter 8: Creating a Catalog
Chapter 9: Building a Shopping Cart
Chapter 10: Checking Out
Chapter 11: Site Administration