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Integrating PHP with Databases

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Introducing Objects

3:45 with Alena Holligan

We won't be building our own object, but we will be working with a PDO object, so I want to make sure you’re clear on some of the terminology and syntax involved in working with objects. An object is a complex variable type that bundles other variables and functions together into a single unit. Those variables are called "properties" of the object and those functions are called "methods" of the object. We’ll be utilizing a PHP Data Object (PDO) to connect to our database.

Object Example

In our real world example of this, say the object is a dog. A dog has attributes like gender, weight, and hair color. It also has Actions such as Eating, Sleeping, and Walking. If a dog is the object, then Gender, Weight and Hair Color are Properties and Eating, Sleeping, and Walking are Methods.

Using the PHP Mailer Object:

$mail = new PHPMailer();
$mail->from = "from@example.com";
$mail->to = "to@example.com";
$mail->message = "This is the email body";
$mail->send();

PHP Documentation: Classes and Objects

Treehouse: Object-Oriented PHP Basics

Tutsplus: Object-Oriented PHP for Beginners

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    I've already created a SQLite database with the items from the array. 0:00
    I've also added a few more items. 0:05
    Let's walk through how to retrieve that data with PHP. 0:07
    We can then use that data on our website. 0:10
    Since version 5.1, PHP comes with a built in mechanism for connecting to a database. 0:14
    A PHP Data Object or PDO for short. 0:19
    PDO provides some great methods for 0:23
    working with all kinds of databases including SQLite and MySQL. 0:25
    We'll be working with a PDO object. 0:30
    So I want to make sure you're clear on some of the terminology and 0:32
    syntax involved in working with objects. 0:35
    An object is a complex variable type. 0:38
    It bundles together variables and functions into a single unit. 0:41
    Those variables are called properties, and those functions are called methods. 0:45
    To give you a real world example of this, see the object is a dog 0:50
    [SOUND] a dog has attributes like gender, weight, and hair color. 0:55
    It also has actions such as eat, sleep and walk. 1:00
    If a dog is the object, gender, weight and hair color are properties. 1:06
    And eating, sleeping and walking are methods. 1:12
    We're already using an object in this project, 1:17
    the third party library used to send an email from our suggestion form. 1:20
    It provides a PHPMailer object. 1:24
    PHPMailer objects have properties to store information like subject and 1:27
    a form address. 1:32
    They also have methods which do things like Add attachment, and Send. 1:33
    To access the objects, properties, and methods, we use a hyphen and 1:39
    a greater than sign. 1:43
    Two characters that together, look like a single arrow. 1:45
    [SOUND] Let's say that we have a PHPMailer object called, Mail. 1:47
    We can access the properties in that object by specifying the object name. 1:52
    Mail, the single arrow, and then the property name, like subject. 1:57
    We can call a method on that same object, by specifying the object's name, mail, 2:02
    the single arrow, and the method name, like send, followed by two parentheses. 2:07
    Methods are like functions. 2:13
    They can receive arguments inside those parentheses. 2:15
    This send method receives no arguments. 2:19
    But you still need the parentheses. 2:21
    The Add attachment method, on the other hand, does receive an argument. 2:23
    It receives a reference to the file that you want to attach. 2:27
    The next thing we need to discuss is the idea of a class. 2:31
    In PHP, a class is a type of object or an object definition. 2:35
    It's like a blueprint or a recipe for an object. 2:40
    The class defines what properties and 2:43
    methods will exist inside any objects of that class. 2:45
    Each object is said to instantiate its class. 2:50
    Which means it is an instance or a separate object made from that class. 2:54
    PHPMailer is actually a class. 2:59
    All PHPMailer objects have certain properties and 3:02
    methods because they instantiate that PHPMailer class 3:06
    which defines what those properties and methods will be. 3:10
    PDO is also a class. 3:14
    It's built into PHP. 3:16
    So we don't have to include a third party library to use it. 3:18
    We can create an object that instantiate the PDO.class. 3:21
    And that object will have the properties and methods defined by that class. 3:25
    We can then use that object to query the database. 3:31
    Does all that make sense? 3:35
    If you're still unsure, you can check the Teacher's Notes for more information. 3:36
    But don't worry too much. 3:40
    We'll be taking a closer look at the PDO class next. 3:41

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