# How much has changed in PHP and MySQL in 5 years? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 28, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-changed-in-php-and-mysql-in-5-years/541087 "2010-05-28T17:05:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-changed-in-php-and-mysql-in-5-years/541087/1 "2010-05-28T17:05:43Z")
I just realized that I’m using a 5 year old book to learn PHP with MySQL. I realized this when I got to a bit of the book teaching how to find ‘orders placed in the last month’ I had to adjust it to ‘orders placed in the last 72 months’ to get the same results!!! So has much changed in those 5 years? Am I missing out on some neat new features of PHP? (And to a lesser extent MySQL. I assume that won’t change as fast or as much as PHP) ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-changed-in-php-and-mysql-in-5-years/541087/2 "2010-05-28T17:10:37Z")
Can’t answer for PHP. MySQL has gained a good bunch of features in the last 5 years or so, most of which you can ignore if you want. For “web” programming, probably the most significant is much better support for unicode. If my experience with Perl/MySQL is anything to go by, if you want to take advantage of that, you’d better read the documentation really closely. That is, it works well, usually, but only if you know what you’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-changed-in-php-and-mysql-in-5-years/541087/3 "2010-05-28T19:06:12Z")
Your book probably cites which version of PHP they are using. PHP5 is currently the standard. I don’t do a lot of programming, but what I’ve found is that some functions are outdated, but [php.net](http://php.net)’s documentation will be sure to tell you of this if you Google the function. I wouldn’t worry about it too much - just Googling ‘big changes from php x.x to php y.y’ should give you the big things to check out. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-changed-in-php-and-mysql-in-5-years/541087/4 "2010-05-29T16:29:26Z")
It mentions PHP 5 ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-changed-in-php-and-mysql-in-5-years/541087/5 "2010-05-29T17:32:46Z")
[PHP](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Php) and [MySQL](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MySQL). Five years is a long time in the techy world. Spend the cash and buy a newer book. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-changed-in-php-and-mysql-in-5-years/541087/6 "2010-05-30T17:28:57Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > [PHP](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Php) and [MySQL](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MySQL). > > Five years is a long time in the techy world. Spend the cash and buy a newer book. Do you or anyone else have any recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-changed-in-php-and-mysql-in-5-years/541087/7 "2010-05-30T18:12:07Z")
[Do these help](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_sq_top?ie=UTF8&keywords=php%206%20mysql%20book&index=blended&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=032152599X&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=08BRARE7PCEHW6RYGYS1) (top six listed)? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-has-changed-in-php-and-mysql-in-5-years/541087/8 "2010-06-01T14:19:01Z")
Humm. I was really actually hoping dope-php-ers would be able to reccomend from personal experience than doing the amazon equivalent of ‘let me google that for you’. But thanks anyway 🙂 I did end up purchasing one from the top sellers list on amazon (UK amazon actually)… > **[Learning PHP, MySQL and Javascript: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Dynamic...](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-MySQL-JavaScript-Robin-Nixon/dp/0596157134)** > > Buy Learning PHP, MySQL and Javascript: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Dynamic Websites 1 by Nixon, Robin (ISBN: 9780596157135) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I have actually got most of the _old_ book done, but I like the fact this one includes javascript, and I see no harm in going through a book and being taught things I already picked up before. Re-inforces it.