Pro PHP XML and Web Services
By: Robert Richards
Published by Apress

I got this book because I consider myself a "specialist" in the area of Web Services. I've been studying and practicing all the various aspects of web service development for almost 3 years now and this is the first book I've found that does more than skim the surface.

By : Nathan Daniel

First up - the title; Pro PHP XML and Web Services. Honestly, I think you could split this book into two different books: (1) XML 101. (2)PHP Web Services. Beyond the two major sections of the book, the second half (Web Services) can be further split into two more pieces, XML Processing/Reading, XML Generation (or the specs on different API systems, such as XML-RPC, SOAP, etc.).

The first half of the book gives enormous detail on XML. In depth history, how to's, tons of code examples, overall giving me the feeling that I was reading a book on XML having nothing to do with PHP! The depth into which XML is explained is enough reason to pick this book up.

The focus is then shifted from straight XML to how to work with XML in PHP. It covers how to get PHP5 up and working to be able to parse, generate and do whatever you please with XML. It also covers XML validation and has an entire chapter dedicated to XML security.

In depth detail is given to the new PHP5 DOM, and various other XML parsing options. Given all the parsing options, there's even information (a chapter's worth) outlining the efficiency of each, where and when to use these parsers for maximum optimization. Ending this portion of the book is a chapter on XML and PEAR.

Once you get through the XML portion, and the parsing and generating portions of the book, you finally reach the actual web services portion. This section covers RSS/Atom feeds, what they are, how to use them, how to build them. There are also chapters covering WDDX, XML-RPC, REST, SOAP, UDDI, and Web Services built with PEAR (including but not limited to: Amazon, Google, and Yahoo - brief, but discusses how to get started).

The book ends with an array of various other technologies which can be utilized using XML and PHP (XMLWriter for PHP5 and AJAX to name a few).

Following the "written" portion of the book, the Appendix supplements as a nearly complete reference manual for everything mentioned throughout the book so even advanced developers would find at least this section useful. It also includes a section on XML and PHP6 for anyone who may already be looking to go there.

Overall, I would give this book a 9 out of 10. My only drawback is I'm a PHP4 guy still - yet to make the move to PHP5. Understandably, most PHP books are now using PHP5 and, this one is no exception.

If you've yet to migrate to PHP5 but want a good book on XML, I still suggest this one! If you've already migrated to PHP5 and are even thinking about XML anything, then you should definately consider adding this book to your library.

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