How can beginners improve their understanding of PHP syntax and database manipulation by referring to online resources like tutorials and manuals?

Beginners can improve their understanding of PHP syntax and database manipulation by referring to online tutorials and manuals that provide step-by-step explanations and examples. These resources can help beginners learn the correct syntax for PHP functions and database queries, as well as best practices for interacting with databases. By following along with tutorials and practicing examples, beginners can gain hands-on experience and build their skills in PHP programming.

// Example code snippet demonstrating database connection and query execution in PHP
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "username";
$password = "password";
$dbname = "myDB";

// Create connection
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);

// Check connection
if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}

// SQL query
$sql = "SELECT id, firstname, lastname FROM MyGuests";
$result = $conn->query($sql);

if ($result->num_rows > 0) {
    // Output data of each row
    while($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
        echo "id: " . $row["id"]. " - Name: " . $row["firstname"]. " " . $row["lastname"]. "<br>";
    }
} else {
    echo "0 results";
}

// Close connection
$conn->close();