What alternative methods or resources could be more beneficial for gaining practical PHP programming skills besides certification courses?

One alternative method for gaining practical PHP programming skills is to work on real-world projects or contribute to open-source projects. This hands-on experience allows for practical application of PHP concepts and problem-solving skills. Additionally, online tutorials, forums, and communities dedicated to PHP programming can provide valuable resources and guidance.

<?php

// Example of working on a real-world project:
// Create a simple PHP script that calculates the area of a circle

$radius = 5;
$area = pi() * pow($radius, 2);

echo "The area of the circle with radius $radius is: $area";

?>