Build a Simple PHP To-Do List App: Learn CRUD with Best Practices

If you are just starting out with PHP and want a simple, hands-on project to learn server-side logic, forms, and basic database operations, this tutorial is for you. In this post, we will walk through creating a PHP To-Do List application that uses a web form to perform CRUD operations – Create, Read, Update, and Delete.

This beginner-friendly project will introduce you to the foundational elements of PHP and MySQL while demonstrating best practices in form handling, database security, and structuring your code.

What You Will Learn

• How to create a simple HTML form in PHP
• Handling form data using $_POST and $_GET
• Using MySQLi or PDO for database interactions
• Best practices for securing user input (e.g. prepared statements)
• Structuring your app with clean, readable code
• Optional: Using basic CSS to improve UI

Project Setup

You will need the following:

• PHP 8+ installed (XAMPP, MAMP, WAMP, or a live server)
• MySQL or MariaDB
• A code editor
• A browser to test your app

Application Features

Here is what our PHP To-Do List will be able to do:

• Add new tasks
• View all tasks
• Edit existing tasks
• Delete tasks

Copy

CREATE DATABASE todo_app;

USE todo_app;

CREATE TABLE tasks (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    task VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL
);

We will be using a single HTML/PHP form to create and update tasks, with GET parameters to trigger edit and delete actions.

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<?php
// Database connection
$host = 'localhost';
$user = 'root';
$pass = '';
$dbname = 'todo_app';

$conn = new mysqli($host, $user, $pass, $dbname);
if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die('Connection failed: ' . $conn->connect_error);
}

// Add task
if (isset($_POST['add'])) {
    $task = trim($_POST['task']);
    if (!empty($task)) {
        $stmt = $conn->prepare("INSERT INTO tasks (task) VALUES (?)");
        $stmt->bind_param("s", $task);
        $stmt->execute();
        $stmt->close();
    }
    header("Location: " . $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']);
    exit;
}

// Delete task
if (isset($_GET['delete'])) {
    $id = (int)$_GET['delete'];
    $stmt = $conn->prepare("DELETE FROM tasks WHERE id = ?");
    $stmt->bind_param("i", $id);
    $stmt->execute();
    $stmt->close();
    header("Location: " . $_SERVER['PHP_SELF']);
    exit;
}

// Get all tasks
$result = $conn->query("SELECT * FROM tasks ORDER BY id DESC");
?>
    <style>
        body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 40px; }
        form { margin-bottom: 20px; }
        input[type="text"] { padding: 8px; width: 300px; }
        button { padding: 8px 12px; }
        ul { list-style-type: none; padding: 0; }
        li { margin: 8px 0; }
        .delete { color: red; text-decoration: none; margin-left: 10px; }
    </style>
    <h2>PHP To-Do List</h2>

    <form method="POST" action="">
        <input type="text" name="task" placeholder="Enter new task" required>
        <button type="submit" name="add">Add Task</button>
    </form>

    <ul>
        <?php while ($row = $result->fetch_assoc()): ?>
            <li>
                <?php echo htmlspecialchars($row['task']); ?>
                <a href="?delete=<?php echo $row['id']; ?>" class="delete" onclick="return confirm('Delete this task?');">Delete</a>
            </li>
        <?php endwhile; ?>
    </ul>

Best Practices Used

• Prepared Statements with MySQLi to prevent SQL injection
• Input validation and sanitization
• Separation of logic and presentation
• Reusable functions for database operations
• Single file structure

Screenshots And Screencast

Want to Go Deeper?

If you enjoyed this tutorial and want a more structured, in-depth journey into PHP, check out the following resources:

Learning PHP – The Book

A beginner-friendly PHP book covering foundational programming concepts, real-world examples, and challenges to test your understanding.

Learning PHP – The Online Course

This video course complements the book and includes code walkthroughs, exercises, and bonus resources.

Need Help with Your PHP Project?

I am available for:

• One-on-one programming tutorials
• Updating or migrating PHP applications
• Debugging and optimization sessions

Contact Me to schedule a session or ask about custom services.

Final Thoughts

Creating a simple To-Do List app is a great way to get comfortable with PHP and MySQL. It reinforces the key concepts you will use in every real-world project: form handling, data management, and code organization.

Whether you are a student, a self-taught coder, or someone looking to rebuild their old PHP skills, this project is a great place to start.

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or run into any issues.