Book excerpt: In Practical PHP Web 2.0 Applications, PHP, MySQL, CSS, XHTML, and JavaScript/Ajax development techniques are brought together to show you how to create the hottest PHP web applications, from planning and design up to final implementation, without going over unnecessary basics that will hold you back. This book includes must-have application features such as search functionality, maps, blogs, dynamic image galleries, and personalized user areas. It covers everything in a practical, tutorial style so you can start working on your own projects as quickly as possible.