Course Overview
Following on from COMP 3015, this hands-on course was designed for students who are already able to build significant PHP web applications. COMP 4669 begins with a brief review of PHP topics, then introduces the Model-View-Controller (MVC) and Active Record patterns. Topics include RESTful APIs, Caching, Message Queues, and Cross Origin Resource Sharing (CORS). Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) libraries are used in assignments and labs to interact with MySQL databases. WebSockets are also discussed with an emphasis on secure development practices and application performance. Labs and assignments use open-source libraries and integrate with application framework and how to safely persist passwords and communicate with third party services. Participants use industry standard PHP frameworks to develop secure and scalable RESTful APIs with JSON responses. Application middleware is also introduced to handle CORS and cookie handling. COMP 4669 is an elective in the Applied Web Development (AWD), the Web and Mobile Application Development (WMA) Associate Certificates, and the CST FLEX Diploma. Upon completion, successful students will be able to build and deploy front-end, single-page-applications (SPAs) by creating back-end PHP services for commercial quality server-side web applications. This course will be offered in January 2026.
Prerequisite(s)
- 60% in COMP 3015
Credits
3.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Use the Composer package manager to leverage third party open-source libraries.
- Build server-side applications using a major, industry standard, Model-View-Controller (MVC) style, PHP framework.
- Interact with MySQL using an Object-Relational Mapper (ORM).
- Leverage message queues to process jobs in the background.
- Develop applications that implement Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) middleware.
- Write applications utilizing a caching server.
- Use the WebSocket protocol to build real time applications.
- Analyze and improve query performance.
- Explain how JSON can be used to interact with front-end applications.
- Adopt and implement web applications that talk to other web services through their SDK.
- Discuss security issues and write secure and robust code, resistant to errors and attacks.
- Develop and deploy high-quality and high-performing web applications to industry standards.
- Utilize the dependency injection pattern to write testable code when interacting with 3rd party APIs.
Effective as of Winter 2026
Related Programs
Advanced Web Applications with PHP (COMP 4669) is offered as a part of the following programs:
School of Computing and Academic Studies
- Applied Web Development
Associate Certificate Part-time
- Web and Mobile Application Development
Associate Certificate Part-time
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.