POTD 4: Database Interfacing
Due 17-Mar-2026 19-Mar-2026, 1pm EST[Due to the severe weather, we had to move the class discussion and POTD down by one meeting. The due date for POTD 4 has been updated. Please refer to the University’s announcement on 16-Mar-2026.]
Purpose: Hands-on experience with database interfacing, using PHP and PDO to manipulate the database
Please note: This exercise focuses on making a web application interact with a database. For the fundamental concepts of web development, please refer to CS 4640 (Web Programming Language).
You may work alone or with 2-3 students in this course (max size=4).
In this activity, you will be exposed to simple web programming. This activity provides an overview of database programming, a very brief introduction to HTML, CSS, and PHP; as well as web deployment. Please note: our focus is on the database part, not the web programming part.
The intention of this activity is to help you get started with your project (if you plan to develop a web app using PHP). If you are already familiar with HTML, CSS, and PHP, feel free to use this activity to refresh your memory or simply do it for fun. If you do not plan to develop a PHP project, you may do this activity using any language of your choice.
Overall, you will
- Understand how database programming works in general (overview)
- Understand how web programming works in general. (Here is a very brief intro)
- Prepare your database
- Write a small web program to interact with your database
For this POTD, there are three options. Complete at least one option.
- Follow the POTD description to develop a small PHP-based "visitor management system" software
- Use the language you plan to use for your course project to develop a "visitor management system" software interacting with a small database
- Use any language of your choice or try some new language to develop a "visitor management system" software interacting with a small database
You may use a template (template.zip) as a starting point or create a PHP program from scratch. You will implement a PHP program to:
- Create a table (this is optional)
- You may follow along and create a visitors table to maintain information about the visitors, or
- You may use the provided visitor_system.sql to create the table.
- Note: Depending on how you design the departments,
you may or may not need a departments table.
- The provided template and example use a departments table to maintain information about departments.
- If you do not plan to have a table to maintain the department information, no need to create a table for it.
- Insert data into a visitors table
- Display existing visitor information on the screen
- Update the visitors table with some data
- Delete visitor information from the table
- Drop the table from the database (this is optional)
Example screen is shown below
Optional:
You may modify your interface the way you like. Get creative. Feel free to add additional elements you feel should be included and have fun!
To deploy and test your program
- To deploy your web program: use one of the following options to deploy your PHP program
Additional resource: Basic web deployment
- To test your program
- Be sure the web server is available (if you use XAMPP, start your local web server)
- Access your web page via a web browser. Enter the URL based on where you host your PHP program
- Create a table, using the PHP program. Access your database and verify that the table has been created
- Insert data into the table, using the PHP program. Access your database and verify that the record (or row) of data has been inserted
- Retrieve data, using the PHP program. Access your database. Verify that the data retrieved and displayed on the screen (browser) match the data in your database.
- Update data, using the PHP program. Access your database. Verify if the record (or row) of data is updated correctly
- Delete data, using the PHP program. Access your database. Verify if the record (or row) of data is deleted correctly
- Drop a table, using the PHP program. Access your database. Verify if the table is dropped (completely removed from a database) successfully
Grading rubric
[Total: 10 points]: Done (or provide evidence of your attempt, full or reasonable effort)- (5 points) — Providing evidence of your attempt, minimal effort
(-2.5 points) for 24 hours late (submitted after 17-Mar-2026 1pm EST, by 18-Mar-2026 1pm EST)
(-5 points) for 48 hours late (submitted after 18-Mar-2026 1pm EST, by 19-Mar-2026 1pm EST)
(-2.5 points) for 24 hours late (submitted after 19-Mar-2026 1pm EST, by 20-Mar-2026 1pm EST)
(-5 points) for 48 hours late (submitted after 20-Mar-2026 1pm EST, by 21-Mar-2026 1pm EST)
Submission
- Each team submits only one copy.
- Upload all of your source code files to POTD 4 on Gradescope. Please remove your credential from the connection code; e.g., remove your username and password from connect-db.php)
- Make sure you connect your partner to your group on Gradescope so that everyone receives credit.
- Please verify that your POTD is accessible. Making your submission available to instructors and course staff is your responsibility; if we cannot access or open your file(s), we have to assign a zero grade. Be sure to test access to your file(s) before the due date.
Copyright © 2026 Upsorn Praphamontripong
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CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.
Last updated 2026-03-07 19:23