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Symfony for Beginners: Build Modern Web Apps and APIs

Name: Symfony for Beginners: Build Modern Web Apps and APIs
Rating: 4.9 (9 reviews)

Develop clean, maintainable PHP web applications and APIs using real-world best practices and industry standards

Bestseller

Hot & New

Created byDave Hollingworth

Last updated 4/2026

English

What you'll learn

Build and structure modern PHP web applications and APIs using Symfony
Authentication and authorisation, including role-based access control
Work with databases using the Doctrine ORM for clean, maintainable data handling
Debug and develop efficiently using Symfony’s built-in tools and CLI
Handle forms, validation, and user input quickly and securely
All source code shown is included

Course content

11 sections • 66 lectures • 4h 21m total length

Introduction and Welcome1:03
In this lecture, I’ll introduce you to the course, cover what the prerequisites are, and how to get the most out of the course.
Install the Required Software2:15
In this lecture, I’ll guide you through installing all the required software so you can set up your development environment and start working with Symfony.

Create a New Symfony Project2:19
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create a new Symfony project on your local machine.
Run the Development Web Server3:41
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to run Symfony’s development web server so you can view and test your application in the browser.
Controllers and Responses: Create a Controller for the Homepage6:34
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create a controller for the homepage and return a response to the browser.
Views: Install the Twig Template Engine using Symfony Flex6:15
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to install the Twig template engine using Symfony Flex so you can start building dynamic views.
Reduce Repetition with Template Inheritance using Layouts3:38
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to use template inheritance with layouts in Twig to reduce repetition and keep your views clean and maintainable.

Using Console Commands & the Maker Bundle4:00
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to use Symfony console commands and the Maker Bundle to quickly generate code and speed up development.
Generate a Controller and Template2:55
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to generate a controller and its corresponding template using the maker bundle.
Specify Route Names and HTTP Methods3:12
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to define route names and restrict routes to specific HTTP methods in Symfony.
Use Route Names for More Robust Code3:05
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to use route names to make your application code more reliable and easier to maintain.
Output Data Using Twig's Alternative Syntax4:34
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to output data in templates using Twig’s alternative syntax for cleaner and more readable views.

Create a New Database1:58
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create a new database for your application and prepare it for use with Symfony.
Install the Doctrine ORM and Configure the Connection3:49
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to install Doctrine ORM and configure the database connection for your application.
Create an Entity Class6:11
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create an entity class to represent and manage data in your application.
Use a Migration to Create the Table in the Database3:08
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to use a migration to create a database table from your entity.
Modifying Tables: Rolling Back Migrations and Synchronising Entities4:54
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to modify database tables by rolling back migrations and keeping your entities in sync with the database.

Add Development Data Using Fixtures4:25
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to add development data to your database using special classes called fixtures.
Retrieve Data Using a Doctrine Repository & The Service Container4:09
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to retrieve data from the database using a Doctrine repository instead of using raw SQL. You'll also learn what the Symfony service container is.
Display Data with Twig3:49
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to display data in your templates using Twig syntax.
Enable the Debugging Profiler3:32
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to enable the debugging profiler to inspect and debug your application, getting a wealth of details about it to help with development.
Get the ID from the Request5:50
In this lecture, I’ll show you different methods of extracting an ID from the incoming request so you can use it to load specific data.
Retrieve an Individual Record6:47
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to retrieve a single record from the database using its identifier.
Show an Individual Record1:40
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to display a single record in your application using a template.

Install the Form Package & Create a Form4:57
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to install the form package and create your first form to handle user input.
Configure Form Options5:02
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to configure form options to control how your forms behave and are rendered.
Display the Form & Configure its HTML4:09
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to display a form in a template and configure its HTML structure for proper rendering.
Process the Submitted Form & Insert a New Record4:33
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to handle form submission and insert a new record into the database from the submitted data.
Install the Validator & Configure Validation Constraints6:16
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to install the validator component and configure validation constraints to enforce rules on your form data.
Add Flash Messages to Responses2:24
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to add flash messages to responses to give users feedback after actions like form submissions.
Edit an Existing Record5:41
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to retrieve and update an existing record in the database using a form.
Delete an Existing Record6:13
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to safely delete an existing record from the database.
Prevent Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Attacks4:03
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to protect your application against Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks, by using the Symfony security package.
Using Symfony CLI Shortcuts1:31
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to use shortcuts with the Symfony CLI to speed up common tasks.

Creating a new Web Application2:03
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create a new Symfony web application using the --webapp option for a preconfigured setup.
Generating a CRUD Controller5:39
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to generate a CRUD controller with full create, read, update, and delete functionality.
Adding Relationships Between Entities with Doctrine4:11
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to add and manage relationships between entities using Doctrine.
Saving Related Objects using Fixtures7:30
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create and save related objects using fixtures.
Retrieve and View Associated Entity Objects3:35
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to retrieve and display related entity objects using Doctrine associations.
Using Loop Variables and Partial Templates in Twig3:50
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to use loop variables and partial templates in Twig to make your views cleaner and more reusable.
Adding Related Entity Fields to a Form3:37
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to add related entity fields to a form so you can manage relationships through user input.

Create a User Entity and Database Table2:32
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create a User entity and generate the corresponding database table.
Send emails from Symfony using Mailer7:16
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to send emails from your application using Symfony Mailer.
Create a Registration Page8:10
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create a registration page so users can sign up for your application.
Create Login and Logout Pages4:11
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create login and logout pages to handle user authentication in your application.
Add a User Checker to Prevent Unverified User Access3:14
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to add a user checker to restrict access for unverified users before they can use the application.
Remember Me: Add an Option to Remember the Login4:09
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to add a “remember me” option so users can stay logged in across sessions.
Add a Secure Password Reset Form3:54
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to add a secure password reset form so users can safely regain access to their accounts.

Restrict Access to a Page to Logged-in Users4:14
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to restrict access to a page so only logged-in users can view it.
Conditionally show links in a Twig Template2:03
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to conditionally display links in Twig templates based on the user’s authentication state or permissions.
User Administration with EasyAdmin3:47
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to manage users through an admin interface using EasyAdmin.
Configure the EasyAdmin Dashboard3:43
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to configure and customise the EasyAdmin dashboard for your application.
Configure the User Admin Index and Form6:24
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to configure the user admin index and form to manage user data in EasyAdmin.
Configure the User Admin Form for Editing a User3:31
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to configure the user admin form to edit existing users in EasyAdmin.
Add an Admin User and Restrict Access using the Admin Role5:28
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create an admin user and restrict access to admin features using roles.
Add Roles to the User Form2:11
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to add role management to the user form so you can assign permissions to users.

Create an API Controller and Configure a Stateless Response3:34
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create an API controller and configure it to return stateless responses.
Serialise the Database Data using the Serialiser4:33
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to serialise database data into a structured format using the Serializer component.
Get an Individual Resource4:22
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to retrieve a single resource from your API using its identifier.
Create a New Resource3:03
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create a new resource through your API and persist it to the database.
Update an Existing Resource3:53
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to update an existing resource through your API and save the changes to the database.
Delete an Existing Resource1:17
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to delete an existing resource through your API and remove it from the database.
Authentication using an Access Token4:45
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to secure your API using access tokens for authentication.
Creating an API-only Application1:19
In this lecture, I’ll show you how to create an API-only application using the --api option for a streamlined setup.

Requirements

Basic knowledge of PHP, including classes and objects, and how to work with a database
You should be comfortable installing software on your computer, and working on the command line
No prior experience with Symfony or other frameworks is required

Description

Symfony is a modern, powerful PHP framework that allows you to build secure applications quickly and easily. Symfony provides a rich set of libraries for common tasks, which lets you focus on your project by minimising the amount of code you need to write.

Using Symfony makes your PHP projects easier to write and maintain and more secure.

Learn how to build modern, structured web applications and APIs using Symfony, one of the most powerful PHP frameworks available today.

Understand how Symfony works and how it structures modern PHP applications
Set up a Symfony project and navigate its folder structure
Work with routing, controllers, and responses
Use services and dependency injection effectively
Connect to a database using the Doctrine ORM
Create, read, update, and delete data through entities and repositories
Handle forms, validation, and user input securely
Implement authentication and basic user roles
Build RESTful APIs
Follow best practices for clean, maintainable Symfony code

The essential skills required to understand and use the Symfony framework.

Developing PHP applications is faster and more secure if you use a framework like Symfony. Learning the right way to use Symfony puts a very powerful tool at your fingertips.

Content and Overview

This course is designed for developers who know PHP but don't know how to use Symfony. I designed the course for developers who want to develop full, feature-rich applications quickly and easily using the Symfony framework.

This course takes you from basic PHP knowledge to confidently working with Symfony’s core features, including routing, controllers, services, and database integration with Doctrine. Step by step, you’ll learn how real-world applications are built using Symfony's clean architecture and best practices.

Suitable for all PHP developers, you'll start by learning the core features of Symfony.
You'll learn how to organise your code the Symfony way, and how to work efficiently with it.
We'll build a full web application from scratch, with each concept explained in detail at every stage.
Throughout the course, we'll build code that you can reuse in all your projects.
All the source code developed in the lectures is available to download.
All the time we'll adhere to industry standards and best practices.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to build your own Symfony applications, create RESTful APIs, handle user input safely, and understand how to structure maintainable PHP projects like a professional developer.

Complete with all the code shown in the lectures, you'll be able to work alongside the instructor and will receive a verifiable certificate of completion upon finishing the course.

Also, at all times throughout the course you have access to the instructor in the Q&A section to ask for help with any topic related to the course.

Enrol now and become a professional Symfony developer!

Who this course is for:

PHP developers who want to move beyond basic scripts and start using a modern framework
Beginners to Symfony looking for a structured, practical introduction
Anyone familiar with basic PHP who wants to follow industry best practices

Symfony for Beginners: Build Modern Web Apps and APIs

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction and Setup2 lectures • 3min

Symfony Framework Fundamentals: Controllers and Views5 lectures • 22min

Generators, Routes and Twig Fundamentals5 lectures • 18min

Creating Database and Tables using Migrations5 lectures • 20min

Working with Database Data and Retrieving Entities7 lectures • 30min

Forms, Validation & Flash Messages10 lectures • 45min

Specifying Relationships in Doctrine7 lectures • 30min

Authentication: Registration and Login7 lectures • 33min

Authorisation and User Administration with EasyAdmin8 lectures • 31min

APIs8 lectures • 27min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: