Intermediate terms
Docker Multi-Stage Builds
PHP 5.0+ Dockerfile builds using multiple FROM stages — build dependencies (Composer, Node, test tools) in earlier stages, copy only production artifacts to the final minimal image.
3mo ago
devops intermediate
Document Stores
PHP 7.0+
2
Databases that store semi-structured documents (JSON/BSON) — MongoDB, CouchDB — flexible schema, nested data, and horizontal scaling at the cost of no joins and eventual consistency.
3mo ago
database intermediate
DSN Security & Connection String Secrets
PHP 5.0+
Database credentials in connection strings must never be hardcoded — use environment variables or secrets managers, least-privilege users, and never log DSNs.
3mo ago
database intermediate
Data Clump
The same group of variables appearing together repeatedly — a signal they belong in a class together.
3mo ago
quality intermediate
Data Transfer Object (DTO)
PHP 8.0+
A simple object that carries data between layers or systems with no business logic — reducing coupling between layers and making data contracts explicit.
3mo ago
quality intermediate
Database Indexes — Types & Trade-offs
PHP 5.0+ B-Tree, hash, full-text, and partial indexes — each suited to different query patterns, with write overhead as the cost of read speed.
3mo ago
database intermediate
Database Indexing
PHP 5.0+
1
Indexes are data structures that allow the database to find rows matching a WHERE clause without scanning the entire table.
3mo ago
performance intermediate
Database Migrations
PHP 5.0+
1
Version-controlled, incremental scripts that evolve the database schema alongside code, enabling reproducible deployments and rollbacks.
3mo ago
general intermediate
Database Normalisation
PHP 5.0+
Organising relational database tables to reduce redundancy and improve integrity — from 1NF through 3NF (and beyond) as design guidelines.
3mo ago
general intermediate
Database Normalisation
1
The process of structuring a relational database to reduce redundancy and improve integrity, defined through progressive normal forms (1NF through BCNF).
3mo ago
database intermediate
Database Schema Design
PHP 5.0+
4
The process of defining tables, columns, data types, constraints, and relationships — decisions made at schema design time are expensive to reverse once data is live.
3mo ago
database intermediate
Database Transactions
PHP 5.1+ A sequence of SQL operations treated as a single atomic unit — all succeed or all roll back — enforcing ACID guarantees.
3mo ago
database intermediate
Database Views & Materialised Views
PHP 5.0+
1
A view is a saved SELECT query presented as a virtual table. A materialised view stores the query result physically — trading freshness for query speed.
3mo ago
database intermediate
DDD Value Objects in PHP
Immutable objects defined by their attributes rather than identity — Money, Email, Coordinate — that encapsulate validation and domain behaviour.
3mo ago
architecture intermediate
Dead Code Detection
PHP 7.1+
1
Identifying code that can never be executed — unreachable branches, always-true conditions, unused variables — via static analysis or coverage reports.
3mo ago
quality intermediate
Debouncing & Throttling
ES5 Debounce delays execution until input stops; throttle caps execution to once per interval — both control the frequency of expensive operations.
3mo ago
performance intermediate
declare(strict_types=1)
PHP 7.0+
1
Enables strict scalar type checking for function arguments and return values in a PHP file, preventing silent type coercion.
3mo ago
php intermediate
Decorator Pattern
PHP 5.0+
Wraps an object to add new behaviour dynamically without modifying its class or using inheritance.
3mo ago
general intermediate
Defence in Depth
PHP 5.0+ Layering multiple independent security controls so that bypassing one does not compromise the whole system.
3mo ago
general intermediate
Defensive Programming
Writing code that anticipates and handles invalid inputs, unexpected states, and failures gracefully.
3mo ago
quality intermediate