Ok, this will give you some very basics of what php is, and how it works. Ill try to make it as new-to-programming freindly, but it will help if your at least good with understanding syntax of coding languages. Also, I wont go directly into how to install PHP onto your server, or local computer, but here is a few helpful links:
Auto installer for Windows:
http://codingforums.com/s howthread.php?t=3992
Sections:
1. What is PHP
a. Picking PHP
b. Installing PHP
2. Getting started
a. Checking your server
b. Your first script
3. Variables
a. Declaring variables
b. Filling variables
c. Using variables
Learn PHP through lessons and examples that are based on plausible real world applications. Also contained on tizag.com is a MySQL tutorial to aid you in your PHP/MySQL knowledge.
This tutorial is a starting point to Object orientated programming (OOP) which is a commonly used term when discussing modern programming techniques. One of the things that makes humans stand out is the ability to categorise - we put objects into categories of similar type of function.
A tutorial dedicated to PHP arrays and how to use them as queues, lists, sorters, etc. It uses easy to follow, executable examples to help you learn these intermediate array techniques.
This tutorial will teach you the basics of the PHP language -- looping, variables, forms, etc. It does not venture into functions, arrays, objects, or database/file manipulation.