PHP Professional Standards & Competencies 5

Question 1

Which PSR standard defines the Logger interface that most PHP logging libraries implement?

Accepted Answer

PSR-3

Answer

PSR-3 defines the `Psr\Log\LoggerInterface` with methods like `debug()`, `info()`, `warning()`, and `error()` that Monolog and others implement.

Question 2

What is the professional reason to avoid catching broad `Exception` or `Throwable` at the application logic level?

Accepted Answer

Catching too broadly hides unexpected errors and prevents proper diagnosis of specific failure modes

Answer

Catching `Exception` globally masks bugs by treating programming errors as recoverable conditions; catch specific exception types relevant to the operation.

Question 3

A junior developer suggests storing user passwords as MD5 hashes for performance. What is the professional response?

Accepted Answer

Reject it — use `password_hash()` with BCRYPT or ARGON2 because MD5 is cryptographically broken for password storage

Answer

MD5 is not a password hashing algorithm; PHP's `password_hash()` with BCRYPT or ARGON2 uses salting and work factors designed to resist brute-force attacks.

Question 4

What does 'separation of concerns' mean in the context of PHP MVC applications?

Accepted Answer

Keep business logic (Model), presentation (View), and request handling (Controller) in distinct layers with minimal overlap

Answer

SoC ensures each layer has a single responsibility: models handle data/business rules, views render output, and controllers coordinate the two.

Question 5

Which practice helps ensure backward compatibility when evolving a PHP REST API used by external clients?

Accepted Answer

Version the API (e.g., /v1/, /v2/) and maintain old versions for a deprecation period before removal

Answer

API versioning gives existing clients time to migrate to new endpoints without breaking, following the principle that published contracts must be honored until formally retired.

PHP - PHP Programming Language Practice Test

PHP - PHP Programming Language Practice Test

PHP Professional Standards & Competencies 5