Introduction
Lost and Found portal for my college as part of a practical project,During the August–December 2024 semester, I developed a fully functional . This wasn’t just an assignment—it was a solution to a real problem we face on campus almost daily.
Students misplace things like ID cards, USB drives, books, and even headphones. Because there was no central system to report or claim lost items, I decided to build one—simple, clean, and useful.
Why I Chose This Project
Honestly, I saw a need. As a BCA student, I wanted to work on something that wasn’t just theoretical but had real-world relevance. I kept hearing friends say, “I lost my ID again!” or “Did anyone find a charger in Lab 2?”
That sparked the idea: Why not build a platform where students can post what they’ve lost or found? No need to hunt down notices or message random WhatsApp groups.
Project Highlights
1. User Accounts
-
- Secure sign-up and login features using PHP & Mysql
-
- Role-based access to manage content
2. Item Posting System
-
- Post details of lost or found items, including title, description, location, date, and an image
-
- View all listings neatly categorised
3. Admin Panel
-
- Admins can remove duplicate/spam posts
-
- Moderation tools to ensure quality and safety
4. Clean UI
-
- Simple interface with a focus on usability
-
- Fully responsive across desktop and mobile devices
Tech Stack I Used
-
- Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
-
- Backend: PHP
-
- Database: Mysql
-
- Hosting: Hostinger
It was a pure PHP-Mysql stack—no frameworks this time, because I wanted to build everything from scratch to understand how things work under the hood.
Challenges I Faced
-
- Structuring the database in a way that supports flexible searching and filtering
-
- Securing the login system against SQL injection and weak password issues
-
- Making the UI responsive and intuitive without using frameworks
I spent a lot of time debugging, learning from forums, and testing on different browsers. Every problem taught me something new.
Screenshots
What I Learned
This project strengthened my core skills in:
-
- Full-stack web development
-
- Working with databases and SQL
-
- Authentication & security practices
-
- Thinking from the user’s perspective
It also taught me how to go from a problem to a working solution, which is the essence of being a developer.
Final Thoughts
This Lost and Found portal might seem simple, but it made a big difference on campus. And for me, it was a step forward in my journey toward becoming a capable full-stack developer.
If you’re a student or developer working on similar projects, I’d love to connect. Check out more of my work here on shaniraj.net or connect with me on LinkedIn.
