Installing PHP

Before you can start writing PHP code, you need to set up a development environment. This lesson will guide you through installing PHP on Windows, Mac, and Linux, plus setting up a local web server.

Installation Options

There are two main approaches to installing PHP:

Method	Pros	Cons	Best For
All-in-One Package (XAMPP, MAMP, WAMP)	Easy setup, includes Apache & MySQL, GUI tools	Larger download, may include unused features	Beginners, quick setup
Standalone PHP	Lightweight, full control, latest version	Manual configuration, command-line only	Advanced users, production-like setup

Option 1: XAMPP (Recommended for Beginners)

XAMPP is a free, cross-platform package that includes Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Perl. It's the easiest way to get started.

Installing XAMPP on Windows

1. Download XAMPP from apachefriends.org
2. Run the installer (xampp-windows-x64-installer.exe)
3. Choose installation directory (default: C:\xampp)
4. Select components (keep all defaults)
5. Click "Next" through the installation
6. Launch XAMPP Control Panel
7. Click "Start" next to Apache and MySQL

Installing XAMPP on Mac

1. Download XAMPP for Mac from apachefriends.org
2. Open the .dmg file
3. Drag XAMPP to Applications folder
4. Open XAMPP from Applications
5. Click "Start" for Apache and MySQL

Installing XAMPP on Linux

# Download XAMPP
wget https://www.apachefriends.org/xampp-files/8.2.12/xampp-linux-x64-8.2.12-0-installer.run

# Make it executable
chmod +x xampp-linux-x64-8.2.12-0-installer.run

# Run installer
sudo ./xampp-linux-x64-8.2.12-0-installer.run

# Start XAMPP
sudo /opt/lampp/lampp start

Option 2: Standalone PHP Installation

Windows

1. Download PHP from windows.php.net
2. Choose "Thread Safe" version (VS16 x64)
3. Extract to C:\php
4. Add C:\php to system PATH
5. Rename php.ini-development to php.ini

Mac (using Homebrew)

# Install Homebrew if not installed
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

# Install PHP
brew install php

# Verify installation
php -v

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

# Update package list
sudo apt update

# Install PHP and common extensions
sudo apt install php php-cli php-mysql php-mbstring php-xml

# Verify installation
php -v

Verifying Your Installation

After installation, verify PHP is working correctly:

Method 1: Command Line

# Check PHP version
php -v

# Run PHP code directly
php -r "echo 'Hello from PHP!';"

Method 2: Create a Test File

Create a file named test.php in your web server's document root:

• XAMPP Windows: C:\xampp\htdocs\test.php
• XAMPP Mac: /Applications/XAMPP/htdocs/test.php
• XAMPP Linux: /opt/lampp/htdocs/test.php

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Then visit http://localhost/test.php in your browser. You should see a detailed PHP information page.

Setting Up a Code Editor

While you can write PHP in any text editor, these are recommended:

Editor	Features	Best For
VS Code	Free, extensions, IntelliSense, debugging	Most developers
PHPStorm	Professional IDE, advanced features, paid	Professional development
Sublime Text	Fast, lightweight, extensible	Quick editing
Atom	Free, hackable, GitHub integration	Customization lovers

Common Installation Issues

Summary

What's Next?

Now that PHP is installed, you're ready to write your first program! In the next lesson, we'll create a complete PHP file, understand the basic syntax, and run it on your local server.