The way to Set up PHP on Home windows 10 and 11 (with Apache & MySQL)

This text explains methods to set up PHP 8.2 and Apache 2.4 on Home windows 10 or 11 (64-bit).

Linux and macOS customers usually have Apache and PHP pre-installed or out there through package deal managers. Home windows requires a bit extra effort. The steps beneath might work with different editions of Home windows, PHP, and Apache, however verify the documentation of every dependency for particular directions.

Contents:

1. Why PHP?
2. Why Set up PHP Domestically?
3. Various Set up Choices
4. Putting in Apache (elective)
5. Putting in PHP

Why PHP?

PHP stays probably the most widespread and common server-side programming language on the Net. It’s put in by most internet hosts, and has a easy studying curve, shut ties with the MySQL database, excellent documentation, and a large assortment of libraries to chop your improvement time. PHP might not be good, however you need to contemplate it in your subsequent internet utility. It’s the language of selection for Fb, Slack, Wikipedia, MailChimp, Etsy, and WordPress (the content material administration system which powers virtually 45% of the online).

Why Set up PHP Domestically?

Putting in PHP in your improvement PC lets you create and check web sites and purposes with out affecting the info or methods in your reside server.

Various Set up Choices

Earlier than you bounce in, there could also be an easier set up choices…

Utilizing an all-in-one package deal

All-in-one packages can be found for Home windows. They comprise Apache, PHP, MySQL, and different helpful dependencies in a single set up file. These packages embrace XAMPP, WampServer and Net.Developer.

These packages are simple to make use of, however they could not match your reside server surroundings. Putting in Apache and PHP manually will allow you to study extra concerning the system and configuration choices.

Utilizing a Linux digital machine

Microsoft Hyper-V (offered in Home windows Skilled) and VirtualBox are free hypervisors which emulate a PC so you’ll be able to set up one other working system.

You may set up any model of Linux, then comply with its Apache and PHP set up directions. Alternatively, distros resembling Ubuntu Server present them as commonplace (though they might not be the most recent editions).

Utilizing Home windows Subsystem for Linux 2

WSL2 can be a digital machine, however it’s tightly built-in into Home windows so actions resembling file sharing and localhost decision are seamless. You may set up quite a lot of Linux distros, so check with the suitable Apache and PHP directions.

Utilizing Docker

Docker creates a wrapper (often known as a container) round pre-configured utility dependencies resembling Apache, PHP, MySQL, MongoDB, and most different internet software program. Containers seem like full Linux Digital Machines however are significantly extra light-weight.

When you’ve put in Docker Desktop on Home windows, it’s simple to obtain, configure, and run Apache and PHP.

Docker is at present thought of the best choice for organising a PHP improvement surroundings. Try SitePoint’s article Setting Up a Trendy PHP Growth Atmosphere with Docker for an entire information to setting it up.

Putting in Apache (elective)

The next sections describe methods to set up Apache and PHP immediately on Home windows.

PHP supplies a built-in internet server, which you’ll be able to launch by navigating to a folder and operating the PHP executable with an -S parameter to set the localhost port. For instance:

cd myproject
php -S localhost:8000

You may then view PHP pages in a browser at http://localhost:8000.

This can be sufficient for fast checks, however your reside server will use Apache or comparable internet server software program. Emulating that surroundings as carefully as doable permits extra superior customization and will forestall improvement errors.

To put in Apache, obtain the most recent Win64 ZIP file from https://www.apachelounge.com/obtain/ and extract its Apache24 folder to the foundation of your C: drive. You’ll additionally want to put in the Visible C++ Redistributable for Visible Studio 2015–2020 (vc_redist_x64); the web page has a hyperlink on the high.

Open a cmd command immediate (not PowerShell) and begin Apache with:

cd C:Apache24bin
httpd

You could want to just accept a firewall exception earlier than the server begins to run. Open http://localhost in a browser and an “It really works!” message ought to seem. Notice:

• C:Apache24confhttpd.conf is Apache’s configuration file if it is advisable to change server settings.

• C:Apache24htdocs is the online server’s root content material folder. It incorporates a single index.html file with the “It really works!” message.

If Apache fails to start out, one other utility might be hogging port 80. (Skype is the prime candidate, and the Home windows app received’t allow you to disable it!) If this happens, edit C:Apache24confhttpd.conf and alter the road Pay attention 80 to Pay attention 8080 or some other free port. Restart Apache and, from that time onward, you’ll be able to load internet information at http://localhost:8080.

Cease the server by urgent Ctrl + C within the cmd terminal. The ReadMe file within the ZIP additionally supplies directions for putting in Apache as a Home windows service so it auto-starts on boot.

Putting in PHP

Set up PHP by following the steps beneath. Notice that there’s multiple strategy to configure Apache and PHP, however that is presumably the quickest methodology.

Step 1: Obtain the PHP information

Get the most recent PHP x64 Thread Secure ZIP package deal from https://home windows.php.internet/obtain/.

Create a brand new php folder within the root of your C: drive and extract the content material of the ZIP into it.

You may set up PHP anyplace in your system, however you’ll want to vary the paths referenced beneath if you happen to use something aside from C:php.

Step 3: Configure php.ini

PHP’s configuration file is php.ini. This doesn’t exist initially, so copy C:phpphp.ini-development to C:phpphp.ini. This default configuration supplies a improvement setup which reviews all PHP errors and warnings.

You may edit php.ini in a textual content editor, and it’s possible you’ll want to vary strains resembling these prompt beneath (use search to seek out the setting). Normally, you’ll have to take away a number one semicolon (;) to uncomment a price.

First, allow any required extensions in line with the libraries you wish to use. The next extensions ought to be appropriate for many purposes together with WordPress:

extension=curl
extension=gd
extension=mbstring
extension=pdo_mysql

If you wish to ship emails utilizing PHP’s mail() perform, enter the main points of an SMTP server within the [mail function] part (your ISP’s settings ought to be appropriate):

[mail function]
; For Win32 solely.
; http://php.internet/smtp
SMTP = mail.myisp.com
; http://php.internet/smtp-port
smtp_port = 25

; For Win32 solely.
; http://php.internet/sendmail-from
sendmail_from = my@emailaddress.com

Step 4: Add C:php to the PATH surroundings variable

To make sure Home windows can discover the PHP executable, you need to add it to the PATH surroundings variable. Click on the Home windows Begin button and kind “surroundings”, then click on Edit the system surroundings variables. Choose the Superior tab, and click on the Atmosphere Variables button.

Scroll down the System variables listing and click on Path, adopted by the Edit button. Click on New and add C:php.

Notice that older editions of Home windows present a single textual content field with paths separated by semi-colons (;).

Now OK your method out. You shouldn’t have to reboot, however it’s possible you’ll want to shut and restart any cmd terminals you will have open.

Step 5: Configure PHP as an Apache module

Guarantee Apache is not operating and open its C:Apache24confhttpd.conf configuration file in a textual content editor. Add the next strains to the underside of the file to set PHP as an Apache module (change the file areas if needed however use ahead slashes quite than Home windows backslashes):

# PHP8 module
PHPIniDir "C:/php"
LoadModule php_module "C:/php/php8apache2_4.dll"
AddType utility/x-httpd-php .php

Optionally, change the DirectoryIndex setting to make use of index.php because the default rather than index.html. The preliminary setting is:

<IfModule dir_module>
    DirectoryIndex index.html
</IfModule>

Change it to:

<IfModule dir_module>
    DirectoryIndex index.php index.html
</IfModule>

Save httpd.conf and check the updates from a cmd command line:

cd C:Apache24bin
httpd -t

Syntax OK will seem … until you will have errors in your configuration.

If all went nicely, begin Apache with httpd.

Step 6: Check a PHP file

Create a brand new file named index.php in Apache’s internet web page root folder at C:Apache24htdocs. Add the next PHP code:

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Open an internet browser and enter your server handle: http://localhost/. A PHP model web page ought to seem, displaying all PHP and Apache configuration settings.

Now you can create PHP websites and purposes in any subfolder of C:Apache24htdocs. If it is advisable to work multiple undertaking, contemplate defining Apache Digital Hosts so you’ll be able to run separate codebases on totally different localhost subdomains or ports.

Additional info:

Better of luck!