PHP Install & Setup: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Step 1: Choose a PHP Installation Method

There are two ways to install PHP:

  1. Manually install PHP (Advanced users)
  2. Use a local server environment (Recommended for beginners)

Step 2: Install a Local Server Environment (Recommended for Beginners)

Using a local server package is the easiest way to set up PHP, as it includes PHP, Apache, and MySQL in one package.

Windows:

✅ XAMPP (Recommended)

  1. Download XAMPP from Apache Friends.
  2. Run the installer and select:
    • Apache
    • MySQL
    • PHP
  3. Click Next and complete the installation.
  4. Open XAMPP Control Panel and start Apache & MySQL.

📌 Check PHP Version

  • Open http://localhost/dashboard in your browser.
  • Or create a new file phpinfo.php in C:\xampp\htdocs\ with:
<?php
phpinfo();
?>
  • Open http://localhost/phpinfo.php to verify installation.

✅ WAMP (Alternative for Windows)

  1. Download WAMP from wampserver.com.
  2. Install and launch WAMP.
  3. Click the WAMP icon in the system tray and start the services.

macOS:

✅ MAMP (Recommended)

  1. Download MAMP from mamp.info.
  2. Install and start MAMP.
  3. Open http://localhost/MAMP/ to verify installation.

✅ Using Homebrew (Advanced Users)

  1. Install Homebrew if not already 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:

✅ Using Terminal (Ubuntu/Debian)

  1. Update system packages:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Install PHP and Apache:

 
sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php -y

Restart Apache:

 
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Verify installation:

 
php -v

✅ For Red Hat/CentOS:

  1. Install PHP:
sudo yum install php

Restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart httpd

Check PHP version:

php -v

Step 3: Configure PHP (Optional but Recommended)

  • Locate your PHP configuration file (php.ini):

    • XAMPP: C:\xampp\php\php.ini
    • WAMP: C:\wamp64\bin\php\php.ini
    • Linux/macOS: /etc/php.ini or /etc/php/7.x/apache2/php.ini

  • Enable error reporting for debugging:

display_errors = On
error_reporting = E_ALL

Set timezone:

date.timezone = "America/New_York"

Step 4: Test Your PHP Installation

  • Open your text editor (Notepad++, VS Code, Sublime Text).

  • Create a new file: test.php.

  • Add the following code:

<?php
echo "PHP is working!";
?>

  • Save the file in the server root directory:

    • XAMPP: C:\xampp\htdocs\test.php
    • WAMP: C:\wamp64\www\test.php
    • Linux/macOS: /var/www/html/test.php

  • Open your browser and go to:

http://localhost/test.php

Step 5: Next Steps

✅ Install a Code Editor (VS Code, PHPStorm, Sublime Text)
✅ Learn PHP Basics (Variables, Loops, Functions)
✅ Connect PHP to MySQL Database

🚀 Done! Now you’re ready to start coding with PHP!
Would you like a guide on PHP with MySQL setup next? 😊