How to Install PHP on Windows
If you’re a web developer looking to test your PHP scripts on a Windows machine, you’ll need to install PHP on your operating system first. While PHP is commonly associated with Linux servers, it is also possible to run PHP on a Windows desktop for development purposes. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to install PHP on Windows.
Step 1: Download PHP
The first step is to download PHP from the official PHP website. Visit https://www.php.net/downloads and download the latest version of PHP for Windows. Make sure to choose the appropriate version based on your Windows system architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
Step 2: Extract PHP Files
Once the download is complete, extract the PHP files to a folder on your Windows machine. For example, you can extract the files to C:\php. This will be the directory where PHP is installed on your system.
Step 3: Configure PHP
Next, you’ll need to configure PHP to work properly on your Windows machine. Open the extracted PHP folder and locate the php.ini file. Copy this file and paste it into the C:\Windows directory. This will ensure that PHP can be accessed from any location on your computer.
Step 4: Add PHP to System Path
To make PHP accessible from the command line, you’ll need to add the PHP directory to the system path. Right-click on the Start menu and select “System”. In the System Properties window, click on “Environment Variables” and under System variables, select the “Path” variable. Click “Edit” and add the path to the PHP directory (e.g., C:\php) to the list of paths. Click “OK” to save the changes.
Step 5: Test PHP Installation
Finally, you can test the PHP installation on your Windows machine. Open a command prompt and type php -v to check the PHP version. If PHP is installed correctly, you should see the PHP version information displayed in the command prompt.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed PHP on your Windows machine. You can now start developing and testing your PHP scripts locally. Happy coding!