Are you a budding web developer looking to create dynamic websites using PHP? Or perhaps you’re an experienced coder wanting to set up a local development environment? Either way, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of running PHP programs in XAMPP, a popular free and open-source cross-platform web server solution stack package.
Before we dive into the process of running PHP programs, let’s take a moment to understand what XAMPP is and why it’s so popular among developers.XAMPP is an acronym that stands for:
As of 2025, the latest version of XAMPP is 8.2.12, which includes the following key components:
This combination of software provides a complete web development environment right out of the box, making it an ideal choice for both beginners and experienced developers.
The installation process for XAMPP varies slightly depending on your operating system. Here’s a quick guide for Windows, macOS, and Linux:
.exe file and follow the installation wizard.C:\xampp)..dmg file for macOS from the official website.chmod +x xampp-linux-x64-<version>.runsudo ./xampp-linux-x64-<version>.runOnce installed, you can start the Apache and MySQL services from the XAMPP Control Panel (on Windows and macOS) or using the command sudo /opt/lampp/lampp start on Linux.
With XAMPP installed, it’s time to set up your development environment. The key to this is understanding the htdocs directory, which serves as the root folder for your web server.The location of the htdocs directory varies by operating system:
C:\xampp\htdocs\/Applications/XAMPP/xamppfiles/htdocs//opt/lampp/htdocs/This directory is where you’ll place all your PHP files and web projects. Any file placed here can be accessed through a web browser by navigating to http://localhost/ followed by the file name.
Now that your environment is set up, let’s create and run a simple PHP program:
php
<?php
echo "Hello, World! Welcome to PHP programming with XAMPP.";
?>
hello.php in the htdocs directory.http://localhost/hello.php.You should see the message “Hello, World! Welcome to PHP programming with XAMPP.” displayed in your browser. Congratulations! You’ve just run your first PHP program using XAMPP
A simple “Hello World” PHP application
While running PHP programs in XAMPP is generally straightforward, you might encounter some issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
httpd.conf file.httpd.conf file. Look for the line LoadModule php_module and make sure it’s not commented out.max_execution_time in the php.ini file.upload_max_filesize and post_max_size values in php.ini.To make the most of your XAMPP environment and improve your PHP development skills, consider these best practices:
Running PHP programs in XAMPP is an excellent way to start your journey in web development or to set up a local testing environment for your projects. By following this guide, you’ve learned how to install XAMPP, set up your development environment, create and run PHP programs, troubleshoot common issues, and implement best practices.
As you continue to explore PHP and web development, remember that practice is key. Experiment with different PHP features, build small projects, and don’t be afraid to dive into more complex topics. With XAMPP as your local server environment, you have a powerful tool at your disposal to hone your skills and create amazing web applications.
Happy coding, and may your PHP adventures with XAMPP be fruitful and exciting!
