Quick PHP Installation Tutorial
To install PHP quickly, use XAMPP on Windows or Homebrew on macOS. 1. On Windows, download and install XAMPP, select components, start Apache, and place files in htdocs. 2. Alternatively, manually install PHP from php.net and set up a server like Apache. 3. On macOS, install Homebrew, then run 'brew install php', verify with 'php -v', and configure Apache or use 'php -S localhost:8000'. 4. Configure PHP by editing php.ini to adjust errors, reporting, upload limits, and timezone, then restart the server.
If you're looking to get PHP up and running quickly, the good news is that installing PHP doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you're setting it up for local development or preparing a live server, the process can be straightforward as long as you follow the right steps.

Install PHP on Windows
For most Windows users, especially those just starting out, using a tool like XAMPP makes things much easier. It bundles PHP, Apache, MySQL, and other tools into one installer, saving you from having to configure everything separately.
- Download XAMPP from the official Apache Friends website
- Run the installer and choose the components you need (PHP is included by default)
- Once installed, start Apache from the XAMPP control panel
- Place your PHP files in the
htdocs
folder to run them locally
Alternatively, if you prefer a more manual approach, you can download the PHP binaries directly from php.net and add them to your system PATH. Just make sure you also install a web server like Apache or Nginx if you go this route.

Install PHP on macOS
macOS comes with PHP pre-installed in some versions, but it’s usually outdated. To get a newer version, Homebrew is your best bet.
Start by installing Homebrew if you haven’t already:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
Then install PHP:
brew install php
This installs the latest stable version of PHP along with common extensions. You can check your installation by typing:
php -v
If you're using the built-in Apache server, you’ll need to update the Apache config file to use the new PHP module. Or you can run a lightweight dev server with:
php -S localhost:8000
Basic PHP Configuration Tips
Once PHP is installed, there are a few configuration changes you'll probably want to make depending on your use case. The main configuration file is php.ini
. Here's where you'll find it:
- In XAMPP:
C:\xampp\php\php.ini
- On macOS/Linux with Homebrew: usually located at
/etc/php/{version}/cli/php.ini
or similar
Common settings to adjust:
-
display_errors = Off
→ set toOn
during development -
error_reporting = E_ALL
→ helpful for catching issues early -
upload_max_filesize
andpost_max_size
→ increase if you're handling large file uploads -
date.timezone
→ set your timezone to avoid warnings
After making changes, restart your web server so they take effect.
That's basically all you need to know for a quick PHP setup. Whether you're on Windows, macOS, or even Linux, getting PHP installed and configured isn’t too hard once you know which tools to use.
The above is the detailed content of Quick PHP Installation Tutorial. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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