PHP Setup, Installation, CLI, Web Server Flow, and Project Structure
Install PHP properly, understand how PHP runs through CLI and web servers, and learn the basic structure of a small project.
Inside this chapter
- Installing PHP
- Running PHP from the Command Line
- Running PHP with a Local Server
- Understanding the Request Cycle
- Basic Project Layout
Series navigation
Study the chapters in order for the clearest path from PHP basics to backend architecture, security, deployment, and production engineering habits. Use the navigation at the bottom to move smoothly through the full tutorial series.
Installing PHP
PHP can be installed in several ways depending on the operating system and development stack. Many learners use packages such as XAMPP, MAMP, WAMP, or direct package-manager installation. Professional teams may use Docker containers, local web stacks, or managed servers.
php -vThis command checks whether PHP is installed and shows the current version.
Running PHP from the Command Line
php hello.phpThe CLI is useful for quick scripts, debugging, cron jobs, data-processing tasks, migrations, and framework tooling. Students should learn it early because not all PHP work happens through browser requests.
Running PHP with a Local Server
php -S localhost:8000This starts PHP's built-in development server. It is convenient for learning and small demos, though production deployments usually use Apache, Nginx, or managed runtime environments.
Understanding the Request Cycle
When a browser requests a PHP page, the web server sends the PHP file to the PHP runtime, which executes the code on the server. The result, often HTML or JSON, is then returned to the browser. The browser does not receive raw PHP code when the server is configured correctly.
Basic Project Layout
project/
index.php
includes/
assets/
config/
src/
public/Even in learning projects, structure matters. Keeping configuration, reusable code, and public entry points organized will make future expansion easier.