FayazMiraz

How to run your first PHP CODE

Few beginners asked me this question, so here is the answer (I'll update this post from time to time to meet the visitors' interests):

The easiest way to start with PHP is using XAMPP

You don't have to install Apache and MySQL separately, in fact, it is often difficult for starters to install these bundles separately and combine them to run PHP. XAMPP does that for you with just a few clicks.

Before you install XAMPP, you'll have to uninstall existing Apache and MySQL installation (if they were installed as a service). If they were not installed as a service, then you may or may not need to uninstall them, it's up to you (and may be up to some unforeseen setting in your system).

After you install XAMPP, Go to the XAMPP installation folder (default is C:\xampp\), then go to "htdocs" folder (default is C:\xampp\htdocs\)

All your php files has to be in this \htdocs\ folder. This is called web server's root. So, in this folder, create a sample file, say test.php. Also, when you make this file, make sure it has no ".txt" extension at the end. Since, some text editors place ".txt" at the end of file name, so it becomes test.php.txt instead of test.php. To avoid that, when you save the file using a text editor, place double quote around the file name: e.g. "test.php"

Write the following test code in this file (using any text editor) and save the file:

<?PHP
echo 'PHP is working! <br />';
?>
This is a test file.

Then, go to XAMPP installation folder (typically, C:\xampp\) and run "xampp-control.exe" by double clicking it (if your OS hides file extension, then you'll see it as "xampp-control", no .exe at the end). In the appearing window, click the start button after Apache. Later, if you need other options like MySQL, you'll also have to start MySQL by clicking the start button beside MySQL in the XAMPP control Panel.

Now, in your web browser's address bar, type the address: http://localhost/test.php

If your test PHP file is working properly, then you should see the following two lines in your browser:

PHP is working!
This is a test file.

If PHP is not working, then only this one line will appear:

This is a test file.

If none of the above is happening, then you are doing something wrong somewhere else. Happy Coding

by Fayaz Ahmed

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