Install PHP and Run Your First Script

Let’s set up PHP so you can run code on your own machine.

Step 1: Install PHP

On Windows

Download from php.net and add PHP to PATH.

On macOS (Homebrew)

brew install php

On Linux

sudo apt install php

Step 2: Check installation

php -v

You should see the PHP version.

Step 3: Create your first file

Create a file: index.php

<?php
echo "My first PHP app!";
?>

Step 4: Run it

From terminal:

php index.php

Or using built-in server:

php -S localhost:8000

Then open:
http://localhost:8000

Next: PHP syntax basics and how PHP mixes with HTML.