To run PHP code locally, install a server package like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP 1. Install one based on your OS (XAMPP for cross-platform, WAMP for Windows, MAMP for macOS) 2. Place your .php files in the appropriate directory (htdocs for XAMPP/MAMP, www for WAMP) 3. Start the Apache server and access your file via http://localhost/yourproject/yourfile.php 4. Test with a simple script like echo "Hello, local PHP!" or phpinfo() 5. Alternatively, use PHP’s built-in server via php -S localhost:8000 for quick tests after confirming PHP is installed.
Running PHP code on your local machine is actually pretty straightforward if you set up the right tools. You don’t need a live server to test or develop PHP scripts — just a few components installed and configured properly.

Set Up a Local Server Environment
PHP needs a server environment to run because it’s processed server-side. The easiest way to get this working locally is by using a package like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP (depending on your OS). These all include Apache, MySQL, and PHP — everything you need for basic development.

- XAMPP works on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- WAMP is Windows-only
- MAMP is designed for macOS, though there's also a Windows version
Download one of these tools, install it, and start the Apache server from the control panel. That sets up a local web server where PHP can run.
Place Your PHP File in the Correct Directory
Once your server is running, you need to put your .php
file in the right folder so Apache can serve it.

- For XAMPP: Put files in
htdocs
inside the XAMPP installation folder - For WAMP: Use the
www
directory - For MAMP: Drop files into the
htdocs
folder
So if your project is called myproject
, create a folder like htdocs/myproject
and place your PHP files in there.
Then open your browser and go to:
http://localhost/myproject/yourfile.php
That should execute your PHP script and show the output in the browser.
Check PHP Is Working with a Simple Script
To confirm everything is set up correctly, create a simple PHP file like test.php
with this code:
<?php echo "Hello, local PHP!"; ?>
Save it in the correct directory (like htdocs/test.php
), then visit http://localhost/test.php
. If you see “Hello, local PHP!” in your browser, PHP is working as expected.
You can also use phpinfo();
to display detailed info about your PHP setup:
<?php phpinfo(); ?>
This is super useful for checking which PHP version you're using or confirming that extensions are enabled.
Optional: Use Built-in PHP Server for Quick Tests
If you already have PHP installed on your system (you can check with php -v
in the terminal or command prompt), you can skip full server packages like XAMPP and instead use PHP’s built-in development server.
Open your terminal/command prompt, navigate to the folder containing your PHP file, and run:
php -S localhost:8000
Then open your browser and go to http://localhost:8000/yourfile.php
.
This is great for small projects or quick testing without launching a full Apache server.
That’s basically how you run PHP on a local host. It’s not complicated once you have the right tools, but it’s easy to miss a step like placing the file in the wrong folder or forgetting to start the server. Once you’ve got the basics down, experimenting becomes much easier.
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