Step-by-Step Guide on Installing PHP on Linux

10/25/2025
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Step-by-step PHP installation and configuration on Linux with Apache integration

Step-by-Step Guide on Installing PHP on Linux

Step-by-Step Guide on Installing PHP on Linux

If you're planning to build dynamic web applications, PHP is one of the most reliable scripting languages you can use. Installing PHP on a Linux system (especially Ubuntu or Debian-based distributions) is simple when done correctly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of installing PHP on Linux, configuring it with Apache, and testing your setup.

Introduction

1. What is PHP?

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a popular open-source scripting language designed for web development. It runs on various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS, and works seamlessly with web servers like Apache and Nginx.

Some key benefits of using PHP include:

  • Easy integration with HTML and databases like MySQL.

  • Platform independence.

  • Support for popular frameworks (e.g., Laravel, CodeIgniter).

  • Excellent community support and documentation.

2. Prerequisites

Before installing PHP, make sure you have:

  • A Linux-based system (Ubuntu/Debian recommended).

  • Sudo privileges or root access.

  • An internet connection for downloading packages.

If you don’t have Apache installed yet, you can install it using:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2 -y

3. Update the Package Repository

It’s always a good practice to update your package repository before installing new software:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This ensures you get the latest version of PHP and its dependencies.

4. Install PHP

To install the default PHP version available in your distribution’s repository, use:

sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql -y

Here’s what each package does:

  • php → Installs the core PHP interpreter.

  • libapache2-mod-php → Enables PHP to run with Apache.

  • php-mysql → Allows PHP to communicate with MySQL databases.

To verify the installation, check the PHP version:

php -v

You should see output like:

PHP 8.2.10 (cli) (built: Sep  5 2024 12:00:00)

5. Configure Apache to Use PHP

Apache automatically configures PHP after installation. However, to ensure it uses PHP files by default, you can modify the DirectoryIndex directive:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/mods-enabled/dir.conf

Change the line from:

DirectoryIndex index.html index.cgi index.pl index.php index.xhtml index.htm

to:

DirectoryIndex index.php index.html index.cgi index.pl index.xhtml index.htm

Then, restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

6. Test Your PHP Installation

To confirm PHP is working with Apache, create a test file in your web directory:

sudo nano /var/www/html/info.php

Add the following line:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Now, open your browser and visit:

http://localhost/info.php

If PHP is properly configured, you’ll see a detailed page showing PHP version, configuration settings, and loaded modules.

7. Install Additional PHP Modules

Depending on your application requirements, you may need extra PHP extensions. You can search for available modules using:

apt search php- | less

To install a module, for example php-curl, use:

sudo apt install php-curl -y

After installing new modules, don’t forget to restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

8. Manage Multiple PHP Versions (Optional)

If you have multiple PHP versions installed, you can switch between them using the update-alternatives command:

sudo update-alternatives --config php

This will list all installed PHP versions and allow you to choose the default one.

9. Secure Your PHP Installation

To enhance security:

  • Disable display_errors in production:

    sudo nano /etc/php/8.2/apache2/php.ini

    Set:

    display_errors = Off

  • Regularly update PHP:

    sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

10. Remove PHP Test File

Once you’ve verified the installation, it’s important to remove the test file:

sudo rm /var/www/html/info.php

This prevents unauthorized users from viewing your server configuration details.

Conclusion

Installing PHP on Linux is a straightforward process that takes only a few minutes. Once configured, PHP becomes a powerful foundation for developing web applications, integrating seamlessly with Apache and MySQL.

By following this step-by-step PHP installation guide on Linux, you can quickly set up a reliable PHP environment for your next project.

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