How to install PHP in Ubuntu

PHP is one of the most popular server-side scripting languages used for web development. If you’re using Ubuntu as your operating system, installing PHP is a straightforward process. This guide will walk you through the steps needed to install PHP on Ubuntu.

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Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing any software, it’s always a good idea to update your system to ensure that you have the latest packages and security updates. Open a terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

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Step 2: Install Apache or Nginx

PHP works with web servers such as Apache or Nginx. If you don’t already have a web server installed, you’ll need to install one. For this guide, we’ll use Apache as an example.

To install Apache, run:

sudo apt install apache2

After installation, start and enable Apache:

sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2

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Step 3: Install PHP

To install PHP, use the following command:

sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php

This will install PHP along with the Apache module to handle PHP files.

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Step 4: Verify PHP Installation

To confirm that PHP has been installed correctly, check the version by running:

php -v

You should see the installed PHP version in the output.

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Step 5: Test PHP with Apache

To ensure that PHP is working with your web server, create a simple PHP file to test. Create a file called info.php in the /var/www/html directory:

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

Add the following code to the file:

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Save and close the file. Then, open your web browser and navigate to:

http://your_server_ip/info.php

You should see the PHP information page, which confirms that PHP is working correctly.

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Step 6: Install Additional PHP Modules (Optional)

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

apt search php-

To install a specific module, use:

sudo apt install php-MODULE_NAME

For example, to install the php-mysql module, run:

sudo apt install php-mysql

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Step 7: Restart Apache

After making changes or installing new modules, restart Apache to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

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Conclusion

You’ve successfully installed PHP on Ubuntu! With PHP, Apache, and any necessary modules installed, your server is ready to host PHP-based applications. Whether you’re building a dynamic website or running a CMS like WordPress, your Ubuntu server is now equipped to handle PHP scripts.