Setup – Hardware & Software Requirements + Installing XAMPP/WAMP

Minimum Hardware Requirements

To run PHP locally, students do not need a powerful computer. Minimum setup:

• Processor: Dual-core (Intel/AMD)

• RAM: 4 GB (8 GB recommended)

• Storage: 10 GB free space

• Monitor: Any standard display

Operating System Options

You can use PHP on:

• Windows (most common for students)

• Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.)

• macOS

All major OS support Apache, MySQL, and PHP.

Software Needed to Run PHP

To execute PHP code, you need a local server environment. Two popular options:

✔ XAMPP (Recommended)

Includes:

• Apache server

• MySQL database

• PHP

• phpMyAdmin

✔ WAMP (Windows Only)

Includes:

• Windows + Apache + MySQL + PHP

Installing XAMPP – Step-by-Step

1. Download XAMPP
   Visit the official Apache Friends website and download the version for your OS.

2. Install XAMPP
   Follow the installer instructions → Choose default settings.

3. Start Apache and MySQL
   Open XAMPP Control Panel → Click Start for Apache and MySQL.

4. Locate the htdocs Folder
   All your PHP files must go inside:
   C:\xampp\htdocs\

5. Create a PHP File
   Create a new file:
   test.php
   Add:

   <?php echo "PHP is working!"; ?>


6. Open the file in your browser
   Go to:
   http://localhost/test.php

If you see the message “PHP is working!”, your setup is successful.