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Installing XAMPP/WAMP

Setting up your PHP environment is one of the first steps towards learning PHP programming. One of the most convenient ways to do this is by installing a web server solution stack package such as XAMPP or WAMP. These packages allow you to locally host web applications and include PHP, MySQL, and Apache, making them ideal for PHP development.

What is XAMPP/WAMP?​

XAMPP stands for Cross-Platform (X), Apache (A), MariaDB (M), PHP (P) and Perl (P). It is a simple, lightweight Apache distribution that makes it extremely easy for developers to create a local web server for testing and deployment purposes.

WAMP, on the other hand, stands for Windows (W), Apache (A), MySQL (M), and PHP (P). It is similar to XAMPP but is specifically designed for Windows.

Step 1: Downloading XAMPP/WAMP​

XAMPP​

You can download XAMPP from the official Apache Friends website. Choose the version that matches your operating system (Windows, Linux, or Mac).

WAMP​

WAMP can be downloaded from the official WampServer website. Remember, this is only available for Windows.

Step 2: Installing XAMPP/WAMP​

Once downloaded, run the installer. The installation process for both XAMPP and WAMP is straightforward.

XAMPP​

  1. Run the XAMPP installer.

  2. During the installation, you will be asked to select components. Make sure to check Apache, MySQL, and PHP.

  3. Choose the folder where you would like to install XAMPP.

  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

WAMP​

  1. Run the WAMP installer.

  2. Accept the agreement, choose the installation directory and follow the on-screen instructions.

  3. Once the installation is completed, you can start the services by clicking on the WampServer icon.

Step 3: Testing XAMPP/WAMP Installation​

To make sure that XAMPP/WAMP is installed correctly, you can perform a simple test.

XAMPP​

  1. Open XAMPP Control Panel and start Apache and MySQL.

  2. Open your web browser and type http://localhost in the address bar. If the XAMPP dashboard appears, your installation is successful.

WAMP​

  1. Start WampServer by clicking on its icon.

  2. A WampServer icon will appear in the system tray. Left-click on it and select 'Start All Services'.

  3. Open your web browser, and visit http://localhost. If the WampServer homepage appears, your installation is successful.

Congratulations, you have successfully installed XAMPP/WAMP on your system! You are now ready to start coding in PHP. In the next steps of your learning journey, you will learn about creating and running PHP scripts, and you will also explore the features of the PHP language. Happy coding!