XAMPP tutorial for beginners

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of installing XAMPP on your Windows machine, setting it up, and creating your first PHP page. XAMPP is an all-in-one package that includes the Apache web server, MySQL server, Filezilla FTP, and supports PHP and Perl programming languages. It is a great starting point for anyone looking to dive into PHP web development.

Step 1: Download XAMPP

1. Go to the XAMPP official website: Apache Friends.
2. Click on the "Download" button for the Windows version.
3. Choose the latest version available and download the installer file.

Step 2: Install XAMPP

1. Locate the downloaded installer file and double-click to run it.
2. If prompted by User Account Control, click "Yes" to allow the installer to run.
3. Follow the installation wizard:
   • Click "Next" on the welcome screen.
   • Select the components you want to install (Apache, MySQL, PHP, etc.). It’s recommended to keep the default settings.
   • Click "Next."
4. Choose the installation location (default is usually fine) and click "Next."
5. Select whether to install Bitnami for XAMPP (optional) and click "Next."
6. Click "Next" to begin the installation.
7. Once the installation is complete, ensure the option to start the XAMPP Control Panel is checked, then click "Finish."

Step 3: Start XAMPP Control Panel

1. Open the XAMPP Control Panel (you can find it in your Start menu or installation directory).
2. In the Control Panel, you’ll see a list of services.
3. Click the "Start" buttons next to Apache and MySQL to run them.
   • Monitor the status indicators; they should turn green, indicating that the services are running.

Step 4: Create Your First PHP Page

1. Navigate to the XAMPP installation directory (usually C:\xampp).

2. Open the htdocs folder, which is the root directory for your web files.

3. Create a new folder for your project (e.g., my_first_php).

4. Inside this folder, create a new file named index.php.

5. Open index.php in a text editor and add the following code:

   <?php
   echo "Hello, World!";
   ?>
   

6. Save the file.

Step 5: Access Your PHP Page

1. Open a web browser.
2. Type the following URL in the address bar: http://localhost/my_first_php/index.php.
3. You should see "Hello, World!" displayed on the screen, confirming that your PHP page is working correctly.

Conclusion

You have successfully installed XAMPP, started the necessary services, and created your first PHP page. XAMPP is a powerful tool for PHP development, allowing you to build and test web applications locally. As your next steps, consider exploring more PHP functionalities, creating databases with MySQL, and diving deeper into web development concepts. Happy coding!