Chapter 4. Using the PHP scripting language

4.1. Installing the PHP scripting language

In RHEL 10, PHP is available in PHP 8.3 as the php RPM package.

Procedure

To install PHP 8.3, enter:
```
dnf install php
```
```
# dnf install php
```
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Additional resources

Managing software with the DNF tool

4.2. Using the PHP scripting language with a web server

4.2.1. Using PHP with the Apache HTTP Server

In Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, the Apache HTTP Server allows you to run PHP as a FastCGI process server. FastCGI Process Manager (FPM) is an alternative PHP FastCGI daemon that allows a website to manage high loads. PHP uses FastCGI Process Manager by default in RHEL 10.

Prerequisites

The PHP scripting language is installed on your system.

Procedure

Start the Apache HTTP Server:
```
systemctl start httpd
```
```
# systemctl start httpd
```
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Or, if the Apache HTTP Server is already running on your system, restart the httpd service after installing PHP:
```
systemctl restart httpd
```
```
# systemctl restart httpd
```
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Start the php-fpm service:

systemctl start php-fpm

# systemctl start php-fpm

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Optional: Enable both services to start at boot time:
```
systemctl enable php-fpm httpd
```
```
# systemctl enable php-fpm httpd
```
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To obtain information about your PHP settings, create the index.php file with the following content in the /var/www/html/ directory:
```
echo '<?php phpinfo(); ?>' > /var/www/html/index.php
```
```
# echo '<?php phpinfo(); ?>' > /var/www/html/index.php
```
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To run the index.php file, point the browser to:
```
http://<hostname>/
```
```
http://<hostname>/
```
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Optional: Adjust configuration if you have specific requirements:
- /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf - generic httpd configuration
- /etc/httpd/conf.d/php.conf - PHP-specific configuration for httpd
- /usr/lib/systemd/system/httpd.service.d/php-fpm.conf - by default, the php-fpm service is started with httpd
- /etc/php-fpm.conf - FPM main configuration
- /etc/php-fpm.d/www.conf - default www pool configuration

Example 4.1. Running a "Hello, World!" PHP script using the Apache HTTP Server

Create a hello directory for your project in the /var/www/html/ directory:
```
mkdir hello
```
```
# mkdir hello
```
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Create a hello.php file in the /var/www/html/hello/ directory with the following content:

<!DOCTYPE html>

# <!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Hello, World! Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php
    echo 'Hello, World!';
?>
</body>
</html>

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Start the Apache HTTP Server:
```
systemctl start httpd
```
```
# systemctl start httpd
```
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To run the hello.php file, point the browser to:
```
http://<hostname>/hello/hello.php
```
```
http://<hostname>/hello/hello.php
```
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As a result, a web page with the "Hello, World!” text is displayed.

4.2.2. Using PHP with the nginx web server

You can run PHP code through the nginx web server.

Prerequisites

The PHP scripting language is installed on your system.

Procedure

Start the nginx server:
```
systemctl start nginx
```
```
# systemctl start nginx
```
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Or, if the nginx server is already running on your system, restart the nginx service after installing PHP:
```
systemctl restart nginx
```
```
# systemctl restart nginx
```
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Start the php-fpm service:

systemctl start php-fpm

# systemctl start php-fpm

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Optional: Enable both services to start at boot time:
```
systemctl enable php-fpm nginx
```
```
# systemctl enable php-fpm nginx
```
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To obtain information about your PHP settings, create the index.php file with the following content in the /usr/share/nginx/html/ directory:
```
echo '<?php phpinfo(); ?>' > /usr/share/nginx/html/index.php
```
```
# echo '<?php phpinfo(); ?>' > /usr/share/nginx/html/index.php
```
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To run the index.php file, point the browser to:
```
http://<hostname>/
```
```
http://<hostname>/
```
Copy to Clipboard
Optional: Adjust configuration if you have specific requirements:
- /etc/nginx/nginx.conf - nginx main configuration
- /etc/nginx/conf.d/php-fpm.conf - FPM configuration for nginx
- /etc/php-fpm.conf - FPM main configuration
- /etc/php-fpm.d/www.conf - default www pool configuration

Example 4.2. Running a "Hello, World!" PHP script using the nginx server

Create a hello directory for your project in the /usr/share/nginx/html/ directory:
```
mkdir hello
```
```
# mkdir hello
```
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Create a hello.php file in the /usr/share/nginx/html/hello/ directory with the following content:

<!DOCTYPE html>

# <!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Hello, World! Page</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php
    echo 'Hello, World!';
?>
</body>
</html>

Copy to Clipboard

Start the nginx server:
```
systemctl start nginx
```
```
# systemctl start nginx
```
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To run the hello.php file, point the browser to:
```
http://<hostname>/hello/hello.php
```
```
http://<hostname>/hello/hello.php
```
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As a result, a web page with the "Hello, World!” text is displayed.

4.3. Running a PHP script using the command line

A PHP script is usually run using a web server, but also can be run using the command line.

Prerequisites

The PHP scripting language is installed on your system.

Procedure

In a text editor, create a filename.php file
Replace filename with the name of your file.
Execute the created filename.php file from the command line:
```
php filename.php
```
```
# php filename.php
```
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Example 4.3. Running a "Hello, World!" PHP script using the command line

Create a hello.php file with the following content using a text editor:
```
<?php
    echo 'Hello, World!';
?>
```
```
<?php
    echo 'Hello, World!';
?>
```
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Execute the hello.php file from the command line:
```
php hello.php
```
```
# php hello.php
```
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As a result, "Hello, World!” is printed.

4.4. Additional resources

httpd(8) - The manual page for the httpd service containing the complete list of its command-line options.
httpd.conf(5) - The manual page for httpd configuration, describing the structure and location of the httpd configuration files.
nginx(8) - The manual page for the nginx web server containing the complete list of its command-line options and list of signals.
php-fpm(8) - The manual page for PHP FPM describing the complete list of its command-line options and configuration files.

4.1. Installing the PHP scripting language

4.2. Using the PHP scripting language with a web server

4.2.1. Using PHP with the Apache HTTP Server

4.2.2. Using PHP with the nginx web server

4.3. Running a PHP script using the command line

4.4. Additional resources

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