How to Install PHP for Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

Installing PHP on a Mac is a relatively straightforward process, thanks to macOS High Sierra's inclusion of PHP 7.1. In this article, we'll walk you through the steps to set up PHP on your Mac.

Step 1: Create a Sites Folder

First, create a new folder and name it 'Sites'. This will be the location where you'll save your index.php file later. To do this, click on Finder at the bottom left corner of your screen and navigate to Go > Home in the top navigation bar. Then, right-click (or control-click) on the desktop and select New Folder from the drop-down menu.

Step 2: Create an Index.php File

Next, open your favorite text editor and create a new file called 'index.php'. Add the following code to the file:

This is just a simple PHP script that outputs the text 'It works!' in the browser. Don't worry too much about what it does; we're just focusing on setting up PHP right now.

Step 3: Edit Apache Configuration File

Open Terminal by clicking on the magnifying glass at the top right corner of your screen and searching for Terminal. Type `sudo nano /etc/apache2/httpd.conf` and press enter to open the file in a text editor. Use the arrow keys to navigate down to the line that starts with '#LoadModule php7_module libexec/apache2/libphp7.so'. Delete the '#' symbol from the beginning of the line, then press Ctrl+O followed by Enter to save the change.

Step 4: Restart Apache

Now, type `sudo apachectl restart` and press enter to restart the Apache service. This will apply the changes you made in the previous step.

Step 5: Test PHP Installation

Finally, open Safari (or your browser of choice) and type 'localhost' into the address bar, then press enter. You should see a page that says 'It works!' – congratulations, you've successfully installed PHP on your Mac!

If you encounter any issues during this process, feel free to search for solutions online or consult with a web developer. With these simple steps, you'll be up and running with PHP in no time.

How to install php for mac