How to Install PHP on Ubuntu Linux

Installing PHP on Ubuntu Linux lets you run the code behind many websites and web apps.

PHP is a widely used programming language that helps make websites interactive and dynamic. It’s the engine behind popular platforms like WordPress.

Setting up PHP on your Ubuntu machine means choosing how it works with your web server, typically Apache or Nginx. This ensures your server can process PHP files correctly.

You might want to install a recent version, like PHP 8.0, to get the latest features and security updates for your web development projects.

How to install PHP on Ubuntu with Apache support

Installing PHP on Ubuntu to work with Apache is accessible using your terminal. You’ll run two commands: one to update your software list and another to install PHP along with the necessary Apache module. After installation, restart Apache to ensure PHP is ready to go.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php

To do that, run the commands below.

To install PHP on Ubuntu for Nginx, you must set up PHP-FPM. PHP-FPM acts as a bridge between the Nginx web server and PHP. Nginx does not handle PHP files directly, so PHP-FPM processes those requests. The commands install PHP and configure it to work with your Nginx server.

Unlike Apache, Nginx doesn't natively handle PHP files. To get PHP working with Nginx, you'll need PHP-FPM (FastCGI process manager). This tool helps manage PHP requests.

Run the commands below to set that up.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install php-fpm

You'll need to add lines to your Nginx server block configuration to process PHP files. Ensure the correct PHP version appears in the highlighted line, for instance, `fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php/php8.1-fpm.sock;`. This action allows Nginx to communicate with the PHP processor.

PHP installation includes optional extensions that improve performance and add features. Common extensions include `php-mysql` for database access and `php-curl` for transferring data with URLs. You can install these extensions by running the `apt install` command.

To install a newer PHP version on Ubuntu Linux when the newest PHP version is not available in Ubuntu's default software sources, you can add an extra repository. This process involves adding a tool to manage software sources and then a specific PPA (Personal Package Archive) that contains newer PHP versions. The commands below demonstrate how to set up the extra repository.

To install the latest of other versions of PHP that are not available in the Ubuntu repository, run the commands below to install a third-party PPA repository that includes multiple versions of PHP.

sudo apt install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

After adding the repository above, you can then install another PHP version.

sudo apt install php8.0 php8.0-common php8.0-cli php8.0-gd php8.0-curl php8.0-mysql

That should do it!

Conclusion:

That's how you install PHP on Ubuntu Linux with support for either Apache or Nginx. If you notice any errors or have anything to add, please let us know in the comments below.