Running PHP in Visual Studio is an efficient way to develop, test, and debug PHP applications, especially when you’re working on web projects that require server-side scripting. Visual Studio, traditionally known for .NET development, has become more versatile with support for multiple languages, including PHP. This guide will walk you through setting up PHP in Visual Studio, ensuring you have everything you need to start developing.
Step 1: Install Visual Studio Code
First, you need to have Visual Studio Code (VS Code) installed on your computer. Visual Studio Code is a free, lightweight, and powerful code editor from Microsoft that supports a variety of languages through extensions.
- Download Visual Studio Code:
- Visit the Visual Studio Code website.
- Download and install the appropriate version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

Step 2: Install PHP on Your Machine
You need to have PHP installed on your system to execute PHP scripts.
- Download and Install PHP:
- Visit the PHP official website to download the latest stable version of PHP.
- Follow the installation instructions specific to your operating system.
For Windows:
- Extract the downloaded PHP files to
C:\php
. - Add
C:\php
to your system’s PATH environment variable to run PHP from any command line.

Step 3: Install the PHP Extension for Visual Studio Code
To run PHP code in Visual Studio Code, you need to install the PHP extension.
Installing the PHP Extension:
- Open Visual Studio Code.
- Go to the Extensions view by clicking on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window.
- In the search box, type “PHP Intelephense.”
- Click on the extension (by Ben Mewburn) and then click “Install.”

Step 4: Configure PHP in Visual Studio Code
After installing PHP, you need to configure Visual Studio Code to use the PHP executable.
Configure PHP Path:
Open Visual Studio Code.
Go to
File > Preferences > Settings
(or pressCtrl + ,
).Search for “php.executablePath” in the settings.
Click on
Edit in settings.json
.Add the following line to specify the path to your PHP executable:
"php.executablePath": "C:\\php\\php.exe"
Step 5: Running PHP Code
You can now run your PHP code directly in Visual Studio Code.
Creating a PHP File:
Open Visual Studio Code.
Create a new file and save it with a
.php
extension, e.g.,index.php
.Write some PHP code in the file:
<?php echo "Hello, World!"; ?>
Running the Code:
Open the integrated terminal in Visual Studio Code by clicking
View > Terminal
or pressingCtrl + `
.In the terminal, navigate to the directory containing your PHP file.
Run the PHP script by typing the following command and pressing
Enter
:php index.php
You should see the output
Hello, World!
displayed in the terminal.
Step 6: Debugging PHP Code in Visual Studio Code
One of the powerful features of Visual Studio Code is its debugging capabilities. You can set breakpoints, inspect variables, and step through your code.
Install the PHP Debug Extension:
- In the Extensions view, search for “PHP Debug.”
- Install the extension provided by Felix Becker.
Configure Xdebug:
Download and install Xdebug, a PHP extension for debugging.
Configure Xdebug in your
php.ini
file.Add the following lines to
php.ini
:[Xdebug] zend_extension="path\to\php_xdebug.dll" xdebug.remote_enable=1 xdebug.remote_autostart=1
Start Debugging:
- Set breakpoints in your PHP code by clicking in the gutter next to the line numbers.
- Start debugging by clicking on the Debug icon on the side and then click
Start Debugging
or pressF5
. - Visual Studio Code will pause execution at your breakpoints, allowing you to inspect variables and control the execution flow.
Running PHP in Visual Studio Code is a straightforward process, allowing you to take advantage of a powerful and modern code editor. With the right extensions and configurations, you can write, run, and debug PHP code efficiently. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, this setup will enhance your PHP development workflow.