How to increase execution time of a PHP script ?

Increasing the execution time of a PHP script means extending the maximum time a script is allowed to run before the server terminates it. This is often necessary for resource-intensive tasks, like data processing or large file uploads, to prevent timeouts.

Here we have some common approaches to increase the execution time of a PHP script :

Using ini_set()

The ini_set() approach in PHP allows you to increase the script's execution time by dynamically setting the max_execution_time configuration. This method applies only to the current script, enabling you to extend runtime without altering global server settings.

Syntax:

ini_set('setting_name', value);

Example 1: In this example we set the max_execution_time to 60 seconds, allowing the script to run longer if needed, then outputs the text "GFG Learning portal" to the webpage.

<?php
    ini_set('max_execution_time', 60);

    // Increase execution time limit to 60 seconds
    echo "GFG Learning portal"
?>

Output:

GFG Learning portal

Using set_time_limit() Function

The set_time_limit() function in PHP sets the maximum execution time for a script in seconds. Passing a value resets the timer, allowing longer runtime. It overrides the default limit, preventing premature script termination for time-consuming tasks.

Syntax:

 set_time_limit(60);

Example: In this example we increases the maximum execution time to 60 seconds using set_time_limit(60), ensuring the script won't timeout early, and then outputs "GFG Learning portal" to the browser.

<?php
    // Increase execution time limit to 60 seconds
    set_time_limit(60);

    // Output message
    echo "GFG Learning portal";
?>

Output:

GFG Learning portal