How to Install PHP on Ubuntu?
Last Updated :
23 Jul, 2025
If you're working with web development on Linux, knowing how to install PHP on Ubuntu is essential. PHP is a popular server-side scripting language used to build dynamic websites, and setting it up on your Ubuntu system is simple. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to PHP installation on Ubuntu, including checking your PHP version and installing necessary extensions. Whether you're working with a fresh install or adding PHP to an existing server, this Ubuntu PHP setup will help you get started quickly.
What is PHP?
PHP is a server-side programming language that is free and open-source for users and also can be used to make various types of apps, websites, CRMs, and many more. It is a general-purpose language that is often used and may be integrated into Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). Basically in the system, Eight primitive data types that PHP offers are further divided into three internal categories: Script Types (pre-established), Types of Compounds (user-defined), and Unique Types.
Ubuntu PHP installation Prerequisites
- Linux system that runs Ubuntu.
- Access to an Ubuntu user account that also has sudo privileges/rights.
- Full Access to the terminal window (Ctrl+Alt+T).
How to Install PHP on Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is known as one of the most used open-source operating systems which is responsible for the overall development of any web interface for an application that we want to develop, we will Install PHP on Ubuntu and understand how easy it is Installing PHP on Ubuntu.
There are two methods through which we can Install PHP on Ubuntu, let's understand each:
Method 1: Install PHP Using Apt/Terminal
This is the simplest method, we use apt package manager to install the PHP into the Ubuntu system, The following are the steps involved:
Step 1: Open Terminal with Sudo Rights
The first step is to open the Ubuntu terminal and apply sudo rights, To open the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) type the following command, then enter the system's user password:
sudo -i
This will give us the following output:
sudo -iStep 2: Update Repository
Now run the following commands to update the index and repository for the latest repositories using the following command:
sudo apt update
This will give us the following output:
sudo apt update.Step 3: Install PHP Package
Now you have to run the following apt command and it will automatically install the PHP along with commonly used extensions in the Ubuntu system:
sudo apt install php php-cli php-fpm php-json php-common php-mysql php-zip php-gd php-mbstring php-curl php-xml php-pear php-bcmath
This will give us the following output:
sudo apt install PHP.Step 4: Check if PHP is Installed or Not
This is the final step where we will now check if PHP is installed or not, for this, you will simply have to run the following command:
php -v
This will give the following output:
php -vNote: If the PHP version is different then there is no issue, PHP is successfully installed in your system.
Method 2: Install PHP Using Apache on Ubuntu
Now we will install the PHP using Apache in Ubuntu, follow the step-by-step process mentioned below:
Step 1: Install software-properties-common
This helps us in the management of the software and its resources so first we will have to install this package, for this run the following command:
sudo apt install software-properties-common
This will give the following output:
sudo apt install software-properties-common,Step 2: add ondrej/php PPA
Now we will have to add ondrej/php PPA which is used to provide different versions of PHP to Ubuntu, for entering the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php
Again, this will give the following output:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php.Step 3: Install the PHP version for Ubuntu
Now you can install any version of the PHP that you want, make sure that you verify that the version does exist and that there are no typos, for example, here I have installed:
Install the PHP version.Also Read
Conclusion
Successfully completing the PHP installation on Ubuntu allows you to start developing and running PHP applications. By following the commands and steps in this guide, you'll have PHP installed on Ubuntu in no time, and you'll be ready to set up your development environment or server. Whether you're setting up a LAMP stack or simply need PHP for a specific project, learning how to install PHP on Ubuntu is a valuable skill for any developer working with Linux.
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