XAMPP XAMPP stands for Cross-Platform (X), Apache (A), MySQL (M), PHP (P) and Perl (P). It s a smple, l!ht"e!ht Apache dstr#$ton that ma%es t e&tremely easy for de'elopers to create a local "e# ser'er for testn! p$rposes. 'erythn! yo$ need to set $p a "e# ser'er ser'er applcaton (Apache), data#ase (MySQL), and scrptn! lan!$a!e (PHP) s ncl$ded n a smple e&tracta#le *le. XAMPP s also cross-platform, "hch means t "or%s e+$ally "ell on Ln$&, Mac and ndo"s. Snce most act$al "e# ser'er deployments $se the same components as XAMPP, t ma%es transtonn! from a local test ser'er to a l'e ser'er s e&tremely easy as "ell.
What’s Included in XAMPP? XAMPP has four primary components. These are: 1. Apache: Apache is the actual web server application that processes and delivers web content to a computer. Apache is the most popular web se rver online, powering nearly 5! of all websites. 2. MySQL: "very web application, howsoever simple or complicated, re#uires a database for storing collected data. My$%&, which is open source, is the world's most popular database management system. (t powers everything from hobbyist websites to professional platforms li)e *ordPress. *ordPress. +ou +ou can learn how to master PP with this free My$%& database for beginners course. course. 3. PHP: PP stands for yperte-t Preprocessor. (t is a serverside scripting language that powers some of the most popular websites in the world, including including *ordPress *ordPress and /aceboo). /aceboo). (t is open source, relatively easy to learn, and wor)s perfectly with My$%&, ma)ing it a popular choice for web developers. . Pe!l: Perl is a highlevel, dynamic programming language used e-tensively in networ) programming, system admin, etc. Although less popular popular for web development purposes, Perl has a lot of niche applications.
0ifferent versions of XAMPP may have additional c omponents such as phpMyAdmin, 1pen$$&, etc. to create fullfledged web servers. Downloading XAMPP XAMPP is available in three file formats: •
•
."X" 2 $elfe-ecutable file3 easiest to install. .4 2 4ip file. /avored by purists, although it re#uires wor)ing with more complicated .bat files to install.
•
.6(P 2 7ompressed ip file. &i)e .4, installing through .6(P files is considerably more difficult than using ."X"
$ince ."X" is the easiest to install, we will use this file format for this tutorial. +ou can download the XAMPP installer from $ourceforge here 89;M<=. Installing XAMPP /ollow these steps for installing XAMPP: Step 1: 0isable your antivirus as it can cause some XAMPP components to behave erratically. Step 2: 0isable >ser Account 7ontrol 8>A7=. >A7 li mits write permissions to XAMPP's default installation directory 8c:?Program /iles?-ampp=, forcing you to install in a separate directory. +ou can learn how to disable >A7 here. 81ptional= Step 3: $tart the installation process by doubleclic)ing on the XAMPP installer. 7lic) @e-t' after the splash screen.
Step : ere, you can select the components you want to install. 7hoose the default selection and clic) @e-t'.
Step ": 7hoose the folder you want to install XAMPP in. This folder will hold all your web application files, so ma)e sure to select a drive that has plenty of space.
Step #: The ne-t screen is a promo for
Step $: $etup is now ready to install XAMPP. 7lic) e-t and wait for the installer to unpac) and install selected components. This may ta)e a few minutes. +ou may be as)ed to approve /irewall access to certain components 8such as Apache= during the installation process. Step %: (nstallation is now completeC $elect the @0o you want to start the 7ontrol Panel nowD' chec)bo- to open the XAMPP control panel.
nderstandn! XAMPP Control Panel
The XAMPP control panel gives you complete control over all installed XAMPP components. +ou can use the 7P to start?stop different modules, launch the >ni- shell, open *indows e-plorer and see all operations running in the bac)ground. ere is a #uic) overview of the 7ontrol Panel. /or now, you only need to )now how to start and stop an Apache server.
estn! /o$r XAMPP Installaton
/ollow these steps to test your XAMPP installation by launching the Apache web server and creating a simple PP file. Step 1: (n the XAMPP control panel, clic) on @$tart' under @Actions' for the Apache module. This instructs XAMPP to start the Apache webserver. Step 2: 1pen your web browser and type in: http:??localhost or 9;4...9 Step 3: $elect your language from the splash screen.
Step : +ou should see the following screen. This means you've successfully installed XAMPP on your computer.
Step ": *e will now test whether XAMPP has installed PP successfully. To do this, fire up otepad and type the following into a new document:
EDphp
echo @ello world'3 DF $ave this file as @test.php' in c:G-amppGhtdocsG 8or whichever directory you installed XAMPP in=. Step #: avigate to localhost?test.php. +ou should see the Hello *orldI message:
Installing XAMPP /ollow these steps for installing XAMPP: Step 1: 0isable your antivirus as it can cause some XAMPP components to behave erratically. Step 2: 0isable >ser Account 7ontrol 8>A7=. >A7 li mits write permissions to XAMPP's default installation directory 8c:?Program /iles?-ampp=, forcing you to install in a separate directory. +ou can learn how to disable >A7 here. 81ptional= Step 3: $tart the installation process by doubleclic)ing on the XAMPP installer. 7lic) @e-t' after the splash screen.
Step : ere, you can select the components you want to install. 7hoose the default selection and clic) @e-t'.
Step ": 7hoose the folder you want to install XAMPP in. This folder will hold all your web application files, so ma)e sure to select a drive that has plenty of space.
Step #: The ne-t screen is a promo for
Step $: $etup is now ready to install XAMPP. 7lic) e-t and wait for the installer to unpac) and install selected components. This may ta)e a few minutes. +ou may be as)ed to approve /irewall access to certain components 8such as Apache= during the installation process. Step %: (nstallation is now completeC $elect the @0o you want to start the 7ontrol Panel nowD' chec)bo- to open the XAMPP control panel.
nderstandn! XAMPP Control Panel
The XAMPP control panel gives you complete control over all installed XAMPP components. +ou can use the 7P to start?stop different modules, launch the >ni- shell, open *indows e-plorer and see all operations running in the bac)ground. ere is a #uic) overview of the 7ontrol Panel. /or now, you only need to )now how to start and stop an Apache server.
estn! /o$r XAMPP Installaton
/ollow these steps to test your XAMPP installation by launching the Apache web server and creating a simple PP file. Step 1: (n the XAMPP control panel, clic) on @$tart' under @Actions' for the Apache module. This instructs XAMPP to start the Apache webserver. Step 2: 1pen your web browser and type in: http:??localhost or 9;4...9 Step 3: $elect your language from the splash screen.
Step : +ou should see the following screen. This means you've successfully installed XAMPP on your computer.
Step ": *e will now test whether XAMPP has installed PP successfully. To do this, fire up otepad and type the following into a new document:
EDphp echo @ello world'3 DF $ave this file as @test.php' in c:G-amppGhtdocsG 8or whichever directory you installed XAMPP in=.
Step #: avigate to localhost?test.php. +ou should see the Hello *orldI message:
