PHP is a popular server-side language that is designed to help developers build web applications with ease. This open-source, cross-platform scripting language is capable of supporting multiple programming paradigms, which makes it a go-to choice for many developers worldwide.
One of the common queries developers have is how to check the PHP version currently running on their system. In this article, we will explore multiple ways to check the PHP version.
Checking PHP Version from Command Line
The easiest way to check the PHP version from the command line is by using the “php -v” or “php –version” command. To do this, open the command prompt, type either of these commands, and hit the enter key.
This will output the PHP version currently running on the system. “`
$ php -v
PHP 7.4.23 (cli) (built: Sep 8 2021 22:39:30) ( NTS )
“`
If you have multiple versions of PHP installed on your system, then the above command might not give you the desired output.
In such cases, you can directly specify the path to the PHP binary of the version you are interested in. “`
$ /path/to/php-binary -v
“`
Checking PHP Version Without Command Line
If you are using a local stack such as XAMPP or WAMP, checking the PHP version is quite simple. These stacks come with a bundled PHP version, which you can easily identify from the settings menu.
Open the local stack manager and navigate to the PHP settings tab. Here, you will find the PHP version currently running on your system along with other configuration details such as loaded extensions, etc.
Checking PHP Version Using phpinfo() Function
Another way to check the PHP version running on your system is by using the phpinfo() function. This function prints out all the configuration details of PHP installed on your system, including the PHP version.
Creating a phpinfo.php File
To use the phpinfo() function, create a new file named “phpinfo.php” in your web server root directory and add the following code:
“`
phpinfo();
?>
“`
Save and close the file.
Viewing PHP Information on Browser
Open a web browser and navigate to “http://localhost/phpinfo.php” or the URL where your web server is hosted. This will display a web page containing all the configuration details of PHP installed on your system.
You can easily find the PHP version at the top of the page, along with other information such as extensions, configurations, etc. In conclusion, checking the PHP version running on your system is an important task that allows you to ensure compatibility with your web applications.
Whether using the command line or a web browser, we hope that this article has given you insight into the easy ways to check your PHP version.
3) Checking PHP Version Using phpversion() Function
The phpversion() function is another simple way of checking the PHP version currently running on your system. This function returns just the PHP version in string format.
Check Just PHP Version
To use the phpversion() function, open any text editor of your choice and create a new PHP file. Add the following code to the file:
“`
echo phpversion();
?>
“`
This will print out the PHP version currently running on your system in the browser.
Checking Core and Extension Versions
The phpversion() function can also be used to get the versions of the PHP core and loaded extensions. To do this, you can use the get_loaded_extensions() function, which returns an array of all the currently loaded extensions on your system.
To get the versions of the loaded extensions, you can use a loop and iterate over the array of extensions returned by the get_loaded_extensions() function. Within the loop, you can pass each extension name as an argument to the phpversion() function, which will then return its version.
Here is an example:
“`
$extensions = get_loaded_extensions();
foreach($extensions as $extension) {
echo “$extension: ” . phpversion($extension) .
“
“;
}
?>
“`
This code will output the name of each extension followed by its respective version.
4) Summary
In summary, there are multiple ways to check the PHP version currently running on your system. These include using the command line, local stacks, phpinfo() function, phpversion() function, and get_loaded_extensions() function.
By using any of these methods, you can easily ensure that your PHP applications are running on compatible versions of PHP. We hope this article has helped you learn more about the different methods to check the PHP version.
With this knowledge, you can now confidently check your PHP version and keep your web applications up-to-date with the latest version of PHP. In conclusion, checking the PHP version running on your system is an essential task that ensures compatibility with your web applications.
This article has provided several methods to check the PHP version, including using the command line, local stacks, phpinfo() function, phpversion() function, and get_loaded_extensions() function. By using any of these methods, you can easily ensure that your PHP applications run seamlessly.
It is crucial to stay up-to-date and use the latest version of PHP to keep your applications secure and functioning optimally. Keep your PHP version checked regularly, and ensure your web servers are updated with the latest PHP version to ensure your web application’s security and compatibility.