php/php-src — The PHP Interpreter

What this page is

This is the main page of the PHP source code repository on GitHub. PHP is a scripting language. A scripting language is a language that runs instructions one after another, often without a separate compile step. PHP is mostly used for web development. The page gives step-by-step instructions for building PHP yourself from its source code.

Key facts and numbers

• PHP is released under the Modified BSD License, shown as BSD-3-Clause.
• Tests run in parallel by default and can use up to 10 logical processors.
• The example build command uses make -j4, meaning 4 jobs at the same time.
• The number of build jobs should usually match the number of CPU cores on your computer.

What you need to know first

Source code is the human-written text of a program. To use it, a computer must first build it into a program it can run. The page lists tools needed for this, such as autoconf, bison, and re2c. It also shows the commands for Ubuntu, Fedora, and macOS. Extensions are add-on parts that give PHP extra features.

Why it matters

PHP runs many websites, including large and popular ones. People who want to test new versions, fix bugs, or add features need the source code. This page is also the starting point for developers who contribute to PHP. Clear build and test steps help more people take part.

What to watch

• Check the badges on the page to see if the tests and fuzzing checks are passing.
• Read the PHP manual at php.net/docs to learn more about the language.
• Look at the installation and testing guides on the PHP websites if you run into build problems.