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PHP

Posted by Peter G.
Peter G.
Courses Plus Student 5,806 Points

Trouble with PHP files

Hello everybody. I'm having trouble viewing my php files in localhost. I launch the xampp, and then when I try to view a php file in google chrome, it doesn't work, it just shows the code I've written in the text editor. I really need help. Thank you everybody.

5 Answers

Freek Wevers
Freek Wevers
Courses Plus Student 14,599 Points

Is the php file you're trying to view in the right directory?

By default xampp is looking in the htdocs directory inside your xampp installation folder. If your project files are in the htdocs directory then you can access those files (and have xampp parse them) by typing "localhost/filename.php" in your address bar, where "filename.php" is the name of the file you're trying to view.

You can also put your project files in a separate folder, but that folder also needs to be inside the htdocs directory. Let's say you created a project folder called "project" inside your htdocs folder and stored your project files there, then you can access those files by typing "localhost/project/filename.php". Bottom line is that your php files need to be in the htdocs folder for xampp being able to handle them.

If you try to open the php file by locating the file in windows explorer and then right click - open with chrome, then chrome is opening the php file without having your local webserver (the webserver that comes with xampp) interpret your code. Keeping in mind that php is a server side programming language it should be clear that your browser cannot do this by itself. It needs the webserver to do the interpreting of the php file and serve information that a web browser can handle (html).

I hope this answer helps you out.

Andres Altuve
Andres Altuve
16,274 Points
Andres Altuve
Andres Altuve
16,274 Points

Peter if you double click on the file it won´t open, you must open any web browser and type (IN MY CASE)

localhost/treehouse/php/index.php

Hope it helps..

Kevin Kenger
Kevin Kenger
32,834 Points
Kevin Kenger
Kevin Kenger
32,834 Points

Hey Peter,

Are your files named correctly? I had a similar experience due to having my index.php file named index.html.

Michalis Efstathiou
Michalis Efstathiou
11,180 Points
Michalis Efstathiou
Michalis Efstathiou
11,180 Points

also remember that after you launch xampp, you need to open the control panel and start the apache server by clicking the start button next to it

Peter G.
PLUS
Peter G.
Courses Plus Student 5,806 Points
Peter G.
Peter G.
Courses Plus Student 5,806 Points

Thank you for the help. I learnt something today that wasn't covered in the php beginner course. :) Freek's answer really explained and helped me a lot with what I was doing wrong. -Andreas it looks we were having the same problem. -Kevin, it's something to keep in mind.