What is .php?

.php files contain source code written in PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor), a widely-used open-source general-purpose scripting language that is especially widely suited for web development and can be embedded into HTML.

This quick guide explains when to use .php files, how to open them on any device, and how to share them instantly with FileXhost.

When to use .php files

You are building dynamic websites (WordPress, Drupal, Joomla).
You need to interact with a database (MySQL/MariaDB) to store user data.
You want to process forms, handle cookies, or manage user sessions.
You are creating server-side APIs.

How to open .php files

PHP files are plain text and can be edited in any text editor like VS Code, PHPStorm, or Sublime Text. To run them, you need a web server (like Apache or Nginx) with PHP installed, or the PHP CLI.

Algorithm details

PHP is a server-side language. When a user requests a .php page, the server executes the PHP code, which may query databases or perform calculations, and then outputs pure HTML to the user's browser. The user never sees the actual PHP source code.

Browser & platform support

Direct: Not supported by browsers (code is executed on server).
Result: Browsers render the HTML output generated by the PHP script.

Format comparison

Feature	Details
Integration	Designed to mix seamlessly with HTML, making it easy to add logic to static pages.
Popularity	Powers nearly 80% of the web, including major platforms like WordPress.
Ease of Use	Forgiving syntax and easy deployment (just upload files to a server).

How to create php files

Text Editors: Save file as 'index.php'.
IDEs: PhpStorm, VS Code.
CMS: WordPress generates PHP files automatically.

How to convert php files

Server: Automatically converts PHP logic to HTML output for the browser.
Tools: Can be converted to static HTML using tools like 'wget' or static site generators.
FileXhost: Upload to share source code.

Advantages & disadvantages

Advantages

Runs on almost every web hosting provider (cheap and ubiquitous)
Huge ecosystem (WordPress, Laravel, Symfony)
Easy to connect to databases
Great documentation and community support

Disadvantages

Inconsistent function naming conventions (legacy baggage)
Security vulnerabilities if not written carefully (SQL injection)
Performance can be slower than compiled languages like Go or Java

Tools & software

IDEs

PhpStorm (Recommended), VS Code, Sublime Text

Servers

Apache, Nginx, XAMPP, MAMP

Frameworks

Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter

Frequently asked questions

Can I open a PHP file in Chrome?

If you open it directly from your computer, you will just see the code. To see the web page it generates, you need to run it through a local server (like XAMPP) or upload it to a web host.

Is PHP dead?

Far from it! PHP powers a vast majority of the web, including Facebook, Wikipedia, and Slack. Modern PHP (8.x) is fast, secure, and strongly typed.

What does PHP stand for?

It stands for 'PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor' (a recursive acronym). Originally, it stood for 'Personal Home Page'.

Technical specs

File type: Code
Extension: .php
MIME type: text/x-php, application/x-php, application/x-httpd-php
Compression: Uncompressed
Max file size on FileXhost: Up to 25 MB per file on the free plan and up to 1 GB on Pro FileXhost accounts.

Upload your .php file to FileXhost to get a clean, shareable URL in seconds. View the file in a modern browser, protect access with optional settings, and let others download it without any confusing ads or cluttered file pages.

Upload .php file