When GitHub Actions launched, there was no PHP setup action. Shivam Mathur built Setup PHP to fill that gap, drawing on experience with server configuration and deployment automation he had gained at university. Today, the project’s documented purpose is practical: prepare a PHP environment for testing in GitHub Actions by selecting PHP versions and configuring extensions, settings, coverage drivers, and command-line tools.
Why Shivam Mathur created Setup PHP
In a 2020 GitHub profile, Mathur described learning server configuration and website deployment automation during university. When GitHub Actions appeared, he found no PHP setup action and made one for PHP projects.
Mathur said feature requests helped shape the project, along with a goal of making it easier to use. He described the action this way: “It can setup various versions of PHP, along with required extensions, various popular CLI tools used by projects in PHP community, code-coverage drivers and a lot more.”
GitHub’s profile called Setup PHP “one of our top used Actions,” but did not give a usage count. That description belongs to the 2020 profile; it should not be read as a current adoption statistic.
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What Setup PHP does in a workflow
Setup PHP is an action for preparing the PHP environment a project uses in GitHub Actions. A workflow calls it with the action reference and inputs that specify the desired environment. A basic step looks like this:
- name: Set up PHP
uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
with:
php-version: '8.3'The example explicitly requests PHP 8.3; choose a version that matches the project’s requirements. The official README documents additional inputs and their precise behavior.
Rank #2
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Choose a PHP version
The php-version input can specify a version directly. The README also documents aliases such as latest, nightly, and pre-installed. In documented circumstances, leaving the input unset lets the action infer a version from a project version file or Composer configuration. Check the README for supported file formats and selection caveats rather than assuming every project file is detected.
Configure the PHP environment
Workflow inputs can request PHP extensions, choose a base php.ini configuration, set ini values, and select a code-coverage driver such as Xdebug or PCOV. The action can also set up command-line tools used by PHP projects, including Composer or PHPUnit.
Rank #3
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For dependency caching, the project documents using GitHub cache actions with Composer. Its README also describes pinning tool versions to checksums, a useful option when a workflow needs tighter control over downloaded tooling.
Runners and compatibility
The action documents use on both GitHub-hosted and self-hosted runners. Its current README lists Linux, Windows, and macOS runner families, with x86_64 and ARM variants in some environments. Exact support depends on the runner image, architecture, and PHP version; the matrix changes as GitHub updates runner images and the project evolves.
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Before choosing a workflow matrix, verify that the required operating system, architecture, PHP version, and extensions are available together in the live compatibility documentation. A general statement that the action supports a platform does not guarantee every PHP release or extension is available on every runner.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to decide what to configure
Start with the project’s actual test requirements, then express them in the workflow inputs:
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
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- Runner: identify the operating systems and architectures that matter to your users or deployment targets.
- PHP versions: specify the versions your project supports, or use documented inference when the project’s version file or Composer configuration is the intended source of truth.
- Extensions and ini settings: request the extensions and configuration the test suite needs.
- Coverage and tools: select Xdebug or PCOV if coverage is required, and add the CLI tools used by the workflow.
- Dependencies and supply chain: configure Composer caching with GitHub cache actions where appropriate, and consult the README’s checksum-pinning guidance for tool versions.
These are configuration choices, not benchmarked recommendations: the project documentation describes the available controls, but the right combination depends on the application and its CI requirements.
Version and documentation freshness
GitHub Marketplace listed Setup PHP 2.37.2 as “Latest” on October 4, 2026. Releases can change frequently, so check the Marketplace listing or project releases for the current version before relying on that number.
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