Run a PHP file from a terminal with php my_script.php. PHP’s command-line interface (CLI) is a distinct SAPI for shell applications, so you can execute PHP without making an HTTP request. You can also run a short expression with -r or feed PHP code through standard input. The PHP manual explains the CLI SAPI and how to identify it.
What PHP CLI is—and how to check which PHP you are running
SAPI means Server Application Programming Interface: it is the way PHP runs in a particular environment. CLI is intended for shell applications. It is distinct from CGI, although the two can share some behavior. The executable name and install location vary, so the php command in your shell may not be the binary you expect.
Start with php -v. Its output identifies whether the invoked binary reports CLI or CGI, along with its version. In a PHP program, check the active SAPI with PHP_SAPI or php_sapi_name(). See the PHP manual’s CLI overview.
Choose how to provide PHP code
| Method | Example | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Run a file | php my_script.php |
Reusable scripts and programs |
| Run inline code | php -r 'echo 2 + 2;' |
Quick, short expressions |
| Read from standard input | cat script.php | php |
Shell pipelines that pass PHP code to the interpreter |
These are alternative ways to supply code; the PHP manual says they cannot be combined in one invocation. The command-line usage page documents all three.
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Run a saved file
Save PHP code in a file and execute it with php my_script.php. The filename does not have to end in .php. The equivalent explicit form is php -f my_script.php.
Run a one-off expression
Use -r for code that is too small to save as a file:
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php -r 'echo 2 + 2;'
Do not include <?php or ?> tags in code passed to -r; they cause a parse error. Shells may expand variables or interpret quotes before PHP receives the command, so quote inline code appropriately for your shell.
Feed code through a pipeline
PHP can read code from standard input, allowing it to take part in a shell pipeline. For example, cat script.php | php sends the file’s contents to PHP rather than naming it as a script argument.
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Pass arguments to a PHP script
Put script arguments after the script filename. PHP makes them available in $argv; index 0 contains the script name, or a documented placeholder when the code comes from inline execution or standard input.
For example, run php greet.php Ada and read $argv[1] in greet.php to get Ada. If an argument starts with a hyphen, put -- between the script filename and that argument. This tells PHP to stop treating following values as PHP options:
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php my_script.php -- -v
Here, -v is passed to the script instead of being interpreted as PHP’s version option. See the PHP manual’s argument and usage documentation.
Use a PHP file like a shell script
On Unix-like systems, a PHP script can start with a shebang such as #!/usr/bin/php to select the interpreter. Make the file executable before invoking it by name. The path must point to the PHP executable on that system. Windows setup differs; a batch file can invoke php.exe. The PHP manual covers command-line scripts and shebangs.
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Useful PHP command-line options
Run php -h to see the options supported by the PHP binary installed on your machine. Options and behavior can vary by version and build, so local help is the best guide for that executable. The PHP CLI options reference documents commonly used switches:
| Option | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
-v |
Displays PHP version and SAPI information | php -v |
-l |
Checks a file’s syntax without executing it | php -l my_script.php |
-m |
Lists loaded modules | php -m |
-i |
Displays PHP configuration information | php -i |
-c |
Selects a configuration path or file | php -c /path/to/php.ini my_script.php |
-n |
Skips loading php.ini |
php -n my_script.php |
-d |
Sets an INI entry for the invocation | php -d display_errors=1 my_script.php |
-r |
Runs inline PHP code | php -r 'echo 2 + 2;' |
A successful -l check only establishes that the file passes PHP’s syntax check. It does not run the program or catch every error that can occur at runtime.
Interactive mode is not available on every installation
php -a starts an interactive shell only when PHP was compiled with readline support. Availability and behavior differ by platform and build; as of PHP 8.1, -a fails when readline is unavailable. Consult the PHP manual’s interactive-shell documentation and your installed binary’s help before relying on a prompt.
Use the built-in web server for local development
Although CLI runs code without an HTTP request, its executable can also start PHP’s built-in web server for local web testing. For example, php -S localhost:8000 serves from the current directory; use -t to specify a document root, as in php -S localhost:8000 -t public. Open http://localhost:8000 in a browser to test the site.
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The PHP manual describes this server as a tool for development, testing, or demonstrations in controlled environments—not as a full-featured production web server. By default, it runs as a single-threaded process, so a blocked request can stall other requests. Multiple workers for concurrency testing have been available since PHP 7.4.0, but that feature is unsupported on Windows. Do not expose the built-in server as a public production service. See the PHP manual’s built-in web server documentation.
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