Environment

• Quick: php -S localhost:8000 in your project folder (PHP's built-in server).
• Full stack: Debian with apt install php php-mysql mariadb-server nginx php-fpm, or XAMPP/Laragon on Windows.

Syntax

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

$business = "BOSS Pacific";
$year = (int) date("Y");
echo "<h1>Welcome to $business</h1>";
echo "<p>&copy; " . $year . "</p>";

Variables start with $; statements end with ;; strings in double quotes interpolate variables.

Types in PHP 8

int, float, string, bool, array, null, objects — with optional type declarations, union types (int|string), and match expressions.