PHP

ApplicationThe PHP Group

Also called php windows, windows.php.net

The PHP GroupProductivity

The PHP language binary for Windows. The process is php.exe. XAMPP bundles a copy. This page is not XAMPP alone.

What you need to know

PHP is the language binary. XAMPP is a stack that bundles a copy.

php.exe from windows.php.net is the official Windows build. XAMPP and Laragon ship their own copies. This page is the language, not XAMPP alone.

What is it?: Language runtime
Still current?: Yes, see Current status
Official download?: Use the vendor link in this article

Feex says

If a tool wants php on PATH, I use windows.php.net or Laragon's bin. I do not install all of XAMPP just to get php.exe unless I want that stack.

What is PHP?

php.exe runs scripts and the built-in server. The official Windows builds live on windows.php.net. XAMPP's php.exe is a copy inside that stack.

If you have never used it

If you need php.exe on PATH, get the VS-built zip from windows.php.net. That is the language. XAMPP and Laragon bundle their own php.exe. This article is the binary, not the XAMPP control panel.

What is it used for?

CLI scripts and composer

php.exe on PATH. A Laragon or XAMPP php.exe is a different folder.

Built-in dev server

php -S. That is not Apache from XAMPP unless you chose that stack.

Drop into Laragon or IIS

The zip is just the language. XAMPP is optional and is not this page.

Who is it for?

People who want official Windows PHP
Users whose XAMPP PHP is too old
Anyone who thought php.exe was only inside XAMPP

Current status

PHP (1995) is a current language runtime from The PHP Group. The vendor still points Windows users at https://windows.php.net/download/.

How old is it?

PHP dates to 1995. Current Windows builds are NTS or TS zips on windows.php.net. PHP 5.6 guides are history. XAMPP is a 2000s-era stack that still ships a PHP, not the language home.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

PHP 8.x (windows.php.net)

Copy bundled in XAMPP or Laragon

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor
RAM	Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand: Follows what you open inside the app
RAM demand: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
php.exe	Main Windows executable

Startup components

php.exe does not start with Windows unless a scheduled task calls it.

File locations

Common PHP locations
Typical install	User-chosen zip folder, or C:\php\

File formats

PHPPHAR

Common problems

Installed XAMPP only to get php.exe

That works, but this article is the official zip. Laragon is another stack. You do not need XAMPP for CLI PHP.

Wrong TS versus NTS build for IIS or Apache

windows.php.net labels them. XAMPP already picked one for its Apache.

Getting unstuck

Download the current VS16/VS17 zip from windows.php.net/download

Thread Safe versus Non Thread Safe as the host requires. php.net/docs is the language manual.

Copy php.ini-production to php.ini and enable extensions you need

That is the official zip workflow. XAMPP's php.ini is under xampp\php.

where.exe php if three stacks fight on PATH

XAMPP, Laragon, and the official zip can all be php.exe. Pick one for the task.

Alternatives

Laragon and XAMPP bundle PHP plus a web server. WSL apt php is another path. Ruby and Python are other languages.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download	windows.php.net/download/ Official installer or vendor page
Help	www.php.net/docs.php Vendor support
Official site	windows.php.net/download/ Start here, not a random exe host

Related hardware

The binary is small. Composer and the app set RAM. A GPU is irrelevant.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

PHP official site · Vendor product page
PHP help · Vendor support
PHP Windows documentation · Official Windows install notes
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

Was this article useful?

A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note.