Can a browser read php?

I know that PHP is server side scripting language, but I got confused when asked in an interview if the browser understands PHP?

I have Apache installed in my system.

If in a PHP file I write and I open it in a browser it shows HELLO.

Now how does it happen if the browser does not understand PHP?

asked Dec 2, 2012 at 18:41

The browser does not understand PHP. Like you have stated, it is a server-side scripting language.

If you are seeing 'HELLO' output in the browser then your script must have been run through the PHP interpreter on the webserver and the resulting output (ie. 'HELLO') is returned in the response that is sent to the browser.

However, if your PHP script is in an ordinary HTML file (that is not parsed by the PHP interpreter) or not located on a webserver with PHP installed then you will not see anything output in the browser in this instance. If you viewed the source of your page you would see the unprocessed PHP code.

answered Dec 2, 2012 at 19:16

MrWhiteMrWhite

41.6k4 gold badges47 silver badges88 bronze badges

A GUI to open PHP/HTML/JS files in browser on http://localhost or file:/// scheme. Suitable for XAMPP/MAMP.

You can open any type of file in browser, not only html file with just one click!

Supported browsers: Firefox / Google Chrome / Chromium / Safari / Opera / Edge / IE or any other using configured custom script

Usage

You can open current file in browser using following methods:

Click the button Open In Browser on StatusBar
In the editor, right click on the file and click in context menu Open PHP/HTML/JS In Browser
Use keybindings Shift + F6 to open more faster (can be changed in menu File -> Preferences -> Keyboard Shortcuts)

Shortcuts

Key	Command
`Shift + F6`	Open PHP/HTML/JS In Browser

Extension Settings

This extension contributes the following settings:

Option	Description
`open-php-html-js-in-browser.urlToOpen`	Url scheme to open in browser (`http://localhost` or `file:///` or `custom`)
`open-php-html-js-in-browser.selectedBrowser`	Browser to open (`Chrome`, `Firefox`, ...)
`open-php-html-js-in-browser.customBrowserPath`	Path of a custom browser executable (eg. `C:\Program Files\Browser\Browser.exe`)
`open-php-html-js-in-browser.rememberBrowserSelection`	Remember last browser selection. Uncheck and select `Ask always...` option if you want to always choose browser to launch
`open-php-html-js-in-browser.showStatusBarItem`	Show the button `Open In Browser` in the vscode status bar
`open-php-html-js-in-browser.documentRootFolder`	Base directory of your pages to serve from `http://localhost` domain (eg. `C:\xampp\htdocs\`, `/var/www/`, `etc.`)
`open-php-html-js-in-browser.customUrlToOpen`	Custom url to open in browser (eg. `http://localhost:8888/${relativeDirnameDocumentRoot}/${fileBasename}`)

customUrlToOpen configuration:

Custom url to open in browser (eg. http://localhost:8888/${relativeDirnameDocumentRoot}/${fileBasename})

You can use variables substitutions see https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/variables-reference

Variable	Description
`${workspaceFolder}`	the path of the folder opened in VS Code
`${workspaceFolderBasename}`	the name of the folder opened in VS Code without any slashes (/)
`${file}`	the current opened file
`${relativeFile}`	the current opened file relative to workspaceFolder
`${fileBasename}`	the current opened file's basename
`${fileBasenameNoExtension}`	the current opened file's basename with no file extension
`${fileDirname}`	the current opened file's dirname
`${fileExtname}`	the current opened file's extension
`${cwd}`	the task runner's current working directory on startup
`${lineNumber}`	the current selected line number in the active file
`${selectedText}`	the current selected text in the active file
`${env:ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLE_NAME}`	value of enviroment variable
`${config:CONFIG_NAME}`	value of configuration (eg. `config:open-php-html-js-in-browser.documentRootFolder`)
${host}	`localhost` hostname with port number
`${relativeDirnameDocumentRoot}`	path relative to `documentRootFolder` configuration

Known Issues

None

Release Notes

See changelog below

[2.2.0] - 2022-07-12

Added support for alternative document root folders
Fixed double slashes url issue

[2.1.0] - 2022-07-12

Fixed file:/// scheme issue

[2.0.0] - 2020-09-14

Added document root folder autodetection

[1.8.0] - 2018-12-31

Added support for Opera
Refactored open browser core
Fixed Edge issue

[1.7.4] - 2018-12-19

Minor changes

[1.7.3] - 2018-12-19

Minor changes

[1.7.0] - 2018-12-19

Improved stability

[1.6.0] - 2018-12-19

Added Custom url to open in browser configuration option. You can set eg. http://localhost:8888/${relativeDirnameDocumentRoot}/${fileBasename}
You can use variables substitutions see https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/variables-reference

[1.5.0] - 2018-12-19

Edited document is automatically saved before Open In Browser command

[1.4.0] - 2018-12-18

Improved performance

[1.3.0] - 2018-12-18

Added fallback mode to file:/// when it's not possible to use http://localhost

[1.2.1] - 2018-12-18

Fixed missing dependencies

[1.0.0] - 2018-12-18

Initial release

Enjoy!

Can browsers interpret PHP?

Browsers don't interpret PHP code, and they don't know the slightest thing about it. They never have and they never will. PHP code is executed on the server; from there it produces some output that is echoed to the client's browser, usually HTML, but can also be CSS or JavaScript, images or other downloadable files.

How do I run PHP on my browser?

php” file is placed inside the “htdocs” folder. If you want to run it, open any web browser and enter “localhost/demo. php” and press enter. Your program will run.

Can Chrome open PHP files?

Unlike static HTML pages, it is not possible to view the web page created by a PHP script by opening the file in chrome. PHP scripts must be saved on a web server with PHP services and must then be located by entering the web address in the address bar of the chrome browser, or by following a link in the same location.

Which browser is best for PHP?

Here are the best browsers for web development in 2021:.

LT Browser. LT Browser is an app for web developers from LambdaTest. ... .

Firefox Developer. The best conventional browser for web development in 2021 is the developer edition of Mozilla's Firefox. ... .

Polypane. ... .

Blisk. ... .

Sizzy. ... .

Brave. ... .

Chrome..