What is XAMPP
The full form of XAMPP stands for Cross-platform, Apache, MariaDB (MySQL), PHP and Perl. It is one of the simplest and lightweight local servers or more precisely a package of bundled open-source software containing standard web development tools to develop/test your website locally.
It is available as open-source software created by Apache Friends and is very common among the developers of content management systems like Joomla or WordPress. XAMPP provides an ideal, development and test environment for projects based on Apache, Perl, MySQL database, and PHP through the system of the host itself.
Advantages of XAMPP
- It is free and easy to use and easily available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS.
- It is a beginner’s friendly solution package for full-stack web development.
- It is an open-source software package that gives an easy installation experience.
- It is very simple and lightweight to create a setup for development, testing, and deployment.
XAMPP Components
Core Modules
- Apache
- MariaDB
- PHP
- Perl
Additional Modules
- PHPMyAdmin
- FileZilla FTP
- Mercury mail.
- JSP Tomcat
Installing XAMPP on Windows
Download the XAMPP for windows
Download the latest XAMPP installer for windows from Apache Friends Website
Plan/Choose XAMPP location
Before running the installer. Carefully plan/choose the location for XAMPP binaries or root folder. Make a note of the following while choosing the location :
- Your Website and Project files would reside inside the XAMPP folder. Best to choose data drive or partition with Admin access.
- Prefer not to install in ‘Program Files’ due to UAC and Windows security restrictions may potentially cause problems.
Run the XAMPP Installer
Run the XAMPP installer as ‘Admin’ (Run As Admin). This should take care of any potential privilege or access-related issues. Complete the installation process.
Continue with the Installer Prompts
Launch XAMPP Panel & Start Apache
Launch your XAMPP Control Panel, you should see the above control panel.
Now press the ‘Start’ button against the Apache on the panel for starting your Apache Server service.
Verify your XAMPP installation
Launch your browser and type in localhost into the URL to check if Apache Server service is running fine. You should see the above page which confirms your XAMPP installation has been successful.
You can also verify the full PHP information by typing the URL – localhost/dashboard/phpinfo.php
Next Steps
Since you have succesfully installed the XAMPP application. Most probably you might also want to install WordPress on top of your XAMPP installation. If that is the case, please checkout next article: How To Install WordPress Locally using XAMPP.
In case you are looking for advanced configuration for XAMPP checkout these articles: