Installing and Running a Local PHP Server with MAMP - Full Tutorial

Running a local server setup is pretty beneficial when it comes to web development, particularly with PHP. A local PHP server allows you to test your PHP code, HTML files, and databases without an internet connection.
One of the most popular local server software is MAMP, an acronym for Macintosh, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. Despite the name, it is available for both MacOS and Windows. This tutorial will guide you through the process of installing and running a local PHP server with MAMP.

Why MAMP?

MAMP provides an all-in-one solution to setup a local PHP server for web development. It comes with Apache and Nginx web servers, PHP, Perl, and Python server-side languages, and MySQL and MariaDB databases.
MAMP is free and easy to install. You can run multiple PHP versions concurrently and easily switch between them. It also comes with phpMyAdmin, a tool for managing MySQL databases.

Installing MAMP

Visit the MAMP official website and download the latest version of MAMP for your system.
After the download is complete, open the .dmg/.exe file and follow the installer's prompts to complete the installation.

Running a Local PHP Server with MAMP

After installation, start up MAMP.
The application will automatically set up the Apache web server and MySQL database for you. It will start running a local server, which by default is set to http://localhost:8888/. This is your local PHP server.
You can test your PHP code by creating PHP files and storing them in the MAMP's htdocs directory. The location of this directory can be found in your MAMP installation folder. This directory is also known as the web root directory.

To run your PHP file, open your browser and type http://localhost:8888/ followed by the file's name in the address bar.
The browser will interpret PHP code in the file and output HTML. You should see the result of the PHP script in your browser.

Configuring MAMP

To make your workflow easier, you may need to tweak some settings.
To change the Document Root to your preferred directory, go to MAMP > Preferences > Web Server and set the Document Root to your preferred directory.
You can also change default Apache and MySQL ports from 8888 and 8889 to 80 and 3306 respectively under MAMP > Preferences > Ports.

Creating a MySQL Database

Creating a MySQL database with MAMP is simple.
From the main MAMP window, select "Open WebStart page".
This will open a new page in your default browser. On the WebStart page, select phpMyAdmin from the top menu.
In phpMyAdmin, select "Databases" from the top menu, enter your database name, and click "Create".

MAMP is an excellent tool for setting up a local PHP server. It comes packed with powerful features, yet remains user-friendly.
Once you have it set up, you can start creating PHP applications on your local machine without the need to upload files to a remote server. Happy coding!