How To Install PHP 8 On Ubuntu 25.04 (Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners)

To install PHP on Ubuntu 25.04 ("Plucky"), the current stable version available via apt is PHP 8.4, here is step-by-step instruction how to get it up and running :

🔧 1. Update AND Install PHP 8.4

Installs PHP 8.4 (default), the Apache module, CLI tools, and common extensions.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-cli php-curl php-gd php-mbstring php-xml php-zip -y

To confirm the install :

php -v

🧩 2. (Optional) Install Additional Extensions

For advanced needs, append whichever you require. For example :

sudo apt install php8.4-intl php8.4-pgsql php8.4-zip

And restart Apache :

sudo systemctl restart apache2

This ensures new modules are recognized.

🗃 3. Plug Into Your Web Server

With Apache :

The Apache module was already installed.
To test, create a PHP info page :

echo "<?php phpinfo();" | sudo tee /var/www/html/info.php

Visit http://YOUR_SERVER_IP/info.php to view PHP settings.
Clean up after testing :

sudo rm /var/www/html/info.php

Restart Apache to apply changes :

sudo systemctl restart apache2

🔐 4. Verify Security Updates & PHP Version

Ubuntu now ships with PHP 8.4 and maintains it with patches (e.g., version 8.4.5+ fixes found in March 2025). You don't need external PPAs unless you need older/newer PHP major versions.

✅ Summary

| ---- | ------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| Step | Command                                     | Purpose                            |
| ---- | ------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| 1    | sudo apt update && sudo apt install php     | Installs PHP 8.4 & core extensions |
| 2    | php -v                                      | Confirms version                   |
| 3    | Create info.php & visit in browser          | Checks integration with Apache     |
| 4    | sudo rm info.php && restart apache2         | Cleanup and final restart          |
| ---- | ------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |

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