PHP script basics

PHP is a server‑side scripting language that allows you to create dynamic web pages. On ruachost.com, PHP is preinstalled on all hosting accounts, making it easy to run scripts without additional setup.

Key Concepts

File Permissions

• PHP script files should be set to 755 permissions.

• This ensures the user has read, write, and execute permissions, while the group and world have read and execute permissions.

• Incorrect permissions may cause errors or prevent scripts from running.

Shebang Header

• Unlike Perl or Python, PHP scripts do not require a shebang line (#!/usr/bin/php).

• You can run PHP scripts without adding this header.

Short Tags

• Ruachost servers support PHP short tags.

• Example:

  <? echo "Hello world"; ?>
  

• Equivalent to:

  <?php echo "Hello world"; ?>
  

Path to PHP Executable

• The absolute path to PHP on Ruachost servers is:

  /usr/bin/php
  

• Since /usr/bin is in the default path, you can usually run scripts with:

  Bash
  
  php filename.php
  

PHP Versions

• Ruachost supports multiple PHP versions (5.6, 7.1–7.4, 8.0–8.4).

• To check the command‑line version:

  Bash
  
  php -v
  

   

• To check the web server version, log in to cPanel → Software → Select PHP Version.

File Extensions

• Default extension: .php

• You can define additional extensions (e.g., .html) in .htaccess:

  AddHandler application/x-httpd-lsphp .html
  

Safe Mode

• PHP safe mode is not enabled on Ruachost servers.

• Safe mode was deprecated in PHP 5.3 and removed in PHP 5.4.

Example Script

<?php
echo "Welcome to Ruachost!";
?>