You know that PHP is a server-side scripting language.
But, You can execute the PHP script through the command prompt or terminal as well.
You may face the issue:
‘php’ is not recognized as internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
Something as in the below screenshot:
![[Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 1 [Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 1](https://maheshwaghmare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/php-not-a-internal-or-external-command.png)
This error occurs because the environmental path for the php.exe
file does not exist.
To make it work you need to set the environment path into the Windows Operating System.
You are going to see:
![[Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 2 [Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 2](https://maheshwaghmare.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/image-14.png)
Add Environment Path for php.exe
Step 1: Click on the Start menu from Windows Operating System and search for Environment Variables and then click on Environment Variables
![[Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 3 [Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 3](https://maheshwaghmare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/add-environment-variables.png)
Step 2: Edit the System variables or User Variables
- System variables – If we add a path in system variables then other system users also use the PHP through the command line.
- User variables – If we set the path for the current user then only the current user can execute the PHP through the command line.
![[Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 4 [Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 4](https://maheshwaghmare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/add-new-path-screen.png)
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Step 3: Add the PHP directory location where the PHP is installed.
In XAMPP we can find the PHP location at:
c:\xampp\php
So, Click on New, add the path, and click on Ok.
![[Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 5 [Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 5](https://maheshwaghmare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/add-new-environment-path.png)
How to confirm the issue is fixed?
To test the PHP is available with the command line.
- Open Terminal (CMD)
- Type
php -v
You can see something similar on the screen.
![[Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 6 [Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 6](https://maheshwaghmare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/php-version-check-with-cli.png)
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Try with a small example
Now, Let’s see how to execute the PHP script through the command line with a simple example.
Note: I assume that you have a localhost server XAMPP, MAMP, WAMP, VVV, Local By Flywheel, or something else.
Step 1: Create a file test.php
in c:\xampp\htdocs\examples
Step 2: Copy and paste the below code into the file test.php
<?php echo 'Hello World';
Step 3: Open a terminal or CMD (Command Prompt) and navigate to the examples directory.
cd c:\xampp\htdocs\examples
Step 4: Execute the command
php test.php
You can see Hello World on the terminal screen like:
![[Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 7 [Solved] PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command 7](https://maheshwaghmare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/execute-php-command-line.png)
You may also learn:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when I get the error message “PHP is not recognized as an internal or external command”?
This error message means that your computer is not able to find the PHP executable file, which is necessary to run PHP scripts.
How can I fix the “PHP is not recognized” error message?
There are several steps you can take to fix this error message, including:
1. Adding the PHP installation directory to your system’s PATH environment variable.
2. Make sure that the PHP executable file is located in the correct directory.
3. Reinstalling PHP to ensure that all necessary files are properly installed.
How do I add the PHP installation directory to my system’s PATH environment variable?
You can add the PHP installation directory to your system’s PATH environment variable by following these steps:
1. Open the Start menu and search for “Environment Variables”.
2. Click on “Edit the system environment variables”.
3. Click on the “Environment Variables” button.
4. Under “System Variables”, scroll down until you find the “Path” variable and click on “Edit”.
5. Click on “New” and enter the path to your PHP installation directory (e.g. C:\PHP).
6. Click “OK” to close all the windows and save your changes.
7. That’s it 🙂
How do I know if PHP is installed on my computer?
You can check if PHP is installed on your computer by opening the command prompt and typing “php -v”.
This will display the version of PHP that is currently installed.
What are some common causes of the “PHP is not recognized” error message?
Some common causes of this error message include:
1. The PHP installation directory is not added to the system’s PATH environment variable.
2. The PHP executable file is not located in the correct directory.
3. The PHP installation is incomplete or corrupted.
4. The PHP version is incompatible with your operating system.
Thanks , examples about command line programs are less on the web.