Setting Up Your First Project Folder and Installing XAMPP or WAMP
Setting Up Your First Project Folder and Installing XAMPP
or WAMP
Before you start coding, it’s
important to set up your project folder and install a local server
like XAMPP or WAMP. These local servers let you run PHP and databases right on
your computer, so you can develop websites without needing an internet
connection or hosting.
Step
1: Installing XAMPP or WAMP
XAMPP and WAMP are popular local server solutions for
Windows (XAMPP also works on Mac/Linux).
- XAMPP
includes Apache (server), MySQL (database), PHP, and more.
- WAMP
includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP — specifically for Windows.
You can download them here:
Follow the installation wizard, accept default options, and complete the setup.
Step
2: Locating Your Server’s Root Folder
After installation, you need to know
where to save your website files so the server can access them.
- For XAMPP, the root folder is:
C:\xampp\htdocs\
- For WAMP, the root folder is:
C:\wamp64\www\
Step
3: Creating Your First Project Folder
Inside the root folder (htdocs or www),
create a new folder for your project.
Example:
- Open C:\xampp\htdocs\ (for XAMPP)
- Right-click → New Folder → Name it my_site
OR for WAMP:
- Open C:\wamp64\www\
- Create a folder called my_site
This folder will hold all your
website files (HTML, PHP, CSS, JavaScript, etc.).
Step
4: Creating Your First File
Inside your project folder, create a file named index.html
Step
5: Running Your Project in the Browser
- Start Apache and MySQL servers:
- In XAMPP Control Panel, click Start next to
Apache and MySQL.
- In WAMP, left-click the WAMP icon in the system tray
and select Start All Services.
- Open your browser and go to:
http://localhost/my_site/
You should see the blank page with no error
Tips
for Organizing Projects
- Always keep one folder per project inside htdocs or www.
- Name folders with lowercase letters and underscores (my_site).
- Keep backups of your code regularly.
Summary
- Install XAMPP or WAMP
- Find the server root folder (htdocs or www)
- Create a project folder inside the root folder
- Add your files (index.php)
- Start the server and visit http://localhost/<your_folder>
Now you’re ready to start building
your website!