Online tools are popular in the technology industry for many reasons, including that they help developers work faster and with more ease. There are many online developer tools that exist today in different forms. Some of them include an online Integrated Development Environment (IDE), online editors, debuggers, graphic user interfaces, and compilers.
This article contains comprehensive information about your different choices when it comes to an online PHP compiler. You will learn Laravel and information about the best online PHP compilers and the difference between these essential coding tools and their similarities. Learn how to run PHP online with one of these compilers.
What Is PHP?
PHP is an open-source general-purpose scripting language that was designed for web development. PHP stands for Hypertext Preprocessor and is best suited for the development of static websites, dynamic websites, and web applications. This widely used language is easy to learn, cross-platform, syncs with all databases, and has a supportive community.
It is a server-side language that has been used to design several popular applications including Facebook, Yahoo!, WordProcess, Tumblr, and MailChimp. Facebook was initially written in PHP and the language is used to power the social media site. Wikipedia is another popular web application that was partially developed with the PHP language.
What Is an Online PHP Compiler?
An online PHP compiler is a web page that allows you to write, compile, and run your code online from anywhere and on any device. This tool helps to increase productivity, improve performance, and enhance code quality. Some features of a compiler are compilation speed, machine code correctness, machine code speed, and grammar and code error detection.
How to Run PHP Online: Compilers, Interpreters, Code Editors, and IDE
Running PHP online is fast and efficient due to its accessibility and cost-efficiency, as most online tools are free to use. An IDE is a comprehensive development tool containing other tools like a code editor, compiler, and interpreter. It includes additional features that make it the go-to tool for most developers. Learn about the other differences and similarities between online programming tools.
Online PHP Compiler vs Online PHP Interpreter
An online interpreter converts high-level language into a machine-readable format or machine code. This is similar to what a compiler does but with a slight difference. An interpreter converts the code while the program is being run, while a compiler does it before running. There are also other differences between them, including the speed, process, error display, and model.
A compiler is based on a translation linking-loading model, while interpreters are based on the interpretation method. A compiler runs a complete program at once while the interpreter works with a single line of code at a time. Lastly, a compiler displays all errors simultaneously after compilation, and an interpreter shows errors of each line of code individually.
Online PHP Compiler vs Online PHP Editor
An online PHP editor is a popular tool used for writing and editing software rather than converting code like a compiler. Editors exist on a remote server with cloud support and can be accessed through browsers. It could be a standalone tool or part of an IDE. An editor makes the code writing process faster and easier for the developer by helping to differentiate between routines and elements.
As a standalone tool, an editor may have features like syntax highlighting, code indentation, autocomplete, auto-formatting, error and warning marks, brace matching, change tracking, structure visualizer, line numbers, global undo and redo, and advanced editing features. Each editor application could also have unique features, code editing capabilities, and functions.
Online PHP Compiler vs Online PHP IDE
IDE is an acronym for integrated development environment. It combines several development tools and is often used for software development. This powerful tool is used to write, test, and execute codes. Some of its main features work with translating, code editing, auto-documentation, debugging, building automation, libraries, and graphic user interface.
All the tools can come as standalone programs, but with an IDE, a developer doesn’t have to get each tool individually as they can get it all from one tool. A compiler, on the other hand, can be used to write, compile, interpret, and execute a code. A compiler also comes as a feature with most IDE.
Top 5 Online PHP Compilers
| Online PHP Compiler | Price | Functionality |
|---|---|---|
| IDEOne | Free | IDE with compiler |
| myCompiler | Free | Compiler |
| OneCompiler | Free | Compiler |
| PHPanywhere | Free | IDE with compiler |
| ShiftEdit | 30-day free trial, Paid: $8 to $16 | IDE with compiler |
This section includes the best online PHP compilers. The majority of the compilers mentioned here are featured with IDE. They are also mostly free and support multiple programming languages. You can find a more detailed explanation of each compiler below.
IDEOne
IDEOne is a popular free online debugger and compiler that supports a wide range of programming languages, including PHP. It is very easy to use, allows you to compile and execute your code with speed, and has shortcuts to make your code even faster. IDEOne has several amazing features that make it a favorite tool among developers.
IDEOne Features
- Supports approximately 40 programming languages
- Offers an online debugging tool
- Allows syntax highlighting and easy code navigation
- Supports editing and downloading of source code files
- Supports public and private code snippets
myCompiler
myCompiler is a popular compiler that allows you to write, compile, and run your code easily and quickly without the need for any installations. It supports several languages and has features to make the coding process easier. It is a straightforward platform that is perfect for beginner coders to navigate and use to learn programming in their favourite language.
myCompiler Features
- Supports about 16 programming languages
- Includes syntax highlighting
- Allows autocompletion
- Supports code collaboration and code sharing
OneCompiler
OneCompiler is an online robust, feature-rich online compiler that supports numerous programming languages. It is free, easy, and fast to use and makes it possible for a developer to quickly compile and run a code. It also offers PHP learning resources like instructional content, posts, and coding challenges to help beginners learn how to code on the platform.
OneCompiler Features
- Supports a wide range of programming languages
- Free, easy to use, and fast
- Includes reference programs like tutorials and coding challenges to help beginners learn
- Allows sample boilerplate code when working with PHP
- Clean user interface
PHPanywhere
PHPanywhere is a web-based IDE designed specifically for PHP that allows developers to easily build web and software programs online. It has many great features that make the coding and editing process easier for the developer. It also includes FTP servers to ensure that your various projects are immediately accessible.
PHPanywhere Features
- Supports syntax highlighting and code completion
- Auto indentation, displays line numbers, and unlimited undo/redo options
- Includes FTP explorer functionality, full internationalization
- Including code folding, code indention, and find and replace feature
ShiftEdit
ShiftEdit is a cloud-based IDE that supports many programming languages. With this platform, you can work on several languages at once and still get code assistance like warnings or automatic corrections on code mistakes during the process. While working with this tool, developers can access servers directly and also run commands on the server.
ShiftEdit Features
- Supports many programming languages
- Allows real-time collaboration
- Includes a debugger, source code editing, and syntax highlighting
- Features code completion, drag and drop, and a chatbox
- Allows you to upload files to Dropbox and Google Drive for storage
Which Online PHP Compiler Should I Choose?
The best online PHP compiler you can use is PHPanywhere as it was designed specifically for the language. However, whatever choice you go for should be based on different factors including the software you want to develop, the cost-efficiency of the compiler, the features, and your skill and experience level.
Consider these factors before choosing an online compiler because the wrong choice could affect the outcome of your app development. The features of the compiler should align with the needs of your software. Some compilers may be too complex for beginners to work with or navigate, resulting in poor quality code. Make sure you are ready to work with the compiler you select.
Online PHP Compiler FAQ
You can run your PHP code using any of the many online PHP compilers available including myCompiler, OneCompiler, PHPanywhere, ShiftEdit, or IDEOne. These are some of the best online compilers for PHP out there.
There are several free online compiler editors for PHP including PHPanywhere, OneCompiler, myCompiler, PHP Code Editor, and IDEOne.
Some of the best software tools for PHP are Zend Studio, Netbeans, PHPStorm, AWS Cloud 9, and NuSphere PhpED. There are software development tools that are widely used by PHP developers in the industry.
Rasmus Lerdorf is known as the father of PHP, as he created the language in 1994. It was first used to create a simple set of Common Gateway Interface (CGI) binaries by using the C language.
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