Where can I find php.ini?

Question

A few years ago I installed Apache 2.2x and PHP 5.3.1 on a Linux server I maintain. I used .tar.gz\'s and built them as instructed (instead of rpms and what-have-you). And

Answer 1

On the command line execute:

php --ini

You will get something like:

Configuration File (php.ini) Path: /etc/php5/cli
Loaded Configuration File:         /etc/php5/cli/php.ini
Scan for additional .ini files in: /etc/php5/cli/conf.d
Additional .ini files parsed:      /etc/php5/cli/conf.d/curl.ini,
/etc/php5/cli/conf.d/pdo.ini,
/etc/php5/cli/conf.d/pdo_sqlite.ini,
/etc/php5/cli/conf.d/sqlite.ini,
/etc/php5/cli/conf.d/sqlite3.ini,
/etc/php5/cli/conf.d/xdebug.ini,
/etc/php5/cli/conf.d/xsl.ini

That's from my local dev-machine. However, the second line is the interesting one. If there is nothing mentioned, have a look at the first one. That is the path, where PHP looks for the php.ini.

You can grep the same information using phpinfo() in a script and call it with a browser. Its mentioned in the first block of the output. php -i does the same for the command line, but its quite uncomfortable.

Answer 2

For SAPI: php-fpm

There is no need to create a php.info file (it is not a good policy to leave it for the world to read anyway). On the command line:

php-fpm -i | more

Somewhere in its output, it will show this line:

Configuration File (php.ini) Path => /etc

Here is a more complete explanation: https://www.cloudinsidr.com/content/how-to-figure-out-your-php-configuration-parameters-without-info-php/

Answer 3

Best way to find this is: create a php file and add the following code:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

and open it in browser, it will show the file which is actually being read!

Updates by OP:

1. The previously accepted answer is likely to be faster and more convenient for you, but it is not always correct. See comments on that answer.
2. Please also note the more convenient alternative <?php echo php_ini_loaded_file(); ?> mentioned in this answer.

Answer 4

PHP comes with two native functions to show which config file is loaded :

• php_ini_loaded_file return the loaded ini file
• php_ini_scanned_files return a list of .ini files parsed from the additional ini dir

Depending on your setup, Apache and CLI might use different ini files. Here are the two solutions :

Apache :

Just add the following in a php file and open it in your browser

print php_ini_loaded_file();
print_r(php_ini_scanned_files());

CLI :

Copy-paste in your terminal :

php -r 'print php_ini_loaded_file(); print_r(php_ini_scanned_files());'

Answer 5

In command window type

php --ini

It will show you the path something like

Configuration File (php.ini) Path: /usr/local/lib
Loaded Configuration File:         /usr/local/lib/php.ini

If the above command does not work then use this

echo phpinfo();

Answer 6

phpinfo();

will tell you its location, or from the command line

php -i