"php -a" - PHP Interactive Shell

PHP Modules Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples

∟"php -a" - PHP Interactive Shell

This section provides a tutorial example on how to run the PHP environment as an interactive shell, php -a, which lets you to type in a PHP statement and see the result immediately on the screen.

In previous tutorial, I learned how to start the PHP environment to execute a PHP script stored in a file.

The PHP environment can also be used as an interactive shell, taking PHP script from the console and execute it one line at a time. interactively.

Here is a session of running the PHP environment as an interactive shell:

herong> \php\php -a

Interactive shell

php > print("I am tossing a coin...\n");
I am tossing a coin...
php > $coin = rand(0,1);
php > if ($coin==1) {
php {    print("   Head\n");
php { } else {
php {    print("   Tail\n");
php { }
   Head
php > exit

C:\herong>