Setting up VS Code for PHP development involves installing PHP, essential extensions, configuring language features, and enabling debugging. First, install PHP and verify with php -v. Then install key extensions: 1) PHP Intelephense for code completion, 2) PHP Debug for Xdebug integration, 3) PHP CS Fixer for code formatting. Next, enable linting on save, set formatter defaults, and configure a .vscode/settings.json file for custom rules. Then install Xdebug, update php.ini with Xdebug settings, and create a launch configuration in VS Code to listen on port 9003. Finally, optionally add custom snippets and keyboard shortcuts for common tasks like formatting code or starting debug sessions.

Setting up VS Code for PHP development isn’t complicated, but it does require a few key tools and extensions to make the experience smooth. You’ll want syntax highlighting, code formatting, debugging support, and maybe some smart suggestions as you type. Here’s how to get everything set up right.

Install PHP and Required Extensions

Before diving into VS Code itself, make sure PHP is installed on your system. You can check this by running php -v in your terminal or command prompt. If it's not installed, grab it from php.net or use a package manager like Homebrew (macOS), APT (Ubuntu), or XAMPP if you're using Windows.

Once PHP is ready, open VS Code and install these essential extensions:

• PHP Intelephense – for smart code completion, go-to-definition, and refactoring
• PHP Debug – integrates with Xdebug for step-by-step debugging
• PHP CS Fixer – helps keep your code style consistent
• Prettier – optional, but useful if you work with JavaScript or HTML too

You can search for them directly in the Extensions tab inside VS Code.

Configure PHP Language Features

After installing the extensions, you'll notice that basic features like syntax highlighting work out of the box. But to unlock more advanced functionality, you’ll need to tweak a few settings.

Open your VS Code settings (Ctrl , or Cmd , on Mac), and enable these options:

• Enable auto-suggestions
• Turn on linting on save
• Set up formatter defaults (PHP CS Fixer or Prettier)

You might also want to create a .vscode/settings.json file in your project root with custom rules. For example:

{
  "php.validate.enable": true,
  "phpcs.executablePath": "~/.composer/vendor/bin/phpcs",
  "phpcs.standard": "PSR12"
}

This tells VS Code where to find the code sniffer and which coding standard to follow.

Set Up Debugging with Xdebug

Debugging is one of those things that makes development way easier once it’s working. To get it running in VS Code:

1. Install Xdebug on your system – usually via PECL or your package manager.
2. Add the following lines to your php.ini:

   zend_extension=xdebug.so
   xdebug.mode=debug
   xdebug.start_with_request=yes

3. In VS Code, go to the Run and Debug sidebar (Ctrl Shift D) and create a launch configuration.
4. Choose "Listen for Xdebug" and make sure the port matches what's in your php.ini (default is 9003).
5. Add a breakpoint in your code by clicking next to the line numbers.

Now when you start debugging and load the corresponding page in your browser, execution should pause at your breakpoints.

If you're using a remote server or Docker, you'll need to forward the debug port and possibly adjust host/path mappings in your launch.json.

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Optional: Use Snippets and Custom Keybindings

To speed up your workflow, consider adding snippets for common PHP patterns. You can either use existing ones from the marketplace or define your own in Preferences > User Snippets.

Also, setting up quick keyboard shortcuts for tasks like running PHP CS Fixer or starting/stopping the debugger can save time. Go to Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts and customize as needed.

A few handy ones to add:

• Format document with PHP CS Fixer
• Start debugging session
• Open PHP documentation quickly

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That’s most of the setup. Once everything is in place, you’ll have a powerful environment that supports writing, formatting, and debugging PHP effectively. It’s not flashy, but it works well once configured.

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