Introduction

Developing and testing web applications locally before deploying them online is a crucial aspect of web development. One way to accomplish this is by using XAMPP, a free and open-source cross-platform web server package, consisting of the Apache HTTP Server, MySQL database, and interpreters for scripting languages like PHP and Perl. This article will walk you through the steps required to install XAMPP for Windows.

Step 1: Download XAMPP Installer

1. Visit the official Apache Friends website (https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html).

2. Select the “Download” button for Windows under “XAMPP for Windows”.

3. The download should start automatically. If it doesn’t, click the provided link to manually begin the download.

Step 2: Run the XAMPP Installer

1. Navigate to your Downloads folder or wherever you saved the installer.

2. Double-click on the downloaded file to run the installer. You may be prompted by User Account Control (UAC); click on “Yes” to proceed.

3. Choose your preferred language and click “OK”.

Step 3: Welcome Screen

The welcome screen will appear; click “Next” to continue.

Step 4: Components Selection

1. In this step, you can choose which components to install with XAMPP. By default, all components are selected.

2. Uncheck any unneeded components and click “Next”.

Step 5: Choose Installation Location

1. Pick an appropriate folder where you want to install XAMPP (the default location is ‘C:\xampp’).

2. Make sure you have enough space available in your chosen drive.

3. Click “Next” to continue.

Step 6: Start Installation

Once all settings have been made, click “Next” to begin installing XAMPP.

Step 7: XAMPP Installation Process

The installation may take a few minutes to complete. Wait patiently for the process to finish.

Step 8: Complete the Installation

1. Once the installation is finished, keep the “Do you want to start the Control Panel now?” checkbox selected, and click “Finish”.

2. The XAMPP Control Panel will be launched.

Step 9: Running XAMPP

1. In the XAMPP Control Panel, you can start/stop Apache, MySQL, or any other component you selected during installation.

2. To test your XAMPP installation, open a web browser and type “http://localhost” in the address bar. If you see the XAMPP welcome page, your installation was successful!

Conclusion

You have successfully installed XAMPP for Windows and can now begin developing and testing web applications locally on your computer. Be sure to explore further into the world of web development using this excellent server package!