XAMPP is a web server solution package to create a local web server on a local PC. XAMPP can be installed and run on multiple platforms like Windows, Linux, and OS X. XAMPP consists of software such as Apache web server, MariaDB or MySQL, PHP, Perl, FileZilla, and some other software. XAMPP is very popular for PHP-based web development.
When XAMPP is installed, you already have a local web server on the local PC. With the local web server, you can create a website from scratch using PHP or using a CMS web app for ease. You do not have to waste money to rent web hosting. For a while, you can create and develop your website on the local web server until it's completely ready to go online.
XAMPP previously used the MariaDB database, now reusing the MySQL database. Because MariaDB is a fork (another version) of MySQL and has similarities including the database connector, you can use one of the two databases. XAMPP now supports many CMS web apps or other CMS-like apps such as Joomla, WordPress, Drupal, CMS Made Simple, PrestaShop, Magento, Moodle, phpBB, and many more.
Creating a website using PHP or a CMS web app on the XAMPP local web server can't be separated from using the Apache web server and MySQL database. You need to start the Apache and MySQL services manually. You can open the XAMPP control panel and then click the Start buttons of the Apache and MySQL services. If you want to start the Apache and MySQL services automatically when opening XAMPP, you can change the settings. Here's how
Open the XAMPP control panel and then click the Config button.
In the Configure of Control Panel dialog box that appears, in the Autostart section, check the two check boxes labeled Apache and MySQL (1) and then click the Save button (2).
From now on, whenever you open the XAMPP control panel, the Apache and MySQL services start automatically.
