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The performance of web applications and websites written in PHP is crucial for maintaining user satisfaction and achieving good results in search engines. There are several key settings in the php.ini configuration file that can significantly affect the performance of your PHP applications. In this article, we will look at the most significant ones and how you can configure them to optimize performance.

Memory_limit

The memory_limit defines the maximum amount of memory a PHP script can allocate. If your application requires more memory than this limit, it will end with an error message. Increasing this limit can be useful for demanding applications, but it is important to find a balance to avoid overloading the server.

• Recommended setting: 256M for most applications, but more may be needed for highly demanding applications.

Max_execution_time

The max_execution_time specifies the maximum time in seconds that a script can run before it is terminated. For web applications with long operations, such as processing large data files, increasing this limit can be beneficial.

• Recommended setting: 30 seconds is standard, but consider increasing it to 60 seconds or more for demanding tasks.

Upload_max_filesize and Post_max_size

upload_max_filesize and post_max_size determine the maximum size of files that can be uploaded and the maximum size of data that can be sent using POST requests. These values should be set based on the type of application and the expected size of uploaded files.

• Recommended setting: Set upload_max_filesize and post_max_size to a value that exceeds the expected maximum size of files. For web applications that accept file uploads, 100M or more may be appropriate.

OpCache

OpCache is an extension that can significantly improve PHP performance by precompiling PHP scripts and storing them in memory so they do not need to be recompiled on each request. To enable and optimize OpCache:

• opcache.enable=1 - Enables OpCache.
• opcache.memory_consumption=128 - Sets the amount of memory for OpCache cache.
• opcache.interned_strings_buffer=8 - Sets the amount of memory for interned strings.
• opcache.max_accelerated_files=4000 - Specifies how many files can be stored in the cache.

Additional Tips for Performance Improvement

• Utilize the latest version of PHP: With each new version of PHP, performance improvements are introduced. Upgrade to the latest stable version.
• Set session.gc_maxlifetime: This directive determines how long session information is retained on the server. Too high values may lead to resource wastage.
• Utilize external systems for session storage: For high load scenarios, systems like Redis or Memcached for session management may be appropriate.

Optimizing PHP settings is a crucial step towards achieving better performance for your application. It is important to regularly review and test your configurations to ensure that your web applications are as efficient as possible.