How to Increase PHP Performance

 

Increase the speed by using PHP code optimizers to reduce the server's workload.

The goal of code optimization is to reduce the amount of code required to get things done. Optimizers find redundant code, inefficient code, and non-standard or non-PHP 5 compatible code.

For example, an optimizer might notice that you have duplicated a block of 10 lines of your PHP program in three places within the same file and recommend that you move that duplicate block into a function and call it from each of those three locations. This reduces the amount of actual source code needed to run the program. The optimizer is able to identify these patterns because it knows how each part of the PHP language works internally (i.e., what each function does).

Use PHP extensions like eAccelerator and APC as they add caching functionality to your application.

After making those changes and clearing your cache, take a look at how many cached files there are. You can do this by clicking on the Cached Files link in the eAccelerator control panel. If it says something like 0 Cached Files, then you need to enable caching.

Open apache/conf/httpd.conf using your favorite text editor and add the following line:

eaccelerator.cache_dir = "c:/websites/php-accelerator"

This will tell eAccelerator where to store its cache files. Now, restart Apache so that it can load all of these new changes, and then go back to the control panel and click Cached Files again to see how many files have been cached now that you’ve enabled caching.

If you’re getting results that increase every time you click on them (as long as someone is accessing your website), then eAccelerator is working properly!

Enable PHP output buffering.

• Output buffering is used to control the flow of data from the server. Typically, the PHP engine compiles and executes code as it receives it from the server and then sends whatever output was generated back to the browser (the client). By using output buffering to hold off on sending anything back until all processing has finished you can significantly improve performance.

• Output buffering is enabled by default in PHP, but can be turned off by using ob_end_flush() or setting output_buffering = Off in your php.ini file.

Avoid keeping connections open for long periods of time. You can use a persistent connection, but be aware of the consequences.

If you keep your connection open for a long period of time, you may want to consider using a persistent connection. A persistent connection allows the same database connection to be used for multiple queries and will make it unnecessary to create a new database connection every time. This can cause problems because if you reach the maximum number of connections allowed, which varies from database engine to database engine, then no one else can connect. In addition, it is possible that you will be unable to control when the garbage collector drops your unused resources.

To create a persistent connection, use the following code:

mysql_pconnect("hostname", "username", "password") or die ("Unable to connect");

When you are finished with your persistent connection and ready for it to be closed, use mysql_close().

Don't echo whenever possible. Instead store the data in a variable, and then print it after it's fully constructed.

echo is a language construct, not a function, so you are not required to use parentheses with it. echo (unlike some other language constructs) does not behave like a function, so it cannot always be used in the context of a function. It is also incapable of accepting an expression as a parameter, while print can.

The short tag is always available regardless of the short_open_tag setting. It has exactly the same precedence as regular echo statements and therefore requires parentheses when nested within control structures or combined with other expressions.

Here are some ways you can optimize PHP for faster performance.

Just like the human body needs more energy to do more complex activities, so does your web application. Here are some ways you can optimize PHP for faster performance:

Use code optimizers. These let you speed up your scripts by optimizing the number of calculations and memory usage required to run them. You might also use a code extension, which lets you add functionality that isn't natively included in PHP. Extensions include additional classes and functions that can be used for repetitive tasks within the app. These extensions can help eliminate unneeded lines of code, making your program more efficient.

Use output buffering. Tells PHP to handle the HTML parts of the script first (the "buffering") before sending it over to the browser—that way, it doesn't have to go back and forth before running a full script. This is automatically enabled, but you should double-check that it's turned on in your php.ini file anyway.

Minimize connection time. By default, PHP will wait 60 seconds between connections with databases or other applications before timing out—you might want to shorten this time if you don't think 60 seconds is necessary.

Echo instead of print(). "Echo" is technically faster than "print", even though they're technically similar commands in function — because echo is built into the server's C language rather than being interpreted by another programming language like print().