title: What is and where is the runtime environment for 'PHP' like the 'Node.js' runtime environment for 'Javascript' to build server-side web applications?
body: <p>I'm a <strong>PHP Developer</strong> by profession and I've never used <strong>Node.js</strong> in my life. </p>
  
  <p>But I know that <strong>Node.js</strong> is a cross-platform <strong>JavaScript runtime environment</strong> that allows developers to build server-side and network applications with <strong>JavaScript</strong>.</p>
  
  <p>The above statement created one query in my mind that like <strong>Node.js</strong> is there any <strong>runtime environment</strong> exist for the server-side programming language <strong>PHP</strong>? </p>
  
  <p>I've never heard that <strong>PHP</strong> also has a <strong>runtime environment</strong> which I always hear in case of <strong>Javascript</strong> which has <strong>Node.js</strong> as a <strong>runtime environment</strong> to build server-side web applications.</p>
  
  <p>Someone please clear my doubt in case of <strong>runtime environment</strong> for <strong>PHP</strong>. If it's present where it is and what it comprises of? If not, then explain how does <strong>PHP</strong> allow to build server-side applications without having a <strong>runtime environment</strong>?</p>
  
  <p>Following is my current setup for PHP :</p>
  
  <p>I'm using <strong>PHP 7.4.2</strong> on my laptop that runs on <strong>Windows 10 Home Single Language 64-bit operating system</strong>.</p>
  
  <p>I've installed the latest version of <strong>XAMPP</strong> installer on my laptop which has installed the <strong>Apache/2.4.41 (Win64)</strong> and <strong>PHP 7.4.2</strong></p>