PHP
PHP is a general-purpose scripting language used for web development.
About
PHP is a general-purpose scripting language used for web development.
Categories: Programming languages
Quick facts
Detection methodology for Programming languages
Programming languages reveal themselves through extension fingerprints (`.php` URLs for PHP, `.aspx` for ASP.NET), framework-specific patterns and (for client-side runtime languages like TypeScript and Sass) the `node_modules/<lang>/package.json` entry inside the sourcemap. Bun, Node.js and Deno on the server side identify themselves via response headers when emitted (`X-Powered-By: Bun`, `X-Bun-Version`).
How we detect PHP
Each signal alone is rarely conclusive — Sourcemap Explorer cross-references all of them and weights by confidence. You can reproduce any of these checks yourself in Chrome DevTools.
Server-side fingerprint: the response header reveals the technology behind the page. Visible in DevTools → Network → response headers.
Server: php/?([\d.]+)?
X-Powered-By: ^php/?([\d.]+)?
Cookies set by the platform. Visible in DevTools → Application → Cookies.
PHPSESSID
Script URL pattern. Typically a CDN host or chunk path that ships with the technology.
\.php(?:\?|$)
The page URL itself follows a known pattern (vanity slugs, embeds, hosting URLs).
\.php(?:$|\?)
A DOM selector that only this technology's pages render. Verified at runtime by the content script.
form[action*='login_process.php'], form[action*='assets/mail.php']
FAQ
How do I check if a website is using PHP?
Open the page in Chrome, click the Sourcemap Explorer toolbar icon, and read the Stack tab. The popup matches PHP's fingerprint signals (response headers, asset URL prefixes, runtime globals, sourcemap paths) and flags it whenever any combination is found. The same checks can be reproduced manually in DevTools — see the "How we detect" section above.
What PHP version can Sourcemap Explorer detect?
PHP ships as a hosted programming languages rather than a bundled npm package, so version-specific detection isn't always possible. Where the platform leaks a version in response headers (`X-Powered-By`, `Server`, generator meta tags) we surface it; otherwise we report presence only.
Where can I read more about PHP?
Official site: https://php.net. For Sourcemap Explorer's detection guide, see the deep-dive link below or the related guides in the cross-link section.
Keep reading on Sourcemap Explorer
Practical guides
Alternative tools
Detected by Sourcemap Explorer
Open the popup on any page running PHPand you'll see the exact version pulled from the bundled package.json when sourcemaps are exposed.