PHP Syntax Highlighting
Visually distinguishes keywords, variables ($var), strings, functions, classes, comments, and operators for instant code comprehension.
Input PHP
Output (Formatted)
About This Tool
What Is a PHP Formatter?
A PHP Formatter — often called a PHP Beautifier or PHP Code Prettifier — is an online developer tool that restructures messy, inconsistently indented, or minified PHP code into a clean, readable format with standardized spacing, line breaks, and indentation. PHP powers over 77% of server-side websites, including WordPress, Laravel, and Symfony applications. As codebases grow, maintaining consistent code style across teams becomes essential, and that's exactly where a PHP code formatter becomes indispensable.
Our free online PHP formatter applies PSR-2/PSR-12 inspired indentation rules, highlights syntax elements like variables ($var), keywords (function, class, if), strings, and comments — making code reviews and debugging far more efficient. You can also minify PHP by stripping comments and redundant whitespace, or strip only comments to clean up legacy code. Best practices for PHP formatting include using <?php opening tags, consistent 4-space indentation, meaningful variable names, and avoiding closing ?> tags in pure-PHP files.
Features
Advanced PHP Formatting Features
Built for PHP developers who value clean, readable, maintainable code.
Smart Indentation
Applies consistent indentation to nested structures — if/else, loops, functions, classes, and switch blocks — respecting brace placement conventions.
PHP Minifier
Strips comments, reduces whitespace, and compresses PHP code for production — reducing file size and improving autoloader performance.
Strip Comments
Remove all // single-line, /* block */, and /** DocBlock */ comments from PHP code in one click.
File Upload & Download
Upload .php files from your device and download the formatted result as a ready-to-use PHP file.
Live Code Statistics
See real-time counts of characters, lines, function definitions, and class declarations as you type or paste PHP code.
Fully Private
All formatting is done client-side in JavaScript. Your PHP source code — credentials, API keys, business logic — never leaves your browser.
Instant Results
Format even large PHP files in milliseconds. No server round-trips, no waiting — just immediate, accurate results.
How It Works
Format PHP Code in 3 Easy Steps
No installation, no configuration, no account required.
Paste or Upload PHP
Paste PHP code into the left panel, upload a .php file from disk, or click "Sample" to load a working example.
Select Options & Format
Choose your preferred indent size, then click Beautify, Minify, or Strip Comments.
Copy or Download
Copy the formatted PHP to your clipboard or save it as a .php file ready to drop into your project.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A PHP Formatter is a tool for developers who want to enforce consistent code style in PHP files. It's useful for solo developers working on legacy code, teams enforcing PSR standards, and anyone who needs to quickly readable an obfuscated or minified PHP file.
Yes, entirely free. No account, no limits, no watermarks. All features — beautify, minify, strip comments, file upload, download — are available at no cost.
Yes. The formatter handles PHP files that mix PHP code blocks with HTML markup — common in template files, WordPress themes, and legacy projects. PHP blocks are identified by <?php and ?> tags.
Completely. All processing runs in your browser's JavaScript engine. No code is transmitted to any server — safe for production code, database credentials, proprietary algorithms, and API keys.
The formatter applies indentation and spacing conventions inspired by PSR-2 and PSR-12 standards: consistent braces, proper spacing around operators, and function/class separation. You can choose 2-space, 4-space, or tab indentation to match your team's style.
Minify removes ALL whitespace and comments for the smallest possible file size. Strip Comments only removes comments while preserving code formatting and indentation — useful for cleaning up well-documented legacy code before refactoring.
Discover More Free Developer Tools
From formatters and converters to AI tools and SEO utilities — all free, all instant.