Using WordPress Playground in Node.js

As a WebAssembly project, you can also use WordPress Playground in Node.js.

If you need direct control over the underlying WebAssembly PHP runtime, take a look at the @php-wasm/node package. It provides the Node.js loader and runtime integrations used by WordPress Playground tools. The compiled binaries are published in version-specific packages such as @php-wasm/node-8-4.

See PHP.wasm packages to learn how @php-wasm/universal, the Node.js and web adapters, and the version-specific packages fit together. That page also explains the lower-level, single-version setup with a smaller dependency footprint.

Consult the complete list of Classes, Functions, Interfaces, and Type Aliases.

WebAssembly PHP for Node.js

Together, @php-wasm/node and a version-specific package provide the compiled PHP runtime and JavaScript API optimized for Node.js. PHP starts with an in-memory filesystem; use the Node.js filesystem helpers to mount host paths. The runtime can access the network if you plug in a custom WebSocket-to-TCP proxy.

Basic usage

import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';

const php = new PHP(await loadNodeRuntime('8.3'));
const output = await php.runStream({
	code: '<?php phpinfo(); ?>',
});
console.log(await output.stdoutText);

Load one PHP version directly

If installation size matters and you only need the shared, low-level PHP API, you can omit @php-wasm/node and install one Node.js build instead:

npm install @php-wasm/universal @php-wasm/node-8-4

This approach bypasses Node.js-specific setup such as networking, file locking, and extension loading. See Load one PHP version directly for the complete example and tradeoffs.

Loading PHP extensions

Use the extensions loader option to enable optional extensions before PHP starts:

import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';

const php = new PHP(
	await loadNodeRuntime('8.4', {
		extensions: ['intl', 'redis', 'memcached', { name: 'xdebug', options: { ideKey: 'PLAYGROUND' } }],
	})
);

The same array can load external JSPI .so artifacts from a manifest:

const php = new PHP(
	await loadNodeRuntime('8.4', {
		extensions: [
			{
				source: {
					format: 'manifest',
					manifestUrl: './dist/wp_mysql_parser/manifest.json',
				},
			},
		],
	})
);

External extensions require JSPI. Asyncify support is limited to the bundled extensions shipped with the PHP.wasm packages.

See Loading PHP extensions for manifest format, browser usage, sidecar files, and compatibility notes.

Use cases

Run PHP inside Node.js without a native PHP install. Allow developer to produce the following solutions:

• CI/CD jobs and developer tooling.
• Support education and WordPress workflows: Power interactive tutorials, sandboxes, and coding challenges.
• Generate content and prototype server behavior.
• Render HTML using PHP templates, and quickly stand up mock API endpoints to simulate requests.

Practical demos

We will list some examples using the PHP-WASM package.

Demo 1: File system operations

Execute PHP scripts that interact with the file system:

import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';

const php = new PHP(await loadNodeRuntime('8.3'));

// Create directory structure
php.mkdir('/app/data');

// Write configuration file
await php.writeFile(
	'/app/config.json',
	JSON.stringify({
		app: 'MyApp',
		version: '1.0.0',
		debug: true,
	})
);

// Create and run PHP script that reads the config
await php.writeFile(
	'/app/index.php',
	`<?php
$config = json_decode(file_get_contents('/app/config.json'), true);
echo "Application: " . $config['app'] . "\\n";
echo "Version: " . $config['version'] . "\\n";
echo "Debug Mode: " . ($config['debug'] ? 'ON' : 'OFF') . "\\n";

// List all files
echo "\\nFiles in /app:\\n";
foreach (scandir('/app') as $file) {
    if ($file !== '.' && $file !== '..') {
        echo "  - $file\\n";
    }
}
?>`
);

const result = await php.runStream({ scriptPath: '/app/index.php' });
console.log(await result.stdoutText);

Demo 2: SQLite database operations

Use PHP's SQLite extension for data storage:

import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';

const php = new PHP(await loadNodeRuntime('8.3'));

// Create directory for database
php.mkdir('/data');

// Create database, insert data, and query
const result = await php.runStream({
	code: `<?php
// Create/connect to SQLite database
$db = new SQLite3('/data/app.db');

// Create table
$db->exec('CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS users (
    id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
    name TEXT NOT NULL,
    email TEXT UNIQUE NOT NULL,
    created_at DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
)');

// Insert sample data
$stmt = $db->prepare('INSERT INTO users (name, email) VALUES (?, ?)');
$users = [
    ['Alice Johnson', 'alice@example.com'],
    ['Bob Smith', 'bob@example.com'],
    ['Charlie Davis', 'charlie@example.com']
];

foreach ($users as $user) {
    $stmt->bindValue(1, $user[0]);
    $stmt->bindValue(2, $user[1]);
    $stmt->execute();
}

// Query data
echo "All Users:\\n";
echo str_repeat('-', 50) . "\\n";
$results = $db->query('SELECT * FROM users ORDER BY name');
while ($row = $results->fetchArray(SQLITE3_ASSOC)) {
    echo "ID: {$row['id']} | {$row['name']} ({$row['email']})\\n";
}

$db->close();
?>`,
});

console.log(await result.stdoutText);

// Database file persists in the virtual file system
const dbExists = await php.fileExists('/data/app.db');
console.log('\nDatabase persisted:', dbExists);

Demo 3: Processing uploaded files (ZIP archives)

Process ZIP files using PHP's Libzip extension:

import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';

const php = new PHP(await loadNodeRuntime('8.3'));

// Create sample files
php.mkdir('/uploads');
await php.writeFile('/uploads/readme.txt', 'This is a sample text file');
await php.writeFile('/uploads/data.json', JSON.stringify({ name: 'Test', version: '1.0' }));

// Create, process, and extract ZIP archive
const result = await php.runStream({
	code: `<?php
// Create ZIP archive
$zip = new ZipArchive();
$zip->open('/uploads/archive.zip', ZipArchive::CREATE);
$zip->addFromString('readme.txt', file_get_contents('/uploads/readme.txt'));
$zip->addFromString('data.json', file_get_contents('/uploads/data.json'));
$zip->addFromString('info.txt', 'Created with PHP WASM');
$zip->close();

echo "ZIP archive created successfully\\n\\n";

// Read and display archive contents
$zip->open('/uploads/archive.zip');
echo "Archive Contents:\\n";
echo str_repeat('=', 50) . "\\n";

for ($i = 0; $i < $zip->numFiles; $i++) {
    $stat = $zip->statIndex($i);
    $size = round($stat['size'] / 1024, 2);
    echo sprintf("%-40s %10s KB\\n", $stat['name'], $size);
}

// Extract files
$zip->extractTo('/uploads/extracted/');
$zip->close();

echo "\\nExtracted successfully to /uploads/extracted/\\n";

// List extracted files
echo "\\nExtracted Files:\\n";
$files = new RecursiveIteratorIterator(
    new RecursiveDirectoryIterator('/uploads/extracted/')
);
foreach ($files as $file) {
    if ($file->isFile()) {
        echo "  " . $file->getPathname() . "\\n";
    }
}
?>`,
});

console.log(await result.stdoutText);

Demo 4: HTTP request/response pattern

Simulate web server behavior with request handlers:

import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';

const php = new PHP(await loadNodeRuntime('8.3'));

// Set up a simple API endpoint
await php.mkdir('/www/api');
await php.writeFile(
	'/www/api/users.php',
	`<?php
header('Content-Type: application/json');

// Parse request
$method = $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'];
$input = json_decode(file_get_contents('php://input'), true);

// Simple routing
switch ($method) {
    case 'GET':
        echo json_encode([
            'users' => [
                ['id' => 1, 'name' => 'John Doe'],
                ['id' => 2, 'name' => 'Jane Smith']
            ]
        ]);
        break;
        
    case 'POST':
        $name = $input['name'] ?? 'Unknown';
        echo json_encode([
            'success' => true,
            'user' => [
                'id' => 3,
                'name' => $name
            ],
            'message' => "User $name created"
        ]);
        break;
        
    default:
        http_response_code(405);
        echo json_encode(['error' => 'Method not allowed']);
}
?>`
);

// Make GET request
const getResponse = await php.runStream({
	scriptPath: '/www/api/users.php',
	env: {
		REQUEST_METHOD: 'GET',
		SERVER_NAME: 'localhost',
		SERVER_PORT: '80',
	},
});
console.log('GET Response:', await getResponse.stdoutText);

// Make POST request
const postResponse = await php.runStream({
	scriptPath: '/www/api/users.php',
	env: {
		REQUEST_METHOD: 'POST',
		SERVER_NAME: 'localhost',
		SERVER_PORT: '80',
	},
	body: JSON.stringify({ name: 'Alice Wonder' }),
});
console.log('\\nPOST Response:', await postResponse.stdoutText);

Demo 5: Template rendering engine

Use PHP as a templating engine for dynamic content:

import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';

const php = new PHP(await loadNodeRuntime('8.3'));

// Create templates directory
php.mkdir('/templates');

// Create template
await php.writeFile(
	'/templates/email.php',
	`<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <style>
        body { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; }
        .header { background: #4CAF50; color: white; padding: 20px; }
        .content { padding: 20px; }
        .footer { background: #f1f1f1; padding: 10px; text-align: center; }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div class="header">
        <h1>Welcome, <?= htmlspecialchars($name) ?>!</h1>
    </div>
    <div class="content">
        <p>Thank you for registering with <?= $appName ?>.</p>
        <p>Your account details:</p>
        <ul>
            <li><strong>Email:</strong> <?= htmlspecialchars($email) ?></li>
            <li><strong>Member Since:</strong> <?= date('F j, Y', $timestamp) ?></li>
        </ul>
        <p>You now have access to the following features:</p>
        <ul>
            <?php foreach ($features as $feature): ?>
                <li><?= htmlspecialchars($feature) ?></li>
            <?php endforeach; ?>
        </ul>
    </div>
    <div class="footer">
        <p>&copy; <?= date('Y') ?> <?= $appName ?>. All rights reserved.</p>
    </div>
</body>
</html>`
);

// Render template with data
const templateData = {
	name: 'Priya Sharma',
	email: 'priya@example.com',
	appName: 'MyAwesomeApp',
	timestamp: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
	features: ['Dashboard Access', 'API Integration', 'Premium Support', 'Custom Branding'],
};

// Pass data to template via environment variables or files
await php.writeFile('/template-data.json', JSON.stringify(templateData));

const result = await php.runStream({
	code: `<?php
    $data = json_decode(file_get_contents('/template-data.json'), true);
    extract($data);
    include '/templates/email.php';
  ?>`,
});

console.log(await result.stdoutText);
// Now you have rendered HTML that can be sent via email or saved

Demo 6: Real-time code execution and streaming

Process PHP output as it's generated:

import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';

const php = new PHP(await loadNodeRuntime('8.3'));

await php.writeFile(
	'/stream-demo.php',
	`<?php
// Simulate long-running process
echo "Starting process...\\n";
flush();

for ($i = 1; $i <= 10; $i++) {
    echo "Processing item $i/10...\\n";
    flush();
    usleep(100000); // Sleep 100ms
}

echo "Process complete!\\n";
?>`
);

// Run PHP script
const streamedResponse = await php.runStream({
	scriptPath: '/stream-demo.php',
});

streamedResponse.stdout.pipeTo(
	new WritableStream({
		write(chunk) {
			console.log(chunk);
		},
	})
);

Integration patterns

Pattern 1: Express.js middleware

Integrate PHP processing into an Express.js application:

import express from 'express';
import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';

const app = express();
const php = new PHP(await loadNodeRuntime('8.3'));

// PHP execution middleware
app.use('/php', async (req, res, next) => {
	try {
		const phpScript = req.query.script || 'index.php';
		const result = await php.runStream({
			scriptPath: `/www/${phpScript}`,
			env: {
				REQUEST_METHOD: req.method,
				QUERY_STRING: new URLSearchParams(
					req.query as Record<string, string>
				).toString(),
				REQUEST_URI: req.url,
			},
		});

		res.send(await result.stdoutText);
	} catch (error) {
		next(error);
	}
});

app.listen(3000, () => {
	console.log('Server with PHP support running on port 3000');
});

Pattern 2: Automated testing

Create automated tests for PHP code:

import { describe, it, expect, beforeAll } from '@jest/globals';
import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';

describe('PHP Functions', () => {
	let php: PHP;

	beforeAll(async () => {
		php = new PHP(await loadNodeRuntime('8.3'));
	});

	it('should calculate sum correctly', async () => {
		const result = await php.run({
			code: `<?php
        function sum($a, $b) {
          return $a + $b;
        }
        echo sum(5, 3);
      ?>`,
		});

		expect(result.text).toBe('8');
	});

	it('should handle JSON operations', async () => {
		const input = { name: 'Test', value: 42 };
		const result = await php.run({
			code: `<?php
        $input = json_decode('${JSON.stringify(input)}', true);
        $output = [
          'received' => $input,
          'doubled' => $input['value'] * 2
        ];
        echo json_encode($output);
      ?>`,
		});

		const output = JSON.parse(result.text);
		expect(output.doubled).toBe(84);
	});
});

Pattern 3: Build tool integration

Use in build scripts with other Node.js tools:

import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';
import fs from 'fs/promises';

async function generateDocumentation() {
	const php = new PHP(await loadNodeRuntime('8.3'));

	// Create output directory
	php.mkdir('/output');

	// Generate documentation
	const result = await php.runStream({
		code: `<?php
echo "Generating documentation...\\n";

$summary = "# Generated Documentation\\n\\n";
$summary .= "Generated at: " . date('Y-m-d H:i:s') . "\\n\\n";

file_put_contents('/output/summary.md', $summary);
echo "Documentation generated successfully!\\n";
?>`,
	});

	console.log(await result.stdoutText);

	// Extract generated docs back to Node.js file system
	await fs.mkdir('./docs', { recursive: true });
	const summaryContent = await php.readFileAsText('/output/summary.md');
	await fs.writeFile('./docs/summary.md', summaryContent);

	console.log('Documentation saved to ./docs/summary.md');
}

generateDocumentation().catch(console.error);

Advanced features

Working with environment variables

import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';

const php = new PHP(await loadNodeRuntime('8.3'));

const result = await php.runStream({
	code: '<?php echo getenv("CUSTOM_VAR"); ?>',
	env: {
		CUSTOM_VAR: 'Hello from Node.js!',
	},
});

console.log(await result.stdoutText);

Error handling

import { PHP } from '@php-wasm/universal';
import { loadNodeRuntime } from '@php-wasm/node';

const php = new PHP(await loadNodeRuntime('8.3'));

try {
	const result = await php.runStream({
		code: '<?php trigger_error("Test error", E_USER_ERROR); ?>',
	});

	const stdout = await result.stdoutText;
	const stderr = await result.stderrText;

	console.log('stdout:', stdout);
	console.log('stderr:', stderr);

	if (stderr) {
		console.error('PHP produced errors:', stderr);
	}
} catch (error: any) {
	console.error('JavaScript Error:', error.message);
}

Performance considerations

• Reuse PHP instances: Creating a new PHP instance is expensive. Reuse the same instance when possible.
• Batch operations: Group multiple file operations together rather than running separate scripts.
• Memory management: Large files may impact performance. Consider streaming for big datasets.
• Caching: Cache compiled PHP scripts and frequently accessed data.