# Requirements

## Web server

Since phpMyAdmin’s interface is based entirely in your browser, you’ll need a web server (such as Apache, nginx, IIS) to install phpMyAdmin’s files into.

## PHP

- You need PHP 7.2.5 or newer, with `session` support, the Standard PHP Library (SPL) extension, hash, ctype, and JSON support.

- The `mbstring` extension (see mbstring) is strongly recommended for performance reasons.

- To support uploading of ZIP files, you need the PHP `zip` extension.

- You need GD2 support in PHP to display inline thumbnails of JPEGs (“image/jpeg: inline”) with their original aspect ratio.

- When using the cookie authentication (the default), the openssl extension is strongly suggested.

- To support upload progress bars, see 2.9 Seeing an upload progress bar.

- To support XML and Open Document Spreadsheet importing, you need the libxml extension.

- To support reCAPTCHA on the login page, you need the openssl extension.

- To support displaying phpMyAdmin’s latest version, you need to enable `allow_url_open` in your `php.ini` or to have the curl extension.

See also

1.31 Which PHP versions does phpMyAdmin support?, Using authentication modes

## Database

phpMyAdmin supports MySQL-compatible databases.

- MySQL 5.5 or newer

- MariaDB 5.5 or newer

See also

1.17 Which Database versions does phpMyAdmin support?

## Web browser

To access phpMyAdmin you need a web browser with cookies and JavaScript enabled.

You need a browser which is supported by Bootstrap 4.5, see <https://getbootstrap.com/docs/4.5/getting-started/browsers-devices/>.

Changed in version 5.2.0: You need a browser which is supported by Bootstrap 5.0, see <https://getbootstrap.com/docs/5.0/getting-started/browsers-devices/>.