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Format PHP code with PSR-1/PSR-2/PSR-12 compliance, proper indentation, opening brace placement (same/new line), namespace formatting, use statement ordering, and support for PHP 7.x/8.x syntax features including attributes and enums.
Note: AI can make mistakes, so please double-check it.
Common questions about this tool
Paste your php code into the formatter, and it automatically applies proper indentation, spacing, and organization. The tool improves code readability while maintaining functionality.
Yes, the php formatter beautifies code by adding consistent formatting, proper indentation, and organizing structure. This makes code easier to read, debug, and maintain without changing functionality.
No, formatting only changes whitespace and organization. It doesn't alter code logic, syntax, or behavior, so your php code works exactly the same after formatting.
Yes, the formatter offers customization options including indentation style, line length, and formatting preferences to match your project's coding standards and team preferences.
Paste minified code into the formatter, and it automatically adds proper indentation and line breaks to make the code readable again. This is useful for debugging or reviewing compressed code.
Verified content & sources
This tool's content and its supporting explanations have been created and reviewed by subject-matter experts. Calculations and logic are based on established research sources.
Scope: interactive tool, explanatory content, and related articles.
ToolGrid — Product & Engineering
Leads product strategy, technical architecture, and implementation of the core platform that powers ToolGrid calculators.
ToolGrid — Research & Content
Conducts research, designs calculation methodologies, and produces explanatory content to ensure accurate, practical, and trustworthy tool outputs.
Based on 1 research source:
Learn what this tool does, when to use it, and how it fits into your workflow.
This PHP formatter helps you make PHP code readable and organized. It takes messy or inconsistent PHP code and formats it according to style standards. It follows PSR-12, which is the official PHP style guide.
You paste your PHP code into the tool, and it automatically formats it with proper indentation and spacing. You can choose between spaces or tabs for indentation, and set the indentation size. You can also choose how braces are placed in your code. The tool shows you what changed and helps you understand your code structure.
This tool is for PHP developers, web developers, and anyone who works with PHP code. It helps when you receive PHP code from other sources, when you need to clean up your own files, or when you want to follow style standards. You should know basic PHP to use this tool effectively.
The main problem it solves is that PHP code often has inconsistent formatting. When PHP code has wrong indentation or spacing, it is difficult to read and may not follow community standards. This tool makes PHP code readable and follows official style guidelines.
PHP is a programming language used to build websites and web applications. It runs on servers and creates dynamic web pages. PHP uses functions, classes, and objects to organize code. It is widely used for building websites and web services.
PSR stands for PHP Standards Recommendations. PSR-12 is the official style guide for PHP code. It tells developers how to write PHP code that is easy to read and consistent. Most PHP projects follow PSR standards.
PSR-12 has specific rules about formatting. It says to use 4 spaces for indentation, not tabs. It says opening braces for classes and functions should be on a new line. It says to put spaces around operators like equals and plus. It says to remove trailing whitespace at the end of lines. A related operation involves formatting HTML markup as part of a similar workflow.
When working with PHP, people often face formatting challenges. Code from different sources may use different indentation styles. Some code uses tabs instead of spaces. Some code has inconsistent spacing around operators. Manual formatting takes time and is easy to get wrong.
PHP formatting means applying consistent rules to code structure. Indentation shows which code belongs to which block. Spacing makes operators and expressions easier to read. Brace placement affects how code looks and reads. These rules create a visual structure that matches the code logic.
Different formatting styles exist for different needs. PSR-12 style follows the official PHP style guide exactly. K&R style puts opening braces on the same line as the function name. Each style has its own rules and benefits.
The PHP formatter combines formatting and validation into one tool. It reads your PHP code, formats it according to your chosen style, and checks if it is valid. This saves time and helps you write code that follows community standards.
A PHP developer receives code from a team member that has inconsistent formatting. They paste it into the formatter and choose PSR-12 style. They can then see the code formatted according to official standards.
A web developer needs to clean up PHP scripts before sharing them. They use the formatter to ensure all code follows the same style. This makes the code easier for others to read and understand. For adjacent tasks, formatting SQL queries addresses a complementary step.
A developer needs to format PHP code before committing it to version control. They use the formatter to ensure consistent style across the project. The diff view helps them see exactly what changed during formatting.
A student learning PHP needs to understand proper formatting. They paste example code and use the formatter to see how it should look. The visual indentation helps them learn PHP structure.
A developer working on a team needs to follow project style guidelines. They use the formatter with the project's preferred indentation and brace style. This ensures their code matches the rest of the project.
A developer receives PHP code from a library or framework that needs formatting. They paste it into the formatter and see it formatted with clear indentation. They can then easily understand the structure and make changes.
A developer wants to optimize their PHP code for better readability. They use the AI analysis feature to get suggestions for improvements. The AI analyzes the code and recommends ways to make it more efficient.
A developer needs to compare two versions of PHP code. They format both versions and use the diff view to see differences. This makes it easier to spot changes and understand what was modified. When working with related formats, beautifying source code can be a useful part of the process.
PHP formatting works by parsing the PHP structure and then reformatting it with consistent spacing. The tool processes each line of code and applies formatting rules based on your chosen options. It identifies code blocks, operators, and expressions, then applies proper indentation and spacing.
Indentation is added based on the nesting level of code blocks. Each level of nesting adds the chosen number of spaces or one tab. Code blocks that start with opening braces get indented on the next line. Closing braces decrease the indentation level.
Brace placement depends on the chosen style. PSR-12 style puts opening braces for classes, functions, interfaces, traits, and enums on a new line. It also puts opening braces for control structures like if and for on a new line. K&R style keeps opening braces on the same line as the function or control structure.
Operator spacing rules are applied around operators and punctuation. Operators like equals, plus, minus, and comparison operators get spaces on both sides. Commas get a space after them but not before. Semicolons get proper spacing. These rules follow PSR-12 standards for readability.
Empty line handling depends on the preserve newlines option. When enabled, empty lines are kept as written. When disabled, extra consecutive empty lines are removed. This helps control the final appearance of your code.
Statistics are calculated by analyzing the PHP code. File size is measured by converting the PHP string to bytes. Line count comes from splitting the PHP string by newline characters. Function count is found by matching function declaration patterns. Class count is found by matching class declaration patterns. Complexity is estimated by counting control flow statements like if, else, for, while, and switch. In some workflows, beautifying PHP is a relevant follow-up operation.
Diff calculation compares the original and formatted PHP line by line. It uses a simple algorithm to find differences between the two versions. Lines that changed are marked appropriately. This helps verify that only formatting changed, not code logic.
The tool uses debouncing to avoid processing PHP too frequently. When you type or paste, it waits a short time before processing. This prevents the browser from slowing down when working with large files or fast typing. Processing happens in the background so the interface stays responsive.
Error handling catches problems during formatting. If the PHP cannot be formatted, the tool shows an error message. The original PHP is preserved even if formatting fails. This ensures you never lose your code due to formatting errors.
Always choose a formatting style that matches your project's guidelines. If your team uses PSR-12, stick with PSR-12 style. If they use K&R, use K&R style. Consistency makes code reviews and collaboration easier.
Use the diff view to verify formatting changes. This shows exactly what changed between original and formatted versions. It helps you confirm that only spacing and indentation changed, not the actual code logic.
Choose indentation that matches your project's style guide. Most PHP projects use 4 spaces. Some projects use 2 spaces or tabs. Check your project's style guide to see what it recommends. For related processing needs, formatting JSON data handles a complementary task.
The tool has a 10 megabyte size limit for input files. If your PHP is larger, consider splitting it into smaller files or processing it in parts. Very large files can slow down your browser or cause memory issues.
Remember that formatting only changes whitespace, not functionality. Formatted PHP runs exactly the same as the original. However, always test formatted PHP to ensure it works correctly.
The AI analysis feature helps understand complex PHP code. Use it when you want suggestions for improving your code. Keep in mind that AI analysis may take a moment to complete.
Save important PHP before formatting if you are unsure. While formatting is usually safe, having a backup ensures you can restore the original if needed. This is especially important for production code or critical scripts.
Use consistent formatting across your project. Format all PHP files the same way to maintain readability. This makes it easier for team members to read and understand code.
Be aware that some PHP features may not format perfectly. Very complex code or unusual syntax might not format as expected. Always review formatted PHP to ensure it looks correct.
The tool preserves comments and docblocks during formatting. Comments are kept in their original positions. Docblocks maintain their structure while improving readability. This maintains the documentation of your PHP while improving code style.
PSR-12 compliance helps your code work with modern PHP tools. Many PHP frameworks and libraries expect PSR-12 formatted code. Using this formatter ensures your code follows these standards.
For very large PHP files, formatting may take a moment. Be patient and wait for processing to complete. The tool shows a processing indicator while it works.
Articles and guides to get more from this tool
1. Introduction: Why PHP Code Becomes Hard to Read PHP projects often grow fast. A small script becomes a large codebase with many files, mi…
Read full articleSummary: Format PHP code with PSR-1/PSR-2/PSR-12 compliance, proper indentation, opening brace placement (same/new line), namespace formatting, use statement ordering, and support for PHP 7.x/8.x syntax features including attributes and enums.