1. What is the purpose of OPCache in PHP?
OPCache improves performance by storing precompiled PHP bytecode in memory, reducing the need for PHP to parse and compile scripts on every request.
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PHP · Question Set
Advanced PHP & Performance interview questions for placements and exams.
Questions
15
Included in this set
Subject
PHP
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Difficulty
Mixed
Level of this set
Go through each question and its explanation. Use this set as a focused practice pack for PHP.
OPCache improves performance by storing precompiled PHP bytecode in memory, reducing the need for PHP to parse and compile scripts on every request.
For complete preparation, combine this set with full subject-wise practice for PHP. You can also explore other subjects and sets from the links below.
PHP’s garbage collector automatically frees memory by removing objects and variables that are no longer referenced, improving efficiency.
gc_collect_cycles();
Unset large arrays after use, close database connections, use generators instead of arrays for iteration, and process files in chunks. Avoid loading unnecessary libraries or classes to keep memory consumption minimal.
Namespaces help organize code and prevent conflicts between classes or functions with the same name. They are especially useful in large applications and libraries.
namespace MyApp\Controllers;
Autoloading allows PHP to automatically include the required class file when an object is created. It removes the need for manual include statements.
spl_autoload_register(function($class){ include $class.'.php'; });Composer is PHP’s dependency manager. It automatically downloads and installs external libraries and manages their versions for your project.
composer install
The memory_limit directive in php.ini defines the maximum amount of memory a single PHP script can use, preventing memory overflows.
ini_set('memory_limit','256M');Output buffering temporarily holds the output before sending it to the browser. It allows manipulation of headers or compression of data before output.
ob_start(); echo 'Hello'; ob_end_flush();
Xdebug is a PHP extension used for debugging and profiling. It helps developers analyze script execution time and memory usage for performance optimization.
Caching in PHP includes opcode caching, data caching, and page caching. Opcode caching stores compiled PHP code, data caching saves computed results in memory or files, and page caching stores whole rendered pages to speed up load times.
Namespaces prevent naming collisions between classes, functions, or constants from different parts of an application or external libraries. They make the codebase modular, organized, and easier to maintain.
Lazy loading delays object creation or resource initialization until it is actually needed. It reduces startup time and memory usage, improving overall performance in large systems.
Use caching like OPCache, minimize database queries, reuse database connections, enable output buffering, avoid unnecessary loops, and use modern PHP versions. Keeping code modular and using Composer dependencies efficiently also boosts performance.
The error suppression operator hides warnings and errors, making debugging difficult. It can also degrade performance because PHP must check and handle suppressed errors internally, even though they’re not shown.
Instead of file-based sessions, use database or in-memory stores like Redis for faster access. Regenerate session IDs periodically and use distributed session storage for load-balanced servers to maintain consistency.