What is localhost? How to set it up with XAMPP and WampServer

Localhost is a term commonly used in computer networking. It is not only the name of a virtual server but also its domain name. Like .example, .test and .invalid, .localhost is a top-level domain reserved for documentation and testing. When you visit it, the request is handled internally with no internet connection needed. That lets you test and develop web applications or network services offline. To understand what localhost is and what it can do, let's MONA explore it in this article.

What is localhost?

In networking, localhost means “the computer,” or more precisely “your computer.” It is a familiar term for people in IT, network administration and programming. Localhost is used to reach network services running on the same machine through a loopback interface, without using any physical network port. This lets the computer act as a virtual network inside itself.

Localhost can be seen as an internal web server made up of components such as Apache, MySQL, PHP, and phpMyAdmin. All of them are installed and run on your computer's hard drive, creating a test environment for development and learning without any online hosting. The advantage of localhost is that you can install and test websites directly on your computer, which makes working with data faster and removes the connection drops that come with web hosting. Because the site is stored on your computer, only you can open and view what is on localhost. No one else can.

What is the IP address 127.0.0.1?

The IP address 127.0.0.1 is a loopback address, a special an IP address reserved for testing and development. It guarantees that any network request sent to this address stays inside the local machine. The loopback range covers all IP addresses from 127.0.0.0 to 127.255.255.255, of which 127.0.0.1 is the most commonly used.

What is the difference between the IP address 127.0.0.1 and localhost?

Although 127.0.0.1 and localhost are often used interchangeably, there are some small differences.

How does localhost work?

When you type localhost into a web browser or connect to a network service on your computer, the operating system recognizes the keyword “localhost” and translates it to the IP address 127.0.0.1 (on IPv4) or ::1 (on IPv6).

The operating system does not send the request out through network interfaces such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet. It routes the request inside the system. Your own computer handles it directly, through the software and services running on it.

Services such as web servers (Apache, Nginx), database servers (MySQL, PostgreSQL) or any network application running on your computer listen for requests coming from 127.0.0.1 or localhost. The result is sent back to the browser and shown on your screen.

For example: when you type “http://localhost/index.php” into the browser, it sends a request to the Apache web server running on your computer. Apache finds the file index.php and shows its content in the browser.

One important point: with localhost, data never has to cross any physical network outside the computer. That reduces latency, speeds up processing and keeps things secure, because the data never leaves your machine.

How many types of localhost are there?

As mentioned above, localhost is a webserver, which runs for free on the same computer that holds your WordPress. Inside localhost are many different applications, which are in effect the programming languages used to build websites. Some basic ones in localhost are:

• Apache: One of the most popular languages today, easy to use and with strong features.
• PHP: A web server program that processes PHP code, the language nearly all WordPress sites use.
• MYSQL: is database software for storing and processing data. MySQL is very popular, not only in coding but across information and data processing.
• PHPMyadmin: Software for web administrators to monitor and manage MySQL databases.

Because localhost is used to run and test websites you build offline on your own computer, using the software above makes these tasks much simpler.

Key features of localhost

Here are some key features of localhost:

• Testing programs or web applications: One of the most common uses of localhost is testing programs or web applications. 
• Blocking websites: Localhost can also be used to block certain websites. If you want users of your computer not to reach a specific site, you can map the site's domain to the localhost IP address in a special file on your computer. When someone tries to open that site on your computer, it is not found there, and the real site on the internet cannot be reached.
• Speed testing: Localhost can also be used to test your device and TCP/IP protocol under the best conditions. This helps make sure the website or application you build runs stably. For example, you can open Command Prompt or a terminal and type “ ping localhost ” or “ ping 127.0.0.1 ”. The test shows how everything is working, from packets received, sent or lost to how long transmission takes.

Common localhost software for Windows

Localhost needs more than just the programming languages to work. To make it run you also need some software. If you have looked into it, you may have seen names like XAMPP, Wamp and AppServ mentioned often on forums.

In practice these are very important programs: put simply, localhost runs thanks to this software. All three work in much the same way, but XAMPP is used by far the most people.

The reason is that it is the easiest to use, completely free, and runs stably on all operating systems, including Windows, macOS and Linux.

Things to note before installing localhost

To avoid mistakes that can stop localhost from working, keep a few basics in mind: 

Remove all related or similar applications to localhost

Some programming applications similar to MySQL or PHP can stop the system from updating localhost.

Also, if your computer already has a web server service like localhost, or IIS installed, installing localhost through XAMPP or Wamp will be disabled. In particular, if you use Skype, switch to another app and uninstall Skype before installing localhost, because Skype uses port 80 and will conflict with localhost during setup and cause errors.

In addition, while IIS can take over port 80, VMware can conflict with a localhost install on port 443. So before installing, make sure none of this software is occupying these ports.

To fix this, remove any similar local software. For port conflicts, move those programs to other ports, or uninstall them and reinstall after localhost is set up.

Turn off the firewall

A web application or antivirus programs are great. But they can block localhost on some ports. Disable them before installing, and turn them back on once installation is finished.

Turn off UAC on Windows

On Windows computers you also need to turn off UAC (User Account Control). It limits the permissions of the localhost installation.

How to install localhost with XAMPP

XAMPP is a popular program for creating a web server on operating systems such as Linux, macOS and Windows. The name XAMPP combines five bundled components: Cross-Platform (X), Apache (A), MariaDB (M), PHP (P) and Perl (P). 

To install localhost with XAMPP, follow these steps:

Step 1: Download XAMPP, choosing the version that matches your operating system, 32-bit or 64-bit.

When the download finishes, run the file to start the XAMPP installer. If antivirus software is on, you may see a notice like the one shown. Just choose Yes to continue the installation.

Step 2: Open the file you downloaded. On the setup screen, click Next to continue installing. 

Step 3: On the XAMPP screen, enable the components you want to install, such as Apache, MySQL, FileZilla, PHPMyAdmin… by ticking the box next to each and choosing Next.

Step 4: On the XAMPP install screen, keep the suggested install path C:xampp. Then choose Next to continue the installation.

In the next step, pick your preferred language, then choose Next to run the installation.

Installation may take a few minutes, then choose Finish to finish the installation.

Step 5: When setup finishes, start the modules from the XAMPP control panel to check your server.

To set up XAMPP you need to run 2 modules: Apache and MySQL

When they start successfully, both modules turn green, as shown below.

Step 6: Open a browser such as Chrome or Firefox and enter the IP address http://localhost or http://127.0.0.1. If the page displays normally, localhost is installed. 

How to install localhost with Wampserver

Wampserver stands for Windows – Apache – MySQL – PHP. Like XAMPP, Wampserver is another program for creating localhost on Windows.

Step 1: Download the 32-bit or 64-bit Wampserver that fits your machine, unzip it and start the program. 

Next, choose Next

Step 2: At License Agreement, tick I accept the agreement and choose Next

Step 3: In the next step, choose where to install Wampserver. Then choose Next.

Step 4: On the Select Additional Tasks screen, tick Create a Quick Launch icon and Create a Desktop icon then select Next

Then click Install

Step 5: Choose the default web browser to open Localhost. Here we will choose Firefox. Then choose Open.

On this screen you set up PHP mail. If you don't use it, leave the defaults and choose Next.

After the step above, choose Finish to finish installing localhost on Wampserver.

Step 6: Restart WAMP and turn this feature on so URLs can run; otherwise the system will only run the main home page.

In the WAMP control panel, choose Apache > Alias Directories > http://localhost/phpmyadmin/ > Edit alias

Then click Ctrl + S and close the file

Now open a web browser and enter http://localhost. If you see the default Wampserver page, the installation worked.

Installing localhost on AppServ

Install localhost with AppServ is another way to set up a server environment on your computer. AppServ lets you quickly set up server and a database simply. Although better optimized for Linux/Unix, AppServ still runs stably on Windows.

To install localhost with AppServ, follow these steps:

Step 1: Download the right version of AppServ for your computer. Open the downloaded file, unzip it and start AppServ.

Choose where to install AppServ

Step 2: Set the configuration values, such as the server name (Server name), the administrator's email address (Administrator’s Email address), and the Apache HTTP port (80 by default).

Step 3: Set a username (root by default) and a password for MySQL as you like.

Step 4: Click “Install” to start the installation, and choose “Finish” when it finishes.

Step 5: Open a browser and go to localhost/phpmyadmin to confirm the installation worked.

How do I find my localhost?

• Web browser: Open your web browser and enter http://localhost or http://127.0.0.1 in the address bar. Follow the prompts and you can reach any local application or web server running on your computer.
• Command line or terminal: You can use the command ping localhost or ping 127.0.0.1 to see whether it is working.
• Network configuration: A server or program running on your computer usually tells you how to reach it through localhost, including the ports and paths needed.

So should you use localhost?

Whether to use localhost depends on your needs and circumstances. Localhost uses your computer's hard drive as storage and as the place to install a website, which is convenient for learning and testing before you decide to buy hosting.

Moving from localhost to hosting is also quick and simple. But if you want to save costs and keep things secure, consider a reputable hosting provider for a safer solution.

Questions related to “What is localhost?”

Can localhost work without an internet connection?

You can set up a local server without any internet connection. Localhost does not need any external network connection to work.

What are localhost:8080 and localhost:8888?

localhost:8080 and localhost:8888 are two common loopback addresses. Port 8080 is used to run web applications such as PHP or Java, while port 8888 is often used for Java applications.

For example, if you install the Apache web server on your computer, you can open your website by entering localhost:8080 in the browser. Likewise, if you install a Java application on your computer, you can reach it by entering localhost:8888.

What are localhost/htdocs and localhost/wordpress?

localhost/htdocs and localhost/wordpress are paths to two different folders on your computer. The localhost/htdocs folder holds general web files, while localhost/wordpress holds the files for a WordPress website.

That is an overview of localhost and how to install it with XAMPP and Wampserver on Windows. We hope the article gave readers useful information.