PHP errors can disrupt your website’s functionality, display unwanted messages, or even cause complete outages. Whether you're a developer or a site owner, understanding how to identify and fix these errors is essential for maintaining a smooth user experience.

🔍 Common Types of PHP Errors

Before diving into solutions, it's helpful to recognize the types of errors you might encounter:

• Parse Errors (Syntax Errors): Mistakes in the code structure, such as missing semicolons or unmatched brackets.

• Fatal Errors: Occur when PHP cannot execute a function, often due to undefined functions or missing files.

• Warning Errors: Non-critical issues like including a missing file or using deprecated functions.

• Notice Errors: Minor issues such as using an undefined variable.

🧪 Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

1. 🧾 Enable Error Reporting

To see what’s going wrong, enable error reporting in your PHP configuration:

ini_set('display_errors', 1); ini_set('display_startup_errors', 1); error_reporting(E_ALL);

Alternatively, in cPanel:

• Go to Select PHP Version > Options

• Enable display_errors

2. 📄 Check the Error Logs

Most hosting environments store PHP errors in log files. In cPanel:

• Navigate to Metrics > Errors

• Or check /error_log file in your website’s root directory

These logs provide detailed messages about what went wrong and where.

3. 🔄 Revert Recent Changes

If errors appeared after a recent update or code change, try reverting those changes. Common culprits include:

• Plugin or theme updates (especially in WordPress)

• Manual edits to .php files

• Changes to .htaccess or php.ini

4. 🧩 Verify PHP Version Compatibility

Some scripts require specific PHP versions. If you're a polur.net customer, use either MultiPHP or PHP Selector as described in this article:

• Go to Select PHP Version

• Choose a compatible version (e.g., PHP 7.4 for older WordPress sites)

• Enable required extensions like mysqli, mbstring, or curl

5. 🔐 Check File Permissions

Incorrect file or folder permissions can trigger errors. Use cPanel’s File Manager or FTP to ensure:

• Files: 644

• Folders: 755

Avoid setting permissions to 777 as it poses a security risk.

6. 🧼 Clear Cache and Sessions

Cached data or session files can cause unexpected behavior. Clear:

• CMS cache (e.g., WordPress plugins like WP Super Cache)

• Browser cache

• Server-side session files (if applicable)

7. 🧠 Use a Debugging Tool

For complex issues, consider using tools like:

• Xdebug (for local development)

• Query Monitor (for WordPress)

• PHPStorm or VS Code with debugging extensions

🧯 When to Contact Support

If you’ve tried the steps above and still see errors, reach out to our support with:

• A screenshot or copy of the error message

• The URL where the error occurs

• Any recent changes made to the site

  
  

  Please note that polur.net Technical Support does not troubleshoot errors caused by third-party scripts (including WordPress) or websites for customers as this is beyond the scope of our complimentary support. However, if the error is determined to be caused by a server configuration issue or if there is a known server-side issue, we will fix it. Paid support is available if you need more assistance beyond our complimentary technical support.

🧭 Final Tips

• Keep your PHP scripts updated and well-documented.

• Avoid editing core files unless necessary.

• Test changes in a staging environment before deploying live.

By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to diagnose and resolve PHP errors efficiently. If you’d like a printable checklist or a version tailored to WordPress, Joomla, or another CMS, I can help with that too!