How to Execute PHP Script in Crontab in Linux

Cron is a time-based scheduling service in Linux / Unix-like operating systems. Cron job are used to schedule commands to be executed periodically. You can setup commands or scripts, which will repeatedly run at a set time. Cron is one of the most useful tool in Linux or UNIX like operating systems. The cron service (daemon) runs in the background and constantly checks the /etc/crontab file, /etc/cron./* directories. It also checks the /var/spool/cron/ directory.

In this article I will show you how to execute PHP script in cron job.

Create a PHP Script

First of all create a php script like below.

# cd /var/www/web
# vim test.php

Save and close file.

Configure Corn Task

In the following example, the crontab command shown below will activate the cron tasks automatically every five minutes:

*/5 * * * * /usr/bin/php /opt/test.php

In the above sample, the */5 * * * * represents when the task should happen. The first figure represents minutes – in this case, on every “five” minute. The other figures represent, respectively, hour, day, month and day of the week.

* is a wildcard, meaning “every time”.

Find PHP Library

Type the below command to find the php library.

# whereis php

You will get some output like below:

php: /usr/bin/php /etc/php.ini /etc/php.d /usr/lib64/php /usr/include/php /usr/share/php /usr/share/man/man1/php.1.gz

Specify correctly the full path in your command.

Cronjob Entry

Now type the below command to scheduled task and set cron like below.

# crontab -e

*/5 * * * * /usr/bin/php /opt/test.php

Now type wq! to save it.