System requirements
What you need to run PHPPoll: PHP 7.3 or newer with SimpleXML and mbstring, writable folders and any shared hosting. No MySQL or database required.
PHPPoll is designed to run on almost any web hosting. It does not use MySQL or any other database, so there is nothing to create or configure on the server besides uploading the files.
Server requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| PHP | Version 7.3 or newer. PHP 8.x is fully supported. |
| PHP extensions | SimpleXML and mbstring. Both are enabled on nearly all hosts. |
| Writable folders | PHP must be able to write to data/ (settings, polls, votes) and uploads/ (images). |
| Web server | Apache, nginx or IIS. Apache gets extra features: protection of the data/ folder through .htaccess and optional pretty poll links. |
| Email (optional) | The PHP mail() function, only needed for vote notifications. See Email notifications for new votes. |
Browser requirements
Visitors and administrators can use any current version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari or a mobile browser. Voting also works without JavaScript, only the animations and instant results need it.
Check your server inside the admin panel
After installation open Settings → System. This page checks the PHP version, the required extensions, the writable folders and the mail function, and marks every item OK or Problem. See Settings.
If a folder shows a problem, set its permissions to 755 (or 775) in your file manager or FTP program and make sure it belongs to the same user as your web server.
Performance and size
XML storage is fast and reliable for the polls of typical websites, including thousands of votes per poll, and simultaneous votes are protected by file locking. For polls expecting hundreds of thousands of votes, plan for a database-based solution instead.
Next: How to install the PHP poll script.
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