| -a | Run interactively |
| -c<path>|<file> | Look for php.ini file in this directory |
| -n | No php.ini file will be used |
| -d foo[=bar] | Define INI entry foo with value 'bar' |
| -e | Generate extended information for debugger/profiler |
| -f <file> | Parse <file>. |
| -h | The help |
| -i | PHP information |
| -l | Syntax check only (lint) |
| -m | Show compiled in modules |
| -r <code> | Run PHP <code> without using script tags <?..?> |
| -B <begin_code> | Run PHP <begin_code> before processing input lines |
| -R <code> | Run PHP <code for every input line |
| -F <file> | Parse and execute <file> for every input line |
| -E <end_code> | Run PHP <end_code> after processing all input lines |
| -H | Hide any passed arguments from external tools. |
| -s | Display colour syntax highlighted source. |
| -v | Version number |
| -w | Display source with stripped comments and whitespace. |
| -z <file> | Load Zend extension <file>. |