Tools: Top 10 VS Code Extensions for PHP Developers in 2026

Table of Contents ## 1. PHP Intelephense ## 2. PHP CS Fixer ## 3. PHP Debug (Xdebug) ## 4. Laravel (Official) ## 5. Blade Snippets ## 6. Docker ## 7. GitLens ## 8. Code Runner ## 9. EditorConfig for VS Code ## 10. Thunder Client ## Final Thoughts PHP remains a core language for backend development, powering applications from small websites to large enterprise systems. Visual Studio Code has become the editor of choice for many PHP developers because of its speed, flexibility, and strong extension ecosystem. When I first started using VS Code for PHP, choosing the right extensions was confusing. There were dozens of options, many overlapping, and some already outdated. Over time, I narrowed things down to a small set of extensions that genuinely improve productivity, reduce bugs, and make PHP development smoother. In this blog, I’ll walk through the top 10 VS Code extensions for PHP developers in 2026, explain why they matter, and how they help in real-world projects. Link: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=bmewburn.vscode-intelephense-client PHP Intelephense is still the foundation of PHP development in VS Code. It provides intelligent autocompletion, type inference, error detection, and navigation across large codebases. In real projects, it helps you: For most developers, VS Code without Intelephense does not feel complete. Link: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=junstyle.php-cs-fixer Code consistency becomes critical as projects grow and teams expand. PHP CS Fixer automatically formats your code based on standards like PSR-12. Example configuration: This removes formatting arguments from code reviews and keeps the entire codebase consistent. Link: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=xdebug.php-debug Debugging with dd() and logs only gets you so far. PHP Debug integrates Xdebug directly into VS Code, allowing you to set breakpoints and inspect variables while the code runs. Once you get comfortable with Xdebug, debugging becomes far less stressful. Link: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=laravel.vscode-laravel This is a major change compared to previous years. Laravel now maintains an official VS Code extension that replaces multiple community extensions. For Laravel developers in 2026, this single extension covers what used to require several separate tools. Link: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=onecentlin.laravel-blade Even with the official Laravel extension, Blade Snippets remains useful for faster template writing. It pairs well with the official Laravel extension. Link: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-azuretools.vscode-docker Most modern PHP applications now run inside containers. The Docker extension allows you to manage containers directly from VS Code. This keeps your workflow inside the editor instead of jumping between terminals and tools. Link: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=eamodio.gitlens GitLens enhances the built-in Git features of VS Code and is invaluable in team environments. This context is extremely useful during debugging and code reviews. Link: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=formulahendry.code-runner Code Runner is useful for quick experiments and testing small PHP scripts. You can run this instantly without configuring a full project or server, which is great for learning and prototyping. Link: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=EditorConfig.EditorConfig EditorConfig ensures consistent coding styles across different editors and operating systems. This becomes especially important when multiple developers work on the same project. Link: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=rangav.vscode-thunder-client Thunder Client is a modern replacement for older REST tools inside VS Code. For backend PHP developers working with APIs, this removes the need for external tools. In 2026, PHP development in VS Code is more useful than ever. Many older extensions are no longer needed, and official tooling has replaced fragmented solutions, especially in the Laravel ecosystem. By choosing a focused and up-to-date extension set, you reduce noise, avoid conflicts, and build a development environment that actually supports how modern PHP applications are built today. Start with the essentials, add what you truly need, and keep your editor lean. That alone can noticeably improve both productivity and code quality. What are your go-to VS Code extensions for php development? Share your recommendations in the comments below! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arafatweb Portfolio: https://arafatdev.com/ GitHub: https://github.com/arafat-web Templates let you quickly answer FAQs or store snippets for re-use. Are you sure you want to hide this comment? It will become hidden in your post, but will still be visible via the comment's permalink. Hide child comments as well For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/or reporting abuse CODE_BLOCK: { "php-cs-fixer.enable": true, "php-cs-fixer.enableAutoFixOnSave": true } Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode CODE_BLOCK: { "php-cs-fixer.enable": true, "php-cs-fixer.enableAutoFixOnSave": true } CODE_BLOCK: { "php-cs-fixer.enable": true, "php-cs-fixer.enableAutoFixOnSave": true } CODE_BLOCK: <?php echo "Quick test"; Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode CODE_BLOCK: <?php echo "Quick test"; CODE_BLOCK: <?php echo "Quick test"; - PHP Intelephense - PHP CS Fixer - PHP Debug (Xdebug) - Laravel (Official) - Blade Snippets - Code Runner - EditorConfig for VS Code - Thunder Client - Final Thoughts - Catch undefined variables before runtime - Jump between classes and methods instantly - Understand function signatures without opening documentation - Debug complex request flows - Understand why a condition behaves unexpectedly - Step through framework internals when needed - Route autocompletion - Blade syntax support - Laravel helper and facade suggestions - Artisan command integration - Improved Laravel project awareness - Expanding Blade directives quickly - Reducing repetitive typing - Keeping view files clean and readable - Start and stop services - Inspect container logs - Attach debuggers to running containers - See who last modified a line - Explore commit history per file - Understand why changes were made - Indentation - Line endings - File encoding - Send HTTP requests - Save collections per project