PHP opcodes

[dougal85]

Not sure where this one belongs, so echo lounge it is.

My current understanding is that when a page is reached the parser (or is compiler the right term?) creates opcodes for the script (assuming it passes syntax checking etc). Then these opcodes are executed one by one.

Is there a way to view the opcodes?

I'm just curious about what's going on behind the scenes...

I've had a quick Google around but I can only find solutions that provide opcode caching rather than an article or discussion about what is going on.

[NogDog]

Not sure where to find any info, but what you probably want to look for is "Zend Engine".

[Shrike]

www.php.net/apc is an open source opcode cache developed by some members of the PHP core team.

[dougal85]

Cool, thanks. I Have had a look around but I've not found that much.

Perhaps I just need to download the PHP source and have a nosey around and see if I can understand it. Although, I fear I may end up lost. I find it hard to even imagine how one programs a programming language...