How to fix error with xml2-config not found when installing PHP from sources?

Question

When I try to install php 5.3 stable from source on Ubuntu (downloading compressed installation file from http://www.php.net/downloads.php) and I run ./configure I get this error:

configure: error: xml2-config not found. Please check your libxml2 installation.

Answer 1

All you need to do instal install package libxml2-dev for example:

sudo apt-get install libxml2-dev

On CentOS/RHEL:

sudo yum install libxml2-devel

Answer 2

For the latest versions it is needed to install libxml++2.6-dev like that:

apt-get install libxml++2.6-dev

Answer 3

I had the same issue when I used a DockerFile. My Docker is based on the php:5.5-apache image.

I got that error when executing the command RUN docker-php-ext-install soap

I have solved it by adding the following command to my Dockerfile:

RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y libxml2-dev

Answer 4

Ubuntu, Debian:

sudo apt install libxml2-dev

Centos:

sudo yum install libxml2-devel

Answer 5

this solution it gonna be ok on Redhat 8.0

sudo yum install libxml2-devel

Answer 6

OpenSuse

"sudo zypper install libxml2-devel"

It will install any other dependencies or required packages/libraries