Unable to link Apache and PHP for execution of PHP files

I'm currently facing an issue with linking Apache and PHP on a Windows system. Here's the problem I'm encountering:

I downloaded the PHP ZIP package from https://www.php.net/downloads.php and extracted it to the "php" folder on my C: drive. Then, I downloaded Apache HTTP Server from https://httpd.apache.org and installed it. I added the PHP installation directory to the system's PATH environment variable. However, I'm unable to find the specific PHP module file to link Apache with PHP in the extracted PHP folder. Additionally, there is no mention of PHP in the Apache configuration file. As a result, when I access a PHP file through the browser, it displays the PHP code instead of executing it.

I would appreciate any assistance in resolving this issue. Can you guide me on how to properly link Apache with PHP on a Windows system? What steps am I missing or where can I find the required PHP module file for Apache?

Thank you in advance for your help!

source https://stackoverflow.com/questions/76699740/unable-to-link-apache-and-php-for-execution-of-php-files