ExpressionEngine is a self-hosted, open-source PHP CMS for developers and agencies building custom websites. Define your content and give editors a publishing experience tailored to the site.
Get started · Documentation · Community
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Model your content: Define content types, called Channels, with custom fields and relationships for articles, staff profiles, or products.
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Simple templating: Build custom designs with HTML and readable template tags, without writing PHP.
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Edit content in context: Let editors update content directly on the website with built-in front-end editing.
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Publish with confidence: Give editors tailored publishing layouts and live preview, with entry versioning to revisit saved revisions.
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Built with security in mind: Granular permissions, multi-factor authentication, and ongoing security updates help protect your site and its users.
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Extend your site: Add ecommerce with CartThrob or Expresso Store, explore other add-ons, or build your own.
Display news entries with a few template tags:
{exp:channel:entries channel="news" limit="3" dynamic="no"}
<article>
<h2>{title}</h2>
<p>{summary}</p>
</article>
{/exp:channel:entries}This displays up to three entries from the news Channel. summary is a custom field. See Channel Entries for more options.
Work with template files in your editor, and give compatible coding agents and AI assistants access to ExpressionEngine documentation through Context7.
Learn how Channels and templates work together.
ExpressionEngine is a self-hosted PHP/MySQL application. Check the system requirements before getting started.
Download a packaged release with dependencies included, then follow the installation guide and post-installation security steps.
Source installation and previous versions
The 7.dev branch contains development toward the next EE 7 release. For a released installation, use the packaged download above.
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Create an empty database. Clone the repository, selecting the intended branch; this example uses
7.dev:git clone --branch 7.dev https://github.com/ExpressionEngine/ExpressionEngine.git cd ExpressionEngine -
Use PHP 8.2+ for dependency/build tooling, including PHP-Scoper. With Composer installed, run this from the repository root:
composer install
This build-tool requirement differs from the packaged-runtime requirements linked above. Use the checkout as your site's root directory, or build locally and upload the complete result, including hidden files.
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Create an empty configuration file only if it is missing:
test -f system/user/config/config.php || touch system/user/config/config.php
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Apply the documented file and directory permissions, including write access to the configuration file.
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In .env.php, set
EE_INSTALL_MODE=TRUEto route requests to the installer. -
Visit
/admin.phpon your site and complete installation. -
Restore
EE_INSTALL_MODE=FALSE, remove or renamesystem/ee/installer/, and follow the post-installation security steps linked above.
Previous versions: GitHub Releases lists earlier releases. Its source ZIP and tar archives require the source-installation workflow above; use the extracted directory instead of cloning, and check that version's README for its build prerequisites.
- Learn: Documentation for reference material and ExpressionEngine University for tutorials.
- Build with AI: ExpressionEngine documentation on Context7 for coding agents and AI assistants that support it.
- Ask the community: Official Slack and forums for questions and discussion.
- Get official help: Support plans from the ExpressionEngine team.
- Find a developer: ExpressionEngine Partners for site builds, upgrades, and ongoing development.
- Report bugs: Search existing GitHub issues, then include reproduction steps in a new report.
- Report security issues privately: Follow the security-reporting guide.
Help improve ExpressionEngine through code, documentation, bug reports, or helping other users. Read the contribution guide to get involved.
ExpressionEngine is copyright (c) Packet Tide, LLC and licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. Subcomponents have separate copyright and license terms, all free and open source and compatible with Apache 2.0. See LICENSE.txt for complete terms and copyright information.
“ExpressionEngine” is a registered trademark of Packet Tide, LLC in the United States and around the world. See the Trademark Use Policy for logos and acceptable use.