How can PHP scripts be set up to run periodically without being accessed by an external source?

To run PHP scripts periodically without being accessed by an external source, you can set up a cron job on your server. A cron job allows you to schedule the execution of a script at specific intervals without the need for manual intervention. By configuring a cron job to run your PHP script, you can automate its execution without the need for external triggers. 

```php
// This is a PHP script that will be executed periodically using a cron job
// You can add your script logic here

echo "This script was executed at: " . date('Y-m-d H:i:s') . "\n";
```

To set up a cron job to run this PHP script every hour, you can use the following command in your server's terminal:

```
0 * * * * /usr/bin/php /path/to/your/script.php
```

This cron job will execute the script every hour at the beginning of the hour. Make sure to replace `/path/to/your/script.php` with the actual path to your PHP script.

Keywords

cron job scheduling automation server-side security

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