[php] Turn off display errors using file "php.ini"

Let me quickly summarize this for reference:

  • error_reporting() adapts the currently active setting for the default error handler.

  • Editing the error reporting ini options also changes the defaults.

    • Here it's imperative to edit the correct php.ini version - it's typically /etc/php5/fpm/php.ini on modern servers, /etc/php5/mod_php/php.ini alternatively; while the CLI version has a distinct one.

    • Alternatively you can use depending on SAPI:

      • mod_php: .htaccess with php_flag options
      • FastCGI: commonly a local php.ini
      • And with PHP above 5.3 also a .user.ini

    • Restarting the webserver as usual.

If your code is unwieldy and somehow resets these options elsewhere at runtime, then an alternative and quick way is to define a custom error handler that just slurps all notices/warnings/errors up:

set_error_handler(function(){});

Again, this is not advisable, just an alternative.