When working with PHP through the command line interface (CLI), you might need to use a different PHP version than what's running on your web server. This is common when running scripts, composer commands, or cron jobs that require specific PHP features.

First, check your current CLI PHP version by running:

• php -v

To change the PHP version for CLI, you have several options depending on your hosting environment:

1. Using alternatives system (Linux servers):
Many hosting providers use the update-alternatives system. You can switch versions with: sudo update-alternatives --set php /usr/bin/php8.1 Replace "8.1" with your desired version number.

2. Creating aliases (for regular users):
Add an alias to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile: alias php='/usr/bin/php8.1' Then reload with: source ~/.bashrc

3. Using absolute paths:
Simply call PHP using the full path to your desired version: /usr/bin/php8.1 script.php

Important notes:

• CLI PHP version is separate from your web server's PHP version
• Some hosting panels (like cPanel) may have specific tools for CLI PHP management
• Always verify the change worked by running php -v again
• Different PHP versions may require different extensions - check compatibility

If you're on shared hosting without shell access, contact your hosting provider as they may need to make this change for you.