0. php-v


$ php -v
PHP 5.5.22 (cli) (built: Apr  7 2015 10:29:09) 
Copyright (c) 1997-2015 The PHP Group
Zend Engine v2.5.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2015 Zend Technologies
    with Xdebug v2.3.1, Copyright (c) 2002-2015, by Derick Rethans


1. php-i 

You can get full phpinfo() using : 
php -i
So, we can use grep with php -i to get the config that you want. Find the php.ini file 

$ php -i | grep 'Configuration File'
Configuration File (php.ini) Path => /usr/local/etc/php/5.5
Loaded Configuration File => /usr/local/etc/php/5.5/php.ini
or 

$ php --ini
Configuration File (php.ini) Path: /usr/local/etc/php/5.5
Loaded Configuration File:         /usr/local/etc/php/5.5/php.ini
Scan for additional .ini files in: /usr/local/etc/php/5.5/conf.d
Additional .ini files parsed:      /usr/local/etc/php/5.5/conf.d/ext-mcrypt.ini
If you want to known the timezone which was set: 

$ php -i | grep 'date.timezone'
date.timezone => Asia/Tokyo => Asia/Tokyo

2. php-a : interactive shell

To start a PHP interactive shell from the Linux terminal using following php -a (enabling PHP Interactive mode) command.
For example: 

~ chung$ php -a
Interactive shell

php > $a = array(1, 2 ,3);
php > print_r($a);
Array
(
    [0] => 1
    [1] => 2
    [2] => 3
)
You can use interactive shell to quick test php built-in function behaviour.

 < ~ to be continue ~ >