PHP GD Extension Error: 'Unable to load dynamic library '/usr/lib/php/20151012/php_gd2.dll'' - Solution

This error message indicates that the PHP extension 'php_gd2.dll' is not installed or enabled on your system. The specific steps to install or enable this extension may vary depending on your operating system and the method you use to manage your PHP installation.

Here are some general instructions to enable the GD extension for PHP:

1. Check if the GD extension is already installed:

   • Run the command php -m in your terminal to see a list of installed PHP modules.
   • Look for 'gd' in the list. If it's there, then the extension is already installed and you may need to enable it in your PHP configuration file (php.ini).

2. Install the GD extension:

   • For Ubuntu or Debian-based systems, you can install the GD extension by running sudo apt-get install php-gd in your terminal.
   • For CentOS or Red Hat-based systems, use sudo yum install php-gd instead.
   • After installation, restart your web server to apply the changes.

3. Enable the GD extension:

   • Locate your php.ini configuration file. You can find its location by running php --ini in your terminal. Look for the 'Loaded Configuration File' line.
   • Open the php.ini file in a text editor.
   • Search for the line ';extension=gd' (without the semicolon) or 'extension=gd.so' and remove the semicolon (;) at the beginning of the line if it exists. If the line is not present, add it to the file.
   • Save the changes and exit the text editor.
   • Restart your web server.

After following these steps, the 'php_gd2.dll' error should no longer appear, and the GD extension should be loaded successfully.