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Limit Checker

WordPress plugin to log and test PHP configuration limits (memory, upload size, max_input_vars, execution time).

by Mohamad · github.com/rahmanzadehm1/limit-checker

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Install

No release zip yet. The repository archive installs, but the folder name will carry the branch suffix and updates will not flow:

wp plugin install https://github.com/rahmanzadehm1/limit-checker/archive/refs/heads/main.zip

Readme

Limit Checker

WordPress plugin that logs PHP configuration limit issues and provides admin tests for common php.ini settings.

Features

  • Logs only PHP limit-related events (no unrelated PHP notices or warnings)
  • Site-wide detection for post_max_size violations and upload limit errors
  • Admin page with color-coded PHP settings, status badges, and recommended values
  • One AJAX test button per tracked setting
  • Dynamic test payloads based on current php.ini values (limit + overrun)
  • Rolling log file (last 20 entries)
  • Clear logs button (shown only when logs exist)

Requirements

  • WordPress 5.0+
  • PHP 7.4+
  • cURL extension (recommended for large post_max_size / upload_max_filesize tests on high limits)

Installation

  1. Clone or download this repository
  2. Place the plugin folder in wp-content/plugins/ (rename the folder to limit-checker if needed)
  3. Activate Limit Checker in WordPress admin
  4. Open Limit Checker in the admin menu

Tracked PHP settings

Setting Description
max_input_vars Maximum number of input variables per request
memory_limit Maximum memory per script
post_max_size Maximum POST body size
upload_max_filesize Maximum uploaded file size
max_execution_time Maximum script runtime in seconds

Recommended values (WordPress hosting guidelines)

Setting Recommended Acceptable Below recommended
max_input_vars ≥ 3000 ≥ 1000 < 1000
memory_limit ≥ 256M ≥ 128M < 128M
post_max_size ≥ 64M ≥ 32M < 32M
upload_max_filesize ≥ 64M ≥ 32M < 32M
max_execution_time ≥ 120s or 0 (unlimited) ≥ 30s < 30s

Settings below the recommended threshold show a Recommended: … hint in the admin table.

How tests work

Each test sends a value slightly above the current limit:

Setting Overrun rule
max_input_vars max(50, 5% of limit) extra fields
post_max_size / upload_max_filesize max(1 KB, 1% of limit) extra bytes
max_execution_time max(2s, 10% of limit) extra CPU time (busy-loop; sleep() is not counted by PHP on most hosts)
memory_limit Allocates memory in 1 MB chunks until PHP errors

Large payload tests (> 12 MB) are sent server-side via cURL when the browser cannot handle them reliably.

Log file

Logs are stored at:

wp-content/limit-check-log.log

This file is git-ignored. Only PHP limit messages are written.

Log entry types

Type Meaning
TEST Result of an admin test button
DETECT Automatic detection on a site request
E_ERROR, E_WARNING, PHP, … Real PHP errors caught by the plugin handler

Example:

[2026-06-24 21:30:00] [TEST] max_execution_time test started (ini limit: 30 s)...
[2026-06-24 21:30:30] [E_ERROR] Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in ...

Site-wide logging

The plugin logs limit issues across the site when PHP reports them or when they can be detected at runtime:

Limit Logged automatically?
memory_limit Yes — on memory exhaustion
max_execution_time Yes — when PHP enforces a fatal timeout
post_max_size Yes — when CONTENT_LENGTH exceeds the limit
upload_max_filesize Yes — on UPLOAD_ERR_INI_SIZE uploads
max_input_vars Partial — when PHP emits a matching warning after WordPress loads

Some limits (post_max_size, max_input_vars) may be enforced by PHP before WordPress loads; those are only logged when the request reaches the plugin.

Project structure

limit-checker/
├── limit-checker.php       # Main plugin file
├── assets/
│   ├── css/admin.css       # Admin table styles
│   └── js/admin.js         # AJAX test UI
├── README.md
└── .gitignore

Changelog

  • 1.9.3 — Real max_execution_time test via CPU busy-loop; recommended value hints in settings table
  • 1.9.2 — Dynamic test overrun; site-wide post_max_size detection; cURL tests for large payloads
  • 1.9.1 — Log timestamp fix; upload/execution test improvements; color-coded settings table
  • 1.9.0 — Log only PHP limit errors; fix test buttons; git-ready structure
  • 1.8 — Added test buttons
  • 1.7 — Reload button (removed in 1.9.0)
  • 1.6 — 20-line log cap
  • 1.5 — Clear log button

Author

Mohamad

License

GPL-2.0-or-later (WordPress plugin standard)

Read the full README on GitHub →