Research Documentation 03-local-php
MAMP
MAMP is a beginner-friendly server that runs on the Apache server and MySQL database. It is primarily made for Mac users.
LAMP
LAMP also uses Apache and MySQL, and is known for being very powerful and flexible. However it is also a bit more complex to install than MAMP. It is developed mostly for Linux.
XAMPP
XAMPP is a cross-platform server that runs on Apache and MariaDB. It is a free tool which that comes with phpMyAdmin, which is used to handle databases.
Summary
Local servers have the advantage of being mostly free tools, which can host your site in a local environment for testing purposes. However it can take up a significant amount of space on your local machine, and may be a hassle to set up depending on which server that you're using.