To use WordPress into localhost installation

An easy way to test WordPress is to use localhost installation and install WordPress into $HOME/website directory. An example:

tar -xzvf wordpress-5.0.2-fi.tar.gz

mv wordpress $HOME/website

To set permissions go into $HOME/website directory and run

cd $HOME/website

sudo find . -type d -exec chmod -R 775 {} \;

sudo find . -type f -exec chmod -R 664 {} \;

Check that permissions are the right

stat -c '%a %A %U %G %n' *

Add yourself to the www-data group

sudo usermod -aG www-data username_here

PS. replace username_here using the real username

Make a symbolic link to the /var/www/html

sudo ln -s /home/username_here/website /var/www/html

PS. replace username_here using the real username

Make an user and database via phpMyAdmin

http://localhost/phpmyadmin/

Install WordPress

http://localhost/website

PS. With 5-based WordPresses may be some problems, so version 4.9.9 is a well workable version.

https://wordpress.org/news/category/releases/

https://wordpress.org/download/releases/

Read also: https://puolanka.info/goto/apache-and-phpmyadminin-installation-in-ubuntu-mate-and-mint-19/

Read also 2: To fix grey or white screen death in WordPress 5