I have PHP Version 8.3.7 installed and running according to phpinfo. I attempt a connection to a MYSQL 8 database and receive the message:
PHP Fatal error: Uncaught mysqli_sql_exception: The server requested authentication method unknown to the client [caching_sha2_password]

From what I have found online, PHP 8.3 should know how to handle “caching_sha2_password”. The only work-around I see is to force the use of mysql native password that has been recently deactivated from mysql. As I understand it, using the SHA authentification is the solution of the future. Hence, I would rather had it working than resorting to a work-around using an obsolete feature.

I have not seen anything explaining that PHP had to be configured in a particular way for this work. I am ready to bet that I am missing something obvious…