PHP has been a key technology in web development from the beginning, helping create interactive websites and web applications. Over the years, PHP has evolved, introducing new features, performance improvements, and better security. Understanding the different PHP versions and their changes is essential for developers to keep their code up to date and take advantage of the latest improvements.
Here we explore the evolution of PHP from PHP 3 to the latest stable PHP 8.4 and offers practical guidance for choosing and migrating between versions.
All PHP Versions [1998 to 2024]Let’s take a look at the different versions of PHP, their release years, and the key features they introduced:
Version/Official Name | Release Year | Description |
|---|
PHP 1 (Personal Home Page Tools 1.0) | 1995 | *Never Released |
|---|
PHP 2 (PHP/FI 2) | 1997 | *Never Released |
|---|
PHP 3 | 1998 | First Edition for Commercial Use |
|---|
PHP 4 | 2000 | Added: - Zend Engine
- Session support
- Output buffering
- Improved object-oriented programming support
|
|---|
PHP 5 | 2004 | Added: - Full OOP support (classes, inheritance, interfaces)
- PDO (PHP Data Objects) for database interaction
- Exceptions and better error handling
|
|---|
PHP 7 | 2015 | Added: - Major performance improvements
- Scalar type declarations
- Null coalescing operator (??)
- Spaceship operator (<=>)
|
|---|
PHP 8 | 2020 | Added: - Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation
- Union types
- Match expression
- Constructor property promotion
- Attributes (annotations)
|
|---|
PHP 8.1 | 2021 | Added: - Fibers for concurrency
- Readonly properties
- Intersection types
- Performance improvements
|
|---|
PHP 8.2 | 2022 | Added: - Disjunctive Normal Form (DNF) types
- Deprecated dynamic variables in classes
- Read-only classes
|
|---|
PHP 8.3 | 2023 | Added: - JIT engine improvements
- Better error handling
- Enhanced async programming support
|
|---|
PHP 8.4 (Latest Stable Release) | 2024 | Added: - Property hooks
- Asymmetric visibility in classes
- Database driver-specific PDO classes
- Lazy objects
- HTML5 support in DOM extension
|
|---|
Did you know? PHP began as a humble set of C scripts crafted by Rasmus Lerdorf to manage his online resume and track visitors. What started as a personal project soon evolved into a powerful tool that would lay the foundation for one of the most widely used programming languages in web development.
Choosing the Right PHP Version for Your Project
Here are main factors that you consider while choosing version of php for your project:
- Security: Use actively supported versions only.
- Performance: PHP 7+ significantly outperforms earlier versions.
- Compatibility: Ensure your CMS/framework supports the version.
PHP Version Recommendations by Project Type
Choose the right PHP version based on your project requirements and compatibility needs:
| Project Type | Recommended PHP Version | Notes |
|---|
| WordPress Sites | PHP 8.1 or 8.2 | Balances stability with modern features. |
| E-commerce Platforms | PHP 8.2 or 8.4 | Emphasizes performance and security. |
| Legacy Applications | PHP 7.4 | Suitable during migration phases. |
| New Projects | PHP 8.4 | Offers the latest features and optimizations. |
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