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FMCodes • All-in-one Webmasters community  » Coding Community » PHP & MySQL » PHP & MySQL Tutorials » What is the latest stable PHP version?

What is the latest stable PHP version?

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    What is the latest stable PHP version?


    What is the latest stable PHP version?

    Currently, the latest stable version is still set to PHP 8.1.1.

    Supported PHP versions and lifecycle

    What are the benefits of using the latest stable version?

    • The latest version is the most secure.
    • It's the fastest version and has the best performance. For example, PHP 7.4 is significantly faster than the previous versions, and with faster execution times and less memory usage, especially WordPress sites will benefit.
    • It's the most compatible with the latest versions of popular CMSs like WordPress.
    • You won't end up in the situation where you are forced to update, because the PHP version you are using is about to reach end-of-life. (a PHP version is generally supported for 3 years)
    • PHP updates are done automatically, and in most cases, you won't even notice it.


    Why do I need to update PHP?

    What is PHP?

    PHP is an open-source programming language that runs on a webserver. It is one of the most popular languages for web development; for example, all WordPress sites run on PHP.

    PHP is a server-side script, meaning that it is executed on the webserver, contrary to HTML, which is executed in the browser. By combining PHP with HTML, you can create dynamic websites, for example, sites built with WordPress, Joomla and Drupal.

    What is the lifecycle of PHP?

    All PHP versions have a lifecycle of about three years, after which they are no longer supported.

    After the initial release, a PHP version is actively supported for approximately two years. After that time, there will be 1-2 years of security support, meaning that there are only releases for critical security issues. During this phase, the next PHP version is already available.

    When a PHP version reaches end-of-life, it does not get updated anymore, so after that time it's no longer secure to use it. You can check the PHP website to see which versions are currently supported.

    How will my website be affected when PHP is updated?

    That depends on how you've built your website. If your site is created with HTML, like Website Builder, then the PHP update has no effect at all.

    If your site is created with PHP and the code is compatible with the new PHP version, your website will function the same or better. If you use a CMS like WordPress, you can probably notice some improvements in performance, provided you have updated WordPress to the latest version.

    If you use code that is outdated and not supported in the newer version of PHP, then your site will give errors and may stop working altogether. For example, if you haven't updated your CMS to the latest version, or if your website uses custom code, for which an update isn't readily available. In that case, you need to update the code to make it compatible.

    Notes
    Note: If you suspect that your site contains outdated code, it's very important that you take the time to update your site, before older PHP versions are removed from our servers. It's easier to fix things, if your site is still working, and you are able to switch between older PHP versions.

    What are the benefits of updating?

    • Better security
      The most obvious reason to update is security. Newer versions are better at countering hackers, for example, because deprecated (outdated) code is no longer supported.

    • Faster websites
      Newer PHP versions are faster. PHP 7.4 is significantly faster than the previous versions, and with faster execution times and less memory usage, especially WordPress sites will benefit.

    • New features and improvements
      As with all updates, a newer version includes new features and improvements on how to do things, for example, preloading.


    What can I do to prepare my website?

    Since a PHP update is unavoidable, it's a good idea to be a pro-active and make sure your site is ready.

    1. Make sure that you have updated your website to the latest version.
    2. Remove plugins, themes or old installations that you don't use.
    3. Change the PHP version from the control panel, at a time of your convenience, and check if everything is working.
    4. Fix any errors that occur. You can either do it yourself or find a developer who can help you.


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