Building a website in the ’90s was nothing less than solving a puzzle but with a missing piece. Then came PHP, a scripting tool that made the whole web development game more reliable and powerful. It’s been around for over 2 decades now powers nearly 80% of the web and can manage your personal blogs or large e-commerce platforms and stores.
This article explores the whole journey of PHP version history to see what has changed over the years till 2025 and why you should care.
Understanding PHP Version History
PHP stands out as one of the top open-source programming languages, empowering web developers to build engaging and dynamic websites. Its user-friendly structure has made it a favorite among developers. The PHP version history that spans from PHP 1.0 to PHP 8.x, it remains the most popular choice for web development.
Currently, PHP version 8.4 is the latest release, further solidifying its status as the leading language in the field. Notably, 75.9% of all websites with known server-side programming rely on PHP, showcasing its ongoing dominance in the online landscape.
Every PHP version history release branch receives full support for two years following its initial stable launch. Throughout this time, any reported bugs and security vulnerabilities are addressed and fixed in regular point releases.
Once the two-year active support period concludes, each branch continues to receive support for an additional two years, but only for critical security issues. During this phase, releases occur as necessary, which means there could be several point releases or none at all, depending on the volume of reported issues.
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| PHP Version | Key Features That Improved | Key Features that Improved |
| PHP 1.0 | June 8, 1995 | Initial release, basic functionality for busy web pages. |
| PHP 2.0 | November 1, 1997 | Added support for form handling and database integration. |
| PHP 3.0 | June 6, 1998 | Rewritten parser, and introduced object-oriented programming (OOP). |
| PHP 4.0 | May 22, 2000 | Introduced Zend Engine 1, session handling, and improved performance. |
| PHP 5.0 | July 13, 2004 | Zend Engine 2, improved OOP support, and SimpleXML extension. |
| PHP 5.3 | June 30, 2009 | Added namespaces, late static binding, and anonymous functions. |
| PHP 5.6 | August 28, 2014 | Introduced constant scalar expressions and argument unpacking. |
| PHP 7.0 | December 3, 2015 | Major performance boost, scalar type declarations, and return type hints. |
| PHP 7.4 | August 28, 2019 | PHP introduced typed properties, an underscore numeric separator, & many other minor changes. |
| PHP 8.0 | November 26, 2020 | Union Types, JIT, Constructor Property Promotion, Match Syntax, Named Parameters, |
| PHP 8.1 | November 25, 2021 | Enums, Fibers, never return type, Intersection Types, readonly properties, and more |
| PHP 8.2 | November 24, 2022 | readonly classes, DNF types, null, false, and true types, support for sensitive parameter redaction, and a new random extension. |
| PHP 8.3 | November 23, 2023 | typed class constants, detailed DateTime exceptions, support for fallback values in PHP INI environment variable syntax, and more. |
| PHP 8.4 | November 21, 2024 | Property hooks, support for asymmetric visibility in classes, PDO classes tailored for specific database drivers, lazy-loading objects, and HTML5 compatibility within the DOM extension. |
PHP Version History (The Early Days): PHP/FI and PHP 3
PHP’s version journey began in 1994 with its initial release, known as PHP/FI. It was developed by Rasmus Lerdorf to monitor the visitors on his website, serving as a basic tool at the outset. The full name stood for “Personal Home Page / Form Interpreter.”
In September of that year, Rasmus launched a new version known as FI (Forms Interpreter), momentarily dropping the PHP label while integrating fundamental PHP features. The FI syntax resembled Perl but was simpler and less consistent, necessitating the use of HTML comments for embedding code. In October 1995, Rasmus completed a full code overhaul, restoring the PHP name to “Personal Home Page Construction Kit” and introducing a more advanced scripting interface similar to C.
By April 1996, PHP/FI was introduced, transforming PHP into a programming language that included database support and user-defined functions. PHP/FI quickly gained traction, attracting several thousand users by 1997-1998, with around 60,000 domains using PHP as reported in a 1998 survey.
However, despite its expansion, PHP/FI encountered limitations due to its primary development by Rasmus, with only a few minor contributors.
At that time, PHP wasn’t a fully-fledged programming language, but it could create dynamic web pages, allowing content to change based on user interactions. In 1995, Lerdorf introduced PHP/FI 2, which included database support. This advancement paved the way for more complex websites, and this early version laid the groundwork for what PHP would eventually become.
Originally called Personal Home Page (PHP), PHP/FI was developed in C as a toolset for PERL/CGI scripting.
Key Features of PHP/FI
- Custom functions and cookie management.
- Integrated support for mSQL, DBM, and Postgres95 databases.
PHP/FI 2 (November 1997) brought enhancements such as form handling and the ability to embed HTML, enabling the use of HTML tags within PHP code.
PHP 4: The Era of Improved Performance ( May 2000)
In the winter of 1998, right after the launch of PHP 3.0, Andi Gutmans and Zeev Suraski kicked off a project to completely revamp PHP’s core. Their main goals were to boost the performance of complex applications and enhance the modularity of PHP’s code. While PHP 3.0 introduced a bunch of new features and supported various third-party databases and APIs, it wasn’t built to manage those complex applications efficiently.
They created a new engine called the ‘Zend Engine‘ (a blend of their names, Zeev and Andi), which hit the mark on those design goals and was rolled out in mid-1999.
- Implemented Superglobals
- Supported object overloading
- Enabled output buffering support
- Improved execution during runtime
- Created a web server abstraction layer
PHP VERSION 4.0, built on this engine and packed with a ton of new features, officially launched in May 2000, nearly two years after PHP 3.0. This version not only delivered significantly better performance but also brought in important features like support for more web servers, HTTP sessions, output buffering, improved security for user input, and several new language constructs.
PHP 5: Object-Oriented Revolution
Now PHP 5 was a big deal in the PHP version history, marking a major step forward for the language. Launched in July 2004, PHP operates on the Zend Engine 2.0, which includes a revamped object model and various improvements. The development team consists of numerous contributors to PHP and its associated projects, backed by an extensive network of web servers worldwide, resulting in its presence on millions of domains across six continents.
It rolled out the PDO extension for better database connections, revamped XML features, and upgraded the Zend Engine. After that, PHP 5.1 came along with custom autoloading support, over 400 bug fixes, and a performance boost. Then PHP 5.2 improved error messages, added new extensions like JSON and Zip, and updated the bundled SQLite.
PHP 5.3 brought in cool features like namespace support and late static binding, while also phasing out some older functions.
PHP 5.4 introduced traits, a shorter array syntax, and better error messages. PHP 5.5 added generators, a new password hashing API, and the ‘finally‘ keyword.
Lastly, PHP 5.6 included constant expressions, an interactive debugger, and better file upload features, while also deprecating some functions and settings.
PHP 7: A Giant Leap in Performance
In 2015, PHP 7 offered speed enhancements, allowing faster site loading for huge users. It introduced scalar type declarations for greater control and made error detection easier, making PHP an excellent choice for developers seeking fast, dependable websites.
The later versions of the PHP 7 series brought in some cool new features. We got the short list syntax in 7.1, object parameter and return type declarations in 7.2, a fresh flexible heredoc and nowdoc syntax in 7.3, typed properties in 7.4, and a new foreign function interface also in 7.4.
PHP 8: The Modern Web Language ( Nov 2020)
In 2020, PHP 8 introduced Just-In-Time compilation, enhancing website performance and introducing new tools for coding efficiency, ensuring the language remains relevant in the fast-paced web development world.
Named arguments, union types, attributes, match expressions, constructor property promotion, the nullsafe operator (?->), a new optimized JIT compiler, and changes to the type system, error handling, and consistency were among the several new features and optimizations it included.
PHP 8.1, PHP 8.2, and PHP 8.3
PHP 8.1:
- Launched on November 25, 2021, and set to end on December 31, 2025.
- Introduced new features and modifications, including enumerations.
- Allows developers to create backed enums, allowing for a defined set of possible values.
PHP 8.2:
- Released on December 8, 2022, and will end on December 31, 2026.
- Includes new features like readonly classes, a new random number generator, disjunctive normal form types, and Sensitive Parameter value redaction.
PHP 8.3:
- Introduced several changes to the language, primarily aimed at refining the language and aligning with PHP’s ongoing development.
- Notable features include typed class constants, support for dynamic class constant, and enum member fetching.
Choosing the Right PHP Version for Your Projects
Understanding the PHP version history helps us create cleaner, high-quality code, whether for simple apps like CMSs or complex enterprise applications. So you must keep these things in mind:
Selecting the Best PHP Version for Your Web Project
- Security Concerns: Using older PHP versions can expose your site to known security flaws that hackers might exploit. It’s essential to keep your software updated with the latest security enhancements.
- Compatibility with CMS and Other Applications: Many content management systems and plugins rely on PHP, and using outdated versions can cause compatibility problems. The latest version, PHP 8.0, offers nearly three times the speed of PHP 7.X.
- Enhanced Performance: Newer PHP versions generally provide better performance and optimizations, allowing your website to load more quickly and manage higher traffic volumes. For instance, PHP 8 introduces the JIT extension, which enhances speed and reduces memory usage.
- Access to Developer-Friendly Features: The latest PHP versions come equipped with advanced tools that make it easier for developers to create efficient websites and applications. This includes support for 64-bit architecture and improved error management.
Conclusion: What’s Next for PHP?
The wonderful aspect of PHP version history is that it reflects ongoing progress and adjustment to the ever-changing world of web development. Moreover, users should get ready to welcome exciting new features and enhancements in the most recent version.
PHP has seen a remarkable transformation from a basic tool to a powerful instrument in web development, but its future is still up in the air. PHP version history continues to be a dependable option for web development, whether you’re creating a personal blog or a comprehensive e-commerce site.
PHP continually improves security, performance, and revenue with each new version, while its community and development team work diligently to maintain its leading position in the web development arena.
FAQs
1. What distinguishes PHP 7 from PHP 8?
PHP 8 brings enhancements such as JIT compilation and union types, resulting in improved speed and a more contemporary approach compared to PHP 7.
2. How can I determine my current PHP version?
You can find out your PHP version by running the command php -v in your terminal or by looking at the PHP version details in your web hosting control panel.
3. What are the advantages of upgrading to the latest PHP version?
Upgrading allows you to take advantage of better performance, security updates, and new features that enhance the development process and increase efficiency.
4. What are the main versions of PHP?
The PHP version history are as follows: – PHP/FI (1994): The initial release. – PHP 3 (1998): The version that achieved global recognition. – PHP 4 (2000): Improved performance and features. – PHP 5 (2004): Brought object-oriented programming to the forefront. – PHP 7 (2015): Significant performance enhancements. – PHP 8 (2020): Added JIT compilation and various new functionalities.
