There are few languages that have stood the test of time like PHP. First introduced in 1994, PHP has been powering websites for nearly three decades. While many new and powerful languages have emerged since then, PHP remains an essential tool in the web developer’s arsenal. In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why PHP is still relevant in 2023 and why hiring PHP developers is a wise investment for your business.
- PHP powers a significant portion of the web
PHP continues to be one of the most widely used server-side scripting languages. According to W3Techs, as of March 2023, PHP is used by over 78% of all websites with a known server-side programming language. This means that a significant portion of the web still relies on PHP, and hiring PHP developers is essential to maintain and develop these websites.
- The popularity of WordPress
One of the key factors behind PHP’s continued relevance is the popularity of WordPress. WordPress, which is built on PHP, is the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world, with a market share of over 60%. WordPress powers millions of websites, from small blogs to large e-commerce sites, and is continuously updated and improved. As a result, there is a constant demand for PHP developers who are skilled in developing and maintaining WordPress websites.
- PHP 8: Performance and modern features
PHP has come a long way since its inception. The release of PHP 8 in 2020 introduced significant improvements in performance, thanks to the Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler. PHP 8 also brought a range of modern features, such as attributes, named arguments, and the nullsafe operator, which make PHP more robust and efficient for web development. These improvements ensure that PHP remains competitive with newer languages and continues to be an attractive choice for developers and businesses alike.
- A large, active community
PHP has a large and active community of developers, which means that there is a wealth of resources, libraries, and frameworks available. The PHP community regularly contributes to the development of the language, which has led to many improvements and enhancements over the years. This active community also makes it easier for businesses to find experienced PHP developers, ensuring that your projects are in capable hands.
- Cost-effective development
PHP is an open-source language, which means that there are no licensing fees associated with its use. This makes PHP a cost-effective choice for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises that need to manage their budgets carefully. Additionally, because PHP has been around for so long and has a large developer community, it is often easier to find and hire experienced PHP developers at competitive rates.
While new programming languages and frameworks are constantly being introduced, PHP remains a reliable and relevant choice for web development in 2023. Its widespread use, particularly in the realm of WordPress, guarantees that there will be an ongoing demand for PHP developers. With the performance enhancements introduced in PHP 8, a large and active community, and cost-effective development options, PHP is a smart choice for businesses looking to invest in web development. Hiring PHP developers is a strategic move that will ensure your business remains competitive and well-supported in the digital world too.
As a PHP developer myself from PHP 4, I strongly believe it has a place in the world: it’s one of the most adaptive languages to have been created while still trying to be restrictive and, I think, it strikes that balance well.