Why is PHP still used in Web Development?

PHP is an open-source web development programming language that has been allowing web developers to build dynamic websites and databases for over 25 years now. According to the latest data, version 7 of the PHP framework is used by 71.4% of the websites on the internet.

One of the main reasons for its popularity is that it is extremely flexible and gives developers endless creativity and speed.

For developers across the globe, the PHP framework renders the ease of developing web applications which can include content management systems (CMS), online databases, gaming applications, eCommerce websites, etc.

Let’s learn more about PHP and what businesses should expect when they choose it for their web app development project.

The Current State of PHP

The initial version of PHP, also then known as Personal Home Page, was developed by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994. This version was quite simple and was written in C programming language. Rasmus mainly used this framework to track visits on their online resume.

Over time, as the need grew, Rasmus rewrote the framework for a much larger implementation. Now, this new model could be used to develop simple web applications. They made this new framework public so that developers can use it as per their needs and requirements. It was among the first server-side language that could be integrated with HTML.

So what makes PHP so special, and why is PHP used in web development?

Advantages of Choosing PHP for Web Development

1. Its Shift To Server-Side Scripting

Initially focussed on dynamic webpages, the language is now mainly used for server-side scripting. In SSR, data processing is done at the server end, and the browser renders CSS and HTML on the client side. As a result, users don’t have network latency issues. Your web app can smoothly run on slow networks or older devices, thus improving User Experience for diverse audiences.

2. Platform Independent

Because PHP uses server-side scripting, it solves the problem of browser and device incompatibility. It is platform-independent, which means it can be used on Mac OS, Windows, or Linux and works smoothly with most web browsers. All the major web servers are supported by PHP programming language. Thus, web development on the PHP framework is the most compatible option.

3. PHP is Fast

The use of a Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler has contributed to its enhanced speed to a great extent. It is because JIT is a methodology of writing codes that allows the developer to compile the codes while executing them, hence saving a lot of time and promoting performance improvements.

4. Secure

PHP frameworks offer extreme security to the websites created using PHP. The framework provides end-to-end encryption, which gives protection from cyber attacks. Thus, this framework, especially version 7, is the most secure framework option for web developers and digital product owners.Initial versions of PHP had questionable security frameworks. However, their protection patches, such as Suhosin and Hardening, have rendered a security net and have reduced the vulnerability of the web applications built on the PHP frameworks.

Therefore, it is often suggested to websites using version 5 or any other versions to quickly switch to PHP version 7 or 8, which are extremely secure from attack.

5. Open Source

PHP frameworks are open source frameworks which means they are available to download for free.

Availability of Talented PHP Developers

Since the introduction of the PHP framework, the majority of web app development happens on PHP. There is a large number of PHP developers and programmers who can cater their PHP expertise to software development projects and remove performance bottlenecks.PHP frameworks have been here for a long time now. Therefore, it has a large community of users and developers. This has also contributed to making this framework more stable and resourceful for upcoming web developers.

1995: PHP is dead, learn ColdFusion
2002: PHP is dead, learn ASP​.net
2003: PHP is dead, learn Django
2004: PHP is dead, learn Ruby on Rails
2010: PHP is dead, learn Flask
2011: PHP is dead, learn AngularJS
2016: PHP is dead, learn Next.js
2022: okay this is awkward

— Vic @ #AllThingsOpen (@VicVijayakumar) November 1, 2022

PHP and LAMP Stack

PHP is a component of a larger open-source software architecture called LAMP. LAMP stands for:

1. L-Linux
2. A-Apache
3. M-MySQL
4. P-PHP

In essence, the LAMP stack is a software bundle that is most commonly used by web development teams to build websites. This stack is compatible with other web frameworks such as Joomla, WordPress, and Drupal.

Examples of Prominent Websites and Applications Built with PHP.

1. Facebook
2. Wikipedia
3. Slack
4. WordPress
5. Moodle (Open-Source Learning Management System)

Frameworks Based on PHP

Since its inception, PHP has acted as the foundational framework for an array of websites, e-commerce platforms, and IT systems. Not only this, but PHP also helps in building CRM solutions, APIs, PDF files, XML, XLS, or CSV files.

1. Laravel

Laravel is an open-source PHP framework that enables the development of web applications. It is an extremely powerful tool that can be used to develop sturdy applications. It is considered to be one of the most simple yet fastest PHP frameworks.

2. Symfony

Symfony is used by industry giants such as Google Cloud Platform, Yahoo, and even Wikipedia. It offers clean syntax and enables the user to define their own control structures.

3. FuelPHP

It is also an open-source web development framework. It allows developers to divide the application development into modules that can be extended or rewritten hassle-free.

To read more about the PHP frameworks, read our blog: PHP development Frameworks: Popularity & Comparison.

Our PHP developers are convinced PHP will not be out of fashion anytime soon. Over the years, we have developed a multitude of web apps using PHP, and frameworks based on PHP (mainly Laravel). You can talk to our PHP experts, clear your doubts, and kickstart your project with us. Share your requirements with our PHP development company.