It powers 77% of sites on the internet
What Is PHP? The Most Popular Server-Side Language for the Web
A complete guide to the PHP programming language — how it works on the server, versions, WordPress dependency, frameworks and why it matters for your site.
What is PHP?
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server-side programming language for the dynamic web. It runs on the server, generates HTML and sends it to the user. It powers 77% of all sites — WordPress, Facebook (in part), Wikipedia, Slack. Active versions: PHP 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 (fastest, JIT compilation). WordPress requires a minimum of 7.4 and recommends 8.1+. BeoHosting has a multi-PHP selector in the cPanel — you pick the version per domain.
- PHP = 77% of all sites
- Versions: 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5
- PHP 8+ has JIT for faster execution
- WordPress recommends PHP 8.1+
- BeoHosting: multi-PHP selector in cPanel
Tým BeoHosting
10+ let zkušeností — Specialisté na webhosting a infrastrukturu
- PHP
- PHP 8
- PHP-FPM
- OPcache
- Composer
- Laravel
- WordPress PHP
- php.ini
Naposledy aktualizováno:
What is PHP and why does it matter for the web?
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) je server-side programski jezik koji se koristi za kreiranje dinamičnih web stranica i aplikacija. Kreirao ga je Rasmus Lerdorf 1995. godine, i od tada je izrastao u jedan od najkorišćenijih programskih jezika na svetu.
Termin "server-side" znači da se PHP kod izvršava na web serveru, a ne u pretraživaču korisnika (kao JavaScript). Server obrađuje PHP kod, generiše HTML stranicu i šalje je korisniku. To omogućava dinamičan sadržaj - prikazivanje podataka iz baze, korisnički nalozi, komentari, online prodavnice i mnogo više.
PHP je posebno važan jer pokreće WordPress - najkorišćeniji CMS na svetu. Svaki WordPress sajt zavisi od PHP-a, što znači da verzija PHP-a na vašem hosting serveru direktno utiče na brzinu, sigurnost i funkcionalnost vašeg sajta.
How does PHP work?
PHP uses a client-server model where all the code runs on the server. Here is what the process from request to page looks like:
The user sends a request
When you type a URL into the browser, the request reaches the web server (Apache or LiteSpeed). The server recognizes that a PHP file is being requested and passes it to the PHP interpreter.
The PHP interpreter processes the code
The PHP interpreter reads the code, executes the logic (database queries, data processing, sessions) and generates HTML output. In PHP 8.x, the JIT compiler further speeds up this process.
Communicating with the database
Most PHP applications communicate with a MySQL/MariaDB database to read and store data. WordPress, for example, stores all posts, pages and settings in the database.
HTML response to the user
The server sends the generated HTML page back to the user's browser. The user sees the finished page — they never see the PHP code that ran in the background.
Key features of PHP
PHP offers a rich set of features that make it an ideal choice for web development.
Server-side execution
PHP code runs on the server, and only the finished HTML is sent to the user. This means users never see your PHP code, which increases the security of the application.
Databases
PHP works excellently with MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL and other databases. Most PHP applications (WordPress, Laravel) use a database to store content.
A huge ecosystem
Composer (the PHP package manager) has over 350,000 packages. Frameworks like Laravel and Symfony speed up development with ready-made components.
Cross-platform
PHP runs on all operating systems — Linux, Windows, macOS. Most hosting providers support PHP, which means your site can run anywhere.
PHP 8.x performance
PHP 8 with the JIT compiler brings a dramatic improvement in speed. WordPress on PHP 8.2 handles up to 3 times more requests per second than on PHP 7.4.
Security
Regular security updates, built-in functions for protection against SQL injection, XSS attacks and CSRF. An active community reacts quickly to vulnerabilities.
PHP versions and frameworks
Choosing the right PHP version and framework is crucial for the performance and security of your site.
PHP 8.5 (latest)
The latest stable version with property hooks, asymmetric visibility, new DOM HTML5 support and improved performance. Recommended for new projects.
PHP 8.2 (recommended)
A stable version with readonly classes, DNF types and improved performance. An ideal combination of stability and modern features.
Laravel (framework)
The most popular PHP framework for web applications. Elegant syntax, Eloquent ORM, the Blade template engine, a queue system. Used by BeoHosting for internal systems.
Symfony (framework)
An enterprise-grade PHP framework with reusable components. Many other frameworks (including Laravel) use Symfony components under the hood.
Related pages and guides
Připraveni spustit svůj web?
Připojte se k více než 4 000 spokojeným zákazníkům. Bezplatná migrace a 15denní záruka vrácení peněz.
Frequently asked questions about PHP
Odpovědi na nejčastější dotazy o našich službách.
Naše záruky pro váš klid
Chráněni ze všech stran
15denní záruka
V prvních 15 dnech vracíme peníze bez otázek.
Bezplatná migrace
Váš web přemigrujeme bez výpadku — vy neuděláte nic.
Podpora 24/7
Naši odborníci jsou tu 24/7 prostřednictvím ticketů a live chatu.