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
What is PHP and why does it matter for the web?
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) je serverový programovací jazyk, který se používá k tvorbě dynamických webových stránek a aplikací. Vytvořil ho Rasmus Lerdorf v roce 1995 a od té doby se stal jedním z nejpoužívanějších programovacích jazyků na světě.
Pojem "server-side" znamená, že se kód PHP spouští na webovém serveru, a ne v prohlížeči uživatele (jako JavaScript). Server kód PHP zpracuje, vytvoří stránku HTML a pošle ji uživateli. Díky tomu je možný dynamický obsah: data z databáze, uživatelské účty, komentáře, e-shopy a mnoho dalšího.
PHP je obzvlášť důležité, protože pohání WordPress, nejpoužívanější CMS na světě. Každý web na WordPressu závisí na PHP, takže verze PHP na vašem hostingovém serveru přímo ovlivňuje rychlost, bezpečnost a funkčnost webu.
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 30denní záruka vrácení peněz.
Frequently asked questions about PHP
Odpovědi na nejčastější dotazy o našich službách.
Zavolejte nám: podpora funguje 24/7, telefonicky i přes tikety.
(+381) 60 3535 720What is PHP in simple terms?
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a programming language that runs on the server and is used to create dynamic web pages. When you visit a site built in PHP, the server executes the PHP code and sends you a finished HTML page. PHP powers over 77% of all sites on the internet, including WordPress, Facebook and Wikipedia.
Why is PHP important for WordPress?
WordPress is written entirely in PHP. Every theme, plugin and the WordPress core uses PHP code. That is why it is important that your hosting supports a current PHP version (8.2 or 8.3 recommended), because newer versions bring better performance and security for your WordPress site.
Which PHP version is best?
We recommend PHP 8.2 or PHP 8.3 because they offer the best performance, security and compatibility with modern applications. PHP 8.x is up to 3 times faster than PHP 7.4 for WordPress sites. BeoHosting lets you choose the PHP version directly from the cPanel.
Is PHP hard to learn?
PHP is one of the easiest programming languages for beginners. It has a simple syntax, enormous documentation (php.net) and a large community. If you use WordPress, you do not need to know PHP for basic operations, but a basic knowledge helps when customizing themes and plugins.
Which popular applications use PHP?
WordPress (43% of the internet), Facebook, Wikipedia, Slack, Etsy, Mailchimp and many others. PHP frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony and CodeIgniter are used to develop complex web applications and APIs. PHP is still one of the most sought-after languages in the job market.
Naše záruky pro váš klid
Chráněni ze všech stran
30denní záruka
V prvních 30 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.