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
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What is PHP and why does it matter for the web?
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server-side programming language used to create dynamic web pages and applications. It was created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1995 and has since grown into one of the most widely used programming languages in the world.
The term "server-side" means that PHP code runs on the web server, not in the user's browser (like JavaScript). The server processes the PHP code, generates an HTML page and sends it to the user. This enables dynamic content — displaying data from a database, user accounts, comments, online stores and much more.
PHP is especially important because it powers WordPress — the most-used CMS in the world. Every WordPress site depends on PHP, which means the PHP version on your hosting server directly affects the speed, security and functionality of your site.
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.
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