If you’re building a website in 2022, would PHP still be relevant?
The Internet is like the cosmos in that we don’t know where it will all stop. Numerous websites are created every day, and this trend does not seem to be slowing down any time soon. What’s more, have you ever wondered how these websites are put together?
It might be difficult to decide on a programming language. With so many alternatives accessible, you can feel like a child in a candy shop.
Despite this, programmers are used to focusing on a small number of programming languages at a time. Then be realistic; mastery of a single technology is preferable to learning various new technologies at a beginner’s level. It’s understandable if you’re thinking, “Why PHP?” or “Isn’t PHP outdated?” since these are popular questions among engineers. We’ll be able to answer that question for sure now that we’ve written this piece.
What Are the Main Advantages of PHP?
The most widely used programming language is PHP. W3Techs estimates that PHP powers 78.8 percent of all websites.
Interesting fact: PHP stands for Personal Home Page in the programming language’s initials. As a result, the term “Hypertext Preprocessor” (abbreviated PHP for short) has gained widespread recognition.
As a result, what are the primary advantages of developing websites using PHP?
Open Source
One of the things you should know about PHP is that it is completely free. Open source technology’s most important feature is the wide number of developers who contribute to it. Even though they use PHP every day, they are also constantly reviewing it, imagining improvements, and implementing them. Programmers can quickly pick up new skills and put them into practice as quickly as possible. In addition, unlike other programming languages, PHP has its support team. New frameworks, components, and other tools are created due to all of these reasons.
Scalability
If you’re creating a website or online application, you’re undoubtedly excited about how quickly it will expand. Scalability is critical since the website has to develop and accommodate more visitors. Adding new servers to a PHP-based website is a simple process. The more users, the more servers. Voila!
High Speed
Because PHP uses its memory, it consumes fewer resources and loads faster. Developers and their customers both profit from the increased processing speed since the product is supplied sooner. If you want to utilize your website for marketing and sales, don’t overlook the need for fast upload speeds.
Security
Some argue that since PHP is open-source, it is not as safe as it might be. In reality, every programming language is susceptible and vulnerable; it’s simply a question of how it’s utilized. The developer’s knowledge and habits determine the degree of security. For example, software testing may help keep data safe from unauthorized access. This is an important step in every project our team completes, by the way.
Cost-Efficient
As PHP is open-source, it doesn’t need the purchase of extra software. You don’t have to pay any additional fees or permits, and there are no limits. Using PHP is free of price because of the many integration possibilities, which lowers the total development cost.
Custom development
On the back end, PHP is the finest tool for constructing bespoke websites since it doesn’t have any restrictions on custom settings. As a result, PHP developers may construct a web platform that precisely suits the requirements of their customers. For example, the development team may create a functioning and visually appealing website using JavaScript.
Popular websites that use PHP
As we previously said, a vast percentage of websites on the Internet are developed using PHP. However, the really big platforms that have made use of this programming language may interest you. The following list should convince you:
- 40 percent of websites utilize WordPress, a free content management system (although we don’t recommend creating your site on WordPress if you can avoid it, and we explain why here);
- MediaWiki, the software that powers Wikipedia, is based on the PHP programming language.
- 12 million people use MailChimp, an email marketing service.
- There are 4 million vendors on Etsy and 81 million shoppers on Etsy.
- PHP powers the backbone of Slack, a messaging app with a daily user base of over 10 million people.
PHP Is Still Good!
PHP was seen as a simple and “light” solution in the past. Its simple installation and rapid development-to-release cycle have become a popular choice. Even novice programmers may finish your project in a short period. This is still one of PHP’s greatest assets even now. PHP 7.4 is a much more capable version than its predecessor. Therefore the quantity and diversity of options have grown significantly (update: PHP 8 was released at the end of 2020). What causes this, and how can it be prevented?
Some upgrades aren’t worth the effort since they merely make minor adjustments. The product may be completely redesigned by others, on the other hand. That’s what happened to PHP as new frameworks gave it more and more capability. A few of the most well-known ones include Symfony and Laravel, but there are many more. Yii2 is something we use and like. It is our favorite framework, and because we appreciate it so much, we propose that you use it.
Admin panels, CRMs, web sockets servers, profilers, payment connectors, and queue managers are just a few packages and products that come with frameworks. They contribute to developing a more efficient and user-friendly environment for PHP. In light of the fast advancements in the Web, such as more interactive features and more complex design, this is a must now. Using a library of your choosing and a framework that best matches the job at hand, you may go beyond content management systems like WordPress and accomplish pretty much anything.
It’s worth noting that performance (speed) has grown by two or three times when comparing PHP 5 to PHP 7/8. As a result, most counterarguments against PHP are now out of date. The PHP community takes criticism as constructive input extremely seriously and utilizes it to improve, which is a good sign.
Use of PHP in Website Development
The quality of several programming languages deteriorates over time. On the other hand, PHP has the opposite problem since its use is increasing. Annual upgrades provide the enhancements that are needed to meet these new issues. Today’s PHP backend development is more than simply a database add-on for your front-end work. PHP may be used to do many functions, including data collection, redirection, and connection with mobile devices.
It is safe to say that PHP has gotten more efficient and able to handle a wide range of jobs while being user-friendly and inexpensive. PHP is the best choice for business applications because of its easy syntax and fast onboarding.
Other than that, what more is there to say about PHP? However, it’s also a drawback because of its simplicity. Some university research systems, for example, do not use it for the construction of complex systems. In contrast, all commercial initiatives are identical, and they might be complex from a marketing perspective but simple to do from a programming one.
Some believe PHP is the most popular commercial programming language globally, based on this data. With the help of JavaScript, PHP can be utilized to bring any project to fruition without a hitch. It’s the programming language equivalent to English. It’s well-known, adaptable, and can be used for many different uses.
With PHP, development is quicker and easier.
What more can be said about PHP’s beauty? It takes less time to complete a project using PHP than it does to complete a project using another programming language. As a result of the shortened timeline, you may expect a quicker delivery date for your project. As a result, producing the MVP of your product using PHP will increase the likelihood that your product will still be current and topical when it reaches your target audience. When you pick PHP as your programming language of choice, the time it takes to get your product to market is significantly decreased.
As a result, it is far simpler to locate PHP programmers than any other programming language. As a result, you won’t be short on competent professionals, thanks to a larger talent pool due to its simplicity and ease of use compared to other software programming languages.
Using PHP for web development is cheaper than other backend technologies
For example, the hourly pay of a PHP developer is 15% lower than that of a Python or Ruby developer. Because of this, the developer may be found more easily and at a lower cost. Isn’t it fantastic?
PHP is compatible with various databases, including MSSQL, IBM, DB2, and Oracle OC18. It’s simpler to manage and reroute your data with more database possibilities. Thanks to increased speed, all embedded systems may operate more fluidly and quickly.
Will PHP Be Useful in 2022?
Some claim that they would not use PHP if they were to build their platforms today. However, such assertions do not retain moisture with us. In addition to its numerous helpful libraries and extensive documentation, PHP also has a large and active developer community. Some people may regard this phrase to be archaic, yet we think of it as a classic.
Conclusion
Simply put, the choice of the development language is a matter of weighing the advantages and disadvantages of several possibilities. In 2022, PHP may be used to develop every sort of website, from basic landing pages and simple WordPress websites, and ending with complex web platforms like that of Facebook.