Why PHP still runs so much of the web

Is PHP still used? Yes. PHP is actively developed, with new versions released and supported on a published schedule, and it runs many websites and web applications, including platforms such as WordPress and frameworks such as Laravel. The doubts people hear about PHP often come from how the language looked many years ago. Modern PHP is a different language in practice, and for many business web projects it remains a sensible, practical choice.

PHP is a programming language designed for building websites and web applications. This guide explains where the doubt comes from, what has changed, and when another language may fit better. It is written for business owners and technical leads comparing options. If you are planning a custom web application, our custom software service page explains how we work.

Is PHP still used, and where does the doubt come from?

Much of the criticism of PHP is rooted in its past rather than its present.

1. Old code in the wild. Many ageing websites were written quickly, without frameworks or tests. People judge the language by the worst code they have seen.
2. Early design choices. Older versions were loose about types and inconsistent in places, which made mistakes easy.
3. Outdated tutorials. Old examples with poor security practices still circulate online.
4. Fashion. Newer languages attract attention, which can make an established one seem old-fashioned.

A common mistake and its fix

A common mistake is judging a technology choice by reputation instead of by the project's needs. The fix is to compare options against concrete criteria: the skills available to maintain the system, the hosting you want, the libraries you need, and the support timeline of the version you will run.

What changed in modern PHP

PHP has changed substantially in recent major versions. For example, the PHP 8.0 release introduced features such as named arguments, attributes, constructor property promotion, union types, the match expression, the nullsafe operator and a just-in-time compiler, along with stricter, more consistent type errors.

What these changes mean in plain terms:

1. Clearer code. Features such as named arguments and property promotion make code shorter and easier to read.
2. Fewer hidden mistakes. Stronger typing and more consistent errors catch problems earlier.
3. Better tooling. Static analysis and automated formatting tools can check code quality automatically.
4. A predictable support schedule. PHP publishes which versions receive active support and security fixes on its supported versions page, so businesses can plan upgrades.

Frameworks and tooling today

Very little serious PHP work is written from scratch. Frameworks and tools provide tested foundations.

A checklist of the modern PHP toolset

• Frameworks such as Laravel provide routing, database access, authentication, queues and testing support.
• Composer, PHP's dependency manager, installs and updates libraries and can audit them for known security advisories.
• Automated tests with tools such as Pest or PHPUnit check that features keep working.
• Code formatting and static analysis tools keep code consistent and catch errors before release.
• Content management systems such as WordPress, for sites that are mainly content.

A worked example

A modern PHP project for a customer portal typically works like this. The developer creates the project with a framework such as Laravel, and Composer installs and tracks every library it uses. Each new feature comes with automated tests. Before code is merged, a formatting tool tidies it and the tests run automatically. Before each release, composer audit checks the libraries for known security advisories. The result is code that another developer can pick up, test and update with confidence.

Our guide on what Laravel is and why businesses choose it explains the framework side in more detail.

If you are inheriting an existing PHP site, our guide on taking over a website from another developer explains what to collect and check first.

Hosting and hiring advantages

PHP's long history brings practical benefits for businesses.

1. Hosting is widely available. Many hosting providers support PHP, from simple shared plans to dedicated servers.
2. Deployment is well understood. The patterns for running PHP applications in production are mature and documented.
3. Developers are available. PHP has been used for a long time, so experienced developers can be found in many markets.
4. Existing systems can be extended. Many businesses already run PHP applications, and new features can be added without a rewrite.

Questions to ask when evaluating a PHP project

1. Which PHP version will it run on, and how long is that version supported?
2. Which framework is used, and which version?
3. Are there automated tests, and do they run before each release?
4. How will the application be upgraded as new versions are released?

If you already run an older PHP application, our guides on how to upgrade an old Laravel application safely and how to secure a Laravel application before launch cover the next steps.

If you are hiring for a Laravel project, our guide on how to hire a Laravel developer covers what to check.

Projects where another language fits better

PHP is a strong fit for web applications, but some projects are better served by other tools.

A worked example

A business wants a customer portal, an admin panel and a mobile app. A sensible split is to build the portal, admin and the app's API in a PHP framework such as Laravel, and the mobile app itself with mobile development tools. Each part uses the technology best suited to it, and they communicate through the API.

Summary

• PHP is actively developed and supported on a published schedule, and runs many websites and web applications.
• Many doubts come from old code and early design choices, not from modern PHP.
• Recent versions added clearer syntax, stronger typing and better tooling.
• Frameworks, Composer, automated tests and wide hosting support make PHP practical for business projects.
• Other tools may fit better for data science, native mobile apps or specialised real-time systems.

The best language is the one that fits your project and can be maintained well for years. If you're planning a web application and weighing up technology options, you can tell us about it here.