Is PHP Really Dead?

“Every few years someone publishes another obituary for PHP. And every time, they’re wrong.” Despite the jokes, PHP powers a huge part of the web today. It still underpins giant sites and popular tools – so the claim “PHP is dead” is largely myth. In fact, recent data show PHP remains dominant: W3Techs finds about 73% of sites (with known server tech) run on PHP. And popular platforms like WordPress (built on PHP) alone power about 43% of all websites. In this article we’ll explain PHP’s place in 2025: the history behind the myth, its real strengths and weaknesses today, when PHP makes sense for projects, and how to get started or modernize your skills.

Quick facts (2023–2025): Modern data highlights PHP’s scale and staying power:

• W3Techs (Aug 2025): 73.6% of all websites use PHP.
• W3Techs (Aug 2025): 43.4% of websites run on WordPress (PHP).
• Stack Overflow Dev Survey (2024): 18.2% of developers reported using PHP.
• TIOBE Index (Aug 2025): PHP ranks #15 in popularity(down from #13 a year earlier).
• Industry buzz: Each year memes claim “PHP is dead,” but experts note PHP’s huge user base and ongoing improvements.

Why do people say “PHP is dead”?

PHP’s “death” rumors mostly come from hype and opinion, not reality. When JavaScript frameworks, Python, and other languages became trendy, some developers assumed PHP was obsolete. Old criticisms (inconsistent function names, past security issues, or clunky earlier versions) fuel these rumors. On social media and blogs, you’ll find jokes that “PHP dies every year” or claims it’s only for legacy code. But these are myths, often repeated without data. In truth, PHP has evolved (see below) and still drives many modern sites. The idea that PHP is inherently bad or unused today ignores the facts: it’s still widely deployed and actively developed.

How much of the web still runs on PHP today?

A lot. Surveys show PHP is by far the most common server language. As of mid-2025, W3Techs reports PHP is used on 73.6% of websites where the server-side language is known. That dwarfs alternatives like Ruby, ASP.NET, or Java in the web space. Some of the biggest sites use PHP: for example, Microsoft.com, Facebook.com, Wikipedia.org, WordPress.org, Vimeo, Mozilla.org, Forbes.com and more all use PHP. In other words, when you browse news sites, encyclopedias, social media and streaming platforms, you’re often hitting PHP servers in the background.

WordPress’s influence: Much of this PHP usage comes from content sites. WordPress (written in PHP) runs about 43% of all websites. That includes blogs, small business sites, magazines, and large portals. Every time someone builds a site or store on WordPress, PHP is involved. Beyond WordPress, other CMS (Drupal, Joomla) and e-commerce platforms (Magento, WooCommerce) are PHP-based too. Together, they keep a constant demand for PHP hosting and development. The takeaway: PHP isn’t a niche language – it powers critical parts of the internet (often quietly behind the scenes).

Why does PHP still matter for WordPress and websites?

Because PHP is WordPress. And WordPress is everywhere. Roughly 4 in 10 websites on the internet use WordPress– from personal blogs to big news outlets. Since WordPress is built with PHP, keeping it running, secure and fast means PHP work for years to come. Websites need updates, new themes, plugins, and security fixes, so there’s steady PHP work in the WordPress ecosystem.

PHP’s strength is its focus on web pages and content. It’s specifically designed to generate HTML quickly and easily. Many small businesses, agencies, and content-heavy sites pick PHP for this reason. It’s easy to get started (easy hosting, lots of tutorials), which is why it became the foundation for so many sites.

Example: The developer community still jokes that even Facebook’s original code was PHP (modernized into “Hack” now) and that Wikipedia (MediaWiki software) is PHP-based. Websites like The New York Times, Skype blog, and BBC’s America pages have used WordPress (PHP) or PHP frameworks for parts of their site. All this means an enormous installed base: companies and organizations continue relying on PHP systems every day. For decision-makers, that means expertise in PHP is still valuable if you run or build websites. When content and rapid delivery matter (blogs, e-commerce, informational sites), PHP is often the practical choice.

What modern features does PHP have now?

PHP 8.x, the current series, has brought many improvements. The language now has stronger typing (you can require function parameters to be strings or integers, for example) and even union types (accepting multiple types). It also added named arguments (you can call functions by naming parameters), attributes (metadata like annotations), match expressions (like a cleaner switch statement), arrow functions (fn($x)=>$x*$x) for concise callbacks, and built-in Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation for speed boosts in some cases. Modern PHP has asynchronous support via Fibers, better object-oriented syntax, and optimized performance. (For example, PHP 7.0 was 2–3× faster than PHP 5.6, and PHP 8 continued to improve on that.)

These changes mean “new” PHP looks and feels quite current. For instance, PHP 8 lets you write:

class Product {
    public function __construct(public string $name, public float $price) {}
}
$items = [
    new Product("Camera", 299.99),
    new Product("Tripod", 49.99)
];
$names = array_map(fn(Product $p): string => $p->name, $items);
echo implode(", ", $names);  // Outputs: Camera, Tripod

class Product {
    public function __construct(public string $name, public float $price) {}
}
$items = [
    new Product("Camera", 299.99),
    new Product("Tripod", 49.99)
];
$names = array_map(fn(Product $p): string => $p->name, $items);
echo implode(", ", $names);  // Outputs: Camera, Tripod

This code uses constructor property promotion (public string $name in __construct) and an arrow function (fn) – features PHP gained in recent versions. They make code shorter and safer. In short, PHP today has many of the features developers expect from a modern language. It’s no longer the same untyped script from 20 years ago.

Which PHP frameworks are popular – is Laravel still dominant?

Yes – Laravel is by far the most popular PHP framework today. It has an elegant, developer-friendly design and a huge ecosystem of tools (like its Eloquent ORM, Blade templating, and ready-made packages). In a recent survey, about 61% of PHP developers reported using Laravel regularly. It’s known for making web apps faster to build and more enjoyable to code.

Following Laravel, Symfony is also widely used, especially for large or enterprise projects. Symfony components power big applications (for example, Drupal and Magento use Symfony libraries). About 21% of surveyed PHP devs chose Symfony. CodeIgniter is another lightweight framework (preferred by ~11% of devs), known for simplicity in smaller projects. Other frameworks like Yii, CakePHP, and Laminas (formerly Zend Framework) have smaller but dedicated communities.

In short: Laravel dominates the trend, Symfony is the go-to in many large shops, and lighter frameworks fill other niches. For most new PHP projects, Laravel is a safe bet if you want a well-supported and modern framework. But knowing multiple frameworks can help you in different contexts (e.g. maintain an older app or fit an enterprise need).

What kinds of projects are best for PHP today?

PHP’s strengths lie in websites and web apps. If your project involves generating HTML/CSS pages, handling form submissions, or working with a database through a web interface, PHP is a natural fit. Common examples:

• Content-heavy sites: Blogs, news sites, publishing platforms (WordPress, Drupal) – PHP powers them all.
• E-commerce: Online stores (WooCommerce, Magento, OpenCart) often use PHP backends.
• APIs: PHP frameworks (Laravel, Lumen, Symfony) make it straightforward to build REST APIs for web and mobile apps.
• Internal tools and portals: Dashboards, booking systems, CRMs, or any form-driven app. PHP can handle these efficiently.
• Rapid prototypes or MVPs: Thanks to frameworks and CMS, you can spin up a prototype quickly on PHP.

For example, many startups use PHP to launch a minimum viable product fast, then iterate. Agencies often choose PHP when clients have limited budgets or tight deadlines, because there’s a mature ecosystem of themes, plugins, and developers ready.

Of course, PHP isn’t perfect for every case. It’s not the first choice if you’re building a real-time gaming backend or handling very high-concurrency microservices (languages like Node.js or Go shine there). But for almost anything involving dynamic web pages, form-handling, and standard server tasks, PHP competes just fine. The key is matching the tool to the project. If your next project is a content-driven site or an online store, PHP is likely on your shortlist.

Is the PHP job market still healthy?

Yes, there is still demand for PHP developers, though it varies by region and industry. Because so many websites and systems use PHP, companies constantly need developers to build new features, fix bugs, and maintain security. In markets like web agencies, media companies, and enterprises with legacy PHP apps, PHP skills are definitely needed.

Job sites still list plenty of PHP openings, especially for roles involving WordPress, Laravel, or other PHP stacks. In fact, one report notes that PHP developer salaries rose ~18% in 2024 due to a global shortage of developers. (This is in line with broader tech demand – more companies are willing to pay for experienced PHP talent.) Of course, salaries and openings depend on geography: in some areas, PHP roles may be more common and well-paid, while in others the market is saturated. But PHP experience remains a marketable skill.

For hiring, many firms value PHP specialists for web development. It’s wise to highlight modern PHP (8.x) and framework expertise on your resume. Learning both WordPress and a framework (like Laravel) can open more opportunities. PHP jobs exist in small startups, digital agencies, and large corporations. In short, while PHP isn’t the highest-paying tech specialty, it is far from extinct – the “demand” bullet in job descriptions may have “WordPress” or “Laravel” on it.

Common myths about PHP – are they true?

• Myth: PHP is only good for old websites or WordPress.
  Fact: While WordPress is PHP, PHP also powers modern web apps and APIs. For example, Laravel (PHP) is used to build new SaaS platforms, fintech dashboards, and services. High-profile sites (Facebook, Slack blog, some parts of Wikipedia) have used PHP at scale. PHP frameworks like Symfony and Laravel run enterprise systems, not just blogs.
• Myth: PHP is insecure and full of vulnerabilities.
  Fact: Any language can be insecure if coded badly. PHP has matured, with built-in protections (e.g. prepared statements for SQL, built-in password hashing, and a huge set of security libraries). Many PHP frameworks enforce security best practices by default. The main risks come from bad code, not the language itself. Large, security-critical sites (banks, governments) have PHP in their stack. Keeping PHP and its libraries up to date is key, just as with any tech.
• Myth: PHP is too slow for modern needs.
  Fact: PHP 7 and 8 dramatically improved performance. Real-world benchmarks show PHP 7–8 code can run as fast as Java or .NET in many cases. For typical web pages, PHP execution time is a tiny part of the total (network and database usually dominate). And PHP can be paired with bytecode caching (OPcache) and JIT for heavy tasks. Many high-traffic sites (like Facebook and Wikipedia) have learned to scale PHP by caching and efficient design. In short, PHP can handle high load when used properly.
• Myth: There are no PHP jobs – it’s dying.
  Fact: As noted, PHP still powers the majority of websites and a large share of web projects. Companies need developers to build and maintain that infrastructure. Skills in PHP (and especially popular frameworks) are still listed in job postings. The profession may be less “shiny” than hot new technologies, but the opportunities remain solid. Plus, many PHP developers can freelance (WordPress plugin work, site maintenance) thanks to the huge web presence.

Overall, the myths tend to mix some truth (PHP has issues) with exaggeration. In reality, PHP is alive and well, with a clear niche in web development.

How to get started or modernize PHP skills

If you’re new to PHP: Start with the official tutorial on php.net or free courses on sites like W3Schools or freeCodeCamp. Begin by learning basic syntax (variables, loops, functions) and how PHP generates HTML. Build a simple “contact form” or blog page to practice. From there, explore object-oriented PHP (classes and objects) and Composer (PHP’s package manager).

Once comfortable, pick a framework or tool to deepen your skills. Laravel is beginner-friendly: its official docs and Laracasts tutorials guide you in building a web app step-by-step. Alternatively, learn how to develop a WordPress theme or plugin if you prefer that ecosystem. Also practice with command-line PHP and databases (MySQL/PostgreSQL), since many jobs require it.

If you know old PHP: Brush up on the latest version. Read the migration guide to see what’s new in PHP 8. Start using strict types and modern features like declare(strict_types=1), union types, and arrow functions. Embrace tools: use Composer to manage libraries, PHPUnit for testing, and PSR coding standards. Try upgrading an old project to a newer PHP version, or rebuilding a small site using Laravel or Symfony to learn current best practices.

In all cases, practice by building real projects. Deploy simple apps on affordable PHP hosting (many providers support PHP out of the box). Join PHP communities (forums, Slack, Laracasts) to ask questions and learn industry tips. Over time, you’ll be comfortable with modern PHP development and aware of its ecosystem (debuggers, frameworks, libraries).

Who should use PHP?

• Content and publishing sites: If your project is blog, news, or content-heavy, PHP is ideal (WordPress, Drupal, etc.).
• E-commerce projects: Online stores (WooCommerce, Magento) are PHP-based, so PHP expertise helps.
• Rapid MVPs or prototypes: When you need to build fast with an established ecosystem. PHP frameworks offer quick scaffolding.
• Startups on a budget: PHP hosting is cheap and a large pool of developers are available. You can hire or find contractors easily for PHP.
• Legacy systems: Companies with existing PHP code (old applications, intranets, portals) need developers who know PHP to maintain them.
• Full-stack teams: If your team already uses PHP for some parts, keeping development in one language can be simpler.

If these scenarios match you (especially web/CMS/e-commerce), PHP is a smart choice. If instead you need real-time apps, data science, or highly concurrent services, you might consider other languages (see below).

What are PHP alternatives and when to use them?

No language is always “best” – it depends on the job. Use PHP when building traditional web backends, and consider these alternatives when project needs fall outside that scope.

FAQ – short answers to common reader questions

Q: Is PHP still used today?
A: Yes. PHP remains by far the most widely used server-side web language. Over 73% of websites (with known technology) run on PHP. And a large developer community (about 18% of surveyed devs) report using PHP. Its role in web hosting and content management keeps it very much in use.

Q: Which companies still use PHP?
A: Many major sites and companies do. For example, Microsoft.com, Facebook.com, Wikipedia.org, WordPress.org, Vimeo.com, Mozilla.org, Forbes.com and others all use PHP servers. WordPress (the company behind wordpress.com) and Automattic use PHP extensively. E-commerce platforms (like Magento/Adobe Commerce) and older web services (photo sharing, forums) often run on PHP. So both tech giants and small businesses rely on PHP.

Q: Should I learn PHP in 2025?
A: It depends on your goals. If you want to develop websites, blogs, or e-commerce sites (especially WordPress or Laravel projects), learning PHP is useful and will open job/freelance opportunities. It’s relatively easy for beginners and has many learning resources. If you plan to work in web agencies or maintain existing CMS sites, PHP is still relevant. However, if your focus is something like data science, mobile apps, or emerging tech, other languages might be more in demand. In general, PHP is a solid choice for traditional web development.

Q: What is the job market like for PHP developers?
A: Still active. Companies across the world hire PHP developers for web projects and maintenance. While it’s not the highest-paying specialty, PHP roles often exist for agencies, tech companies, and freelancing. In fact, one report notes a 18% salary increase for PHP developers in 2024, reflecting strong demand. Skills with modern PHP and popular frameworks (Laravel, Symfony) are especially sought after. Also, because PHP powers so many sites, there’s steady demand for developers who can update and secure them.

Q: Can PHP build APIs for mobile or frontend apps?
A: Yes. PHP (especially with frameworks) can easily serve JSON APIs for websites or mobile apps. Frameworks like Laravel and Lumen make API development straightforward (routing, authentication, JSON handling are built-in). Many startups use PHP backends to serve data to JavaScript frontends or mobile clients.

Q: Is PHP easy to host and deploy?
A: Very. Almost all web hosting providers support PHP out of the box, often just needing to upload files to run. You can deploy PHP apps on inexpensive shared hosting, or use cloud services (AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean). Many platforms offer 1-click installs for WordPress/Laravel. This ubiquity lowers the barrier to getting a PHP project live.

Q: What modern PHP tutorials or resources should I try?
A: For a quick start, check out the PHP Tutorial on php.net and the Laravel documentation. Free online courses (like freeCodeCamp’s PHP guide) and video series (Laracasts, YouTube) are excellent. For learning by doing, try building a simple Laravel app or a WordPress plugin as a project.

Conclusion: Should you choose PHP for your next project?

PHP is definitely not dead in 2025. With a vast installed base, modern language features, and a friendly ecosystem, it still makes sense for many web projects. If you’re building a content-rich site, blog, e-commerce store, or a web application where cost and speed-to-market matter, PHP and its frameworks (especially Laravel or WordPress) should be on your shortlist. It may not be the latest shiny language, but it’s proven and practical. Remember: legacy can be an asset. PHP’s battle-tested nature means reliability and a huge community for help.

Before deciding, consider your project’s needs, the existing team skillset, and the long-term maintenance plan. But don’t dismiss PHP based on outdated rumors. Its popularity among websites and improvements in recent versions mean it’s still a viable, even compelling choice for many developers and businesses.