Welcome to the ultimate PHP Version Guide by PHPOnline.in – your complete source to understand the evolution of PHP from version 1.0 to 8.3+. This guide walks you through every major PHP version, outlining new features, performance improvements, deprecated functions, and upgrade tips.
Whether you’re a beginner trying to understand version compatibility or a seasoned developer preparing to upgrade production apps — this PHP version timeline has everything you need.
What is a PHP Version?
A PHP version refers to a specific release of the PHP language that includes new features, bug fixes, performance improvements, and security patches. PHP follows a semantic versioning model:
- Major version (e.g., 7, 8): Breaking changes
- Minor version (e.g., 8.1, 8.2): New features
- Patch version (e.g., 8.2.5): Bug fixes and small updates
PHP Release Cycle Explained
PHP releases are planned and predictable:
- Major release: Every 2–3 years
- Active support: 2 years from release
- Security fixes only: For 1 additional year
- End of life (EOL): No updates after 3 years
🔗 Learn more: Introduction to PHP
PHP Version Comparison Table
| Version | Release Date | Major Features | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHP 5.6 | Aug 2014 | Final 5.x, generators | EOL (2018) |
| PHP 7.0 | Dec 2015 | Performance boost | EOL (2019) |
| PHP 7.4 | Nov 2019 | Typed properties, arrow functions | EOL (2022) |
| PHP 8.0 | Nov 2020 | JIT, union types | EOL (2023) |
| PHP 8.1 | Nov 2021 | Enums, readonly properties | Security fixes |
| PHP 8.2 | Dec 2022 | Disjunctive normal form types | Active support |
| PHP 8.3 | Nov 2023 | json_validate(), class constants in traits | Active support |
PHP 1.0 – The Beginning (1995)
- Released by Rasmus Lerdorf
- Called Personal Home Page Tools
- Used for form processing and simple tasks
- Not a full programming language yet
PHP 3.0 – The Birth of PHP (1998)
- Designed by Zeev Suraski and Andi Gutmans
- Renamed to PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor
- Introduced support for MySQL, ODBC, PostgreSQL
- Modular design
- Became open-source
PHP 4.x – Core Improvements (2000–2007)
- Introduced Zend Engine
- Improved performance
- Basic object-oriented features
- Superglobals like
$_GET,$_POST,$_SESSIONintroduced - Support for output buffering, sessions, and more
PHP 5.x – The Real OOP PHP (2004–2018)
Key Features:
- Full OOP support (classes, interfaces, inheritance)
- PDO (PHP Data Objects) for database access
- Exceptions and try-catch
- Magic methods like
__construct,__toString() - Support for XML, SOAP, and reflection
Notable Versions:
- PHP 5.3 – Namespaces, closures
- PHP 5.4 – Traits, short array syntax
- PHP 5.6 – Constant scalar expressions, argument unpacking
PHP 7.x – Performance Revolution (2015–2022)
PHP 7 was a massive leap from PHP 5 in terms of:
- 2x performance boost
- Lower memory usage
- Scalar type declarations
- Return type declarations
- Null coalescing operator (??)
- Spaceship operator (<=>)
- Anonymous classes
PHP 7.4 (last 7.x version)
- Arrow functions
- Typed properties
- Spread operator in arrays
- Preloading
🔗 Related: PHP Functions Guide
PHP 8.x – The Future of PHP (2020+)
🔧 PHP 8.0 Features
- JIT (Just-In-Time Compilation)
- Union types
- Named arguments
- Nullsafe operator (
?->) - Attributes (Annotations)
- Match expressions
🧠 PHP 8.1 Features
- Enums
- Readonly properties
- Intersection types
- Fibers (for async)
- Array unpacking with string keys
🛡 PHP 8.2 Features
- Disjunctive normal form types
- Readonly classes
- New
truetype - Deprecated dynamic properties
⚙️ PHP 8.3 Features (Nov 2023)
json_validate()function- Typed class constants
- Class constant visibility
- Dynamic class constant fetch
- Improved
Date/Timehandling
🔗 Learn more: PHP Latest Version Features
Deprecated & Removed Features
Each PHP version removes outdated functionality:
- PHP 7 removed
mysql_*functions - PHP 8.0 removed
create_function() - PHP 8.2 deprecated dynamic object properties
ereg,magic_quotes, andregister_globalswere all removed
Always check migration guides.
PHP Security Updates
PHP frequently addresses security issues like:
- Remote code execution
- Input validation flaws
- Memory leaks
- Type juggling vulnerabilities
💡 Always use the latest stable version for production environments.
PHP Version Compatibility Issues
Common issues when upgrading:
- Deprecated functions
- Breaking syntax changes
- Third-party library incompatibilities
- Framework version mismatch
✅ Use tools like PHPCompatibility or PHPStan before upgrading.
How to Check Your PHP Version
Using Command Line:
bashCopyEditphp -v
Using PHP Code:
phpCopyEdit<?php
echo phpversion();
?>
On WordPress:
Check under Tools > Site Health > Info
How to Upgrade PHP Version
Steps:
- Backup your files and database
- Check compatibility
- Update your server’s PHP version via control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.)
- Restart your web server
- Test your application
🔗 Guide: Upgrade PHP Safely
Choosing the Right PHP Version
- For new projects: Use the latest stable version (currently 8.3+)
- For WordPress or Laravel apps: Check framework compatibility
- Avoid using EOL versions like PHP 5.x and PHP 7.0–7.3
PHP Version Adoption Statistics (2025)
According to W3Techs:
- PHP 8.1: 34%
- PHP 8.2: 28%
- PHP 7.4: 20%
- PHP 5.6: 5%
- Others: 13%
🔗 See also: PHP in Web Development
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the latest PHP version in 2025?
The latest stable version is PHP 8.3, released in November 2023.
Q2. Is PHP 7.4 still supported?
No. PHP 7.4 reached end-of-life (EOL) in Nov 2022.
Q3. What is JIT in PHP 8?
JIT (Just-In-Time) compilation improves PHP performance by compiling code during runtime.
Q4. Can I upgrade from PHP 5.6 to PHP 8.3 directly?
It is not recommended. Instead, upgrade step-by-step and test at each stage (e.g., 5.6 → 7.4 → 8.1 → 8.3).
Q5. How long is each PHP version supported?
Generally, 2 years for active support and 1 year for security fixes.
Resource Links
- 👉 Introduction to PHP
- 👉 Learn PHP Syntax
- 👉 PHP Functions Guide
- 👉 How to Upgrade PHP
- 👉 PHP and MySQL Integration