Every website on the Internet operates in code. In the past, websites were solely supported with HTML-only, but that has changed to a combination of CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. This is only the case once the website has loaded. The server utilizes a different programming language, running behind the scenes, especially on Content Management Systems like WordPress—the programming language bearing the load in PHP.
Most items on a website’s front and back end run on PHP. In addition to existing on-page templates, PHP comprises the files for the WordPress dashboard. This is also true for installed plugins and themes. PHP is necessary for your website and the WordPress platform to exist.
Since PHP is the brain of WordPress, this article discusses how important it is that your website’s PHP version is up to date. This post exists to help you learn a little more about the language, why it is critical to operate the latest version, how to check PHP on your website, and how it can be upgraded safely.
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PHP Overview
Before advising you on how to do it, we can discuss PHP in more detail. As you know, it is a programming language used to operate websites. You may not know that the language is open source, so it is free to use. The “free” factor likely contributes to PHP being one of the most popular languages for website development. In addition to running WordPress, it also helps to run Facebook, Google, Digg, Yahoo! and various popular sites. However, it can be used for many other purposes.
Another important aspect of PHP is that the language is server-side, which means it operates on the machine in which the hard drive is installed. On the other hand, client-side languages, such as JavaScript, perform their functions in the visitor’s browser. This means that you must fix issues with site performance stemming from PHP. Your visitors could be operating on the fastest computer in the world, but if the server on which your site is operating has low resources, any fixes will not make a difference. This leads us to the next part of the article:
Why Update PHP?
Since PHP is critical to WordPress and other sites, it is also central to overall site performance. PHP is the middleman that pulls the data from your database, changes it to HTML and CSS so the browser can read it, and then delivers the final site to the visitor. If the middleman is sluggish, every other aspect of the website will also be slow.
Surprisingly, WordPress estimates that around 57% of its sites use outdated PHP versions. If these sites fail to upgrade to the latest PHP version from before 7, they are vulnerable to hacking events. Therefore, if such security vulnerabilities are uncovered, there will not be a patch to fix the issue; it will be left untouched. Furthermore, most themes, extensions, plugins, and WordPress will only work with supported versions of PHP.
If you are operating a high-traffic site, this could be catastrophic for business. Security will be compromised with no fix; the site will be slow and inefficient while being heavy load on the server, and a hacker could cripple the website if a vulnerability is uncovered.
Improvements
Updates equate to improvements. As a result, PHP is being updated regularly to improve functionality and efficiency. Over the years, the programming language has experienced many versions. To operate WordPress, your server must have PHP 5.2.4 at the minimum. However, the officially recommended version is PHP 7 or higher. This is because the newest versions bring the most recent improvements. As upgrades are provided, the language becomes more secure, leaner, faster, consumes fewer resources, and is better overall. Therefore, the jump from PHP 5.6 to PHP 7 was tremendous.
PHP 7 is the Best
As expected, PHP 7 is currently the best available upgrade to date. According to benchmarks, PHP 7 provides up to twice the speed of its predecessor to WordPress users. The result is a quicker website delivery from your server to the user with less work. Additionally, the newest version allows for more accessible coding to read and support.
Also, PHP 7 has significantly improved in handling errors. It can resolve script problems without terminating the entire process. This is excellent news for visitors who prefer to avoid dealing with error-ridden websites, which is everybody! Furthermore, PHP 7 has ramped up security by making applications built with it much more difficult to hack.
Older Versions
To add to the above, older versions of PHP are becoming extinct. Active support for version 5.6 ceased in early 2017, with security support stopping at the end of 2018. This raises the question: how do you know which PHP version runs your website? I have been waiting for all the articles for you to ask!
Checking your PHP Version on WordPress
If you wish to know your PHP version, there are several options for finding out, including:
Checking within the Hosting Management Panel
The first option is to check directly with your provider. At the back end of the hosting account, there is typically a menu named PHP Version Manager or PHP Settings that allows you to check the version running your site. This is also typically where you can upgrade to newer versions and edit the PHP.ini file, a critical file that allows you to change server functionality.
Utilize a WordPress Plugin
Hundreds of WordPress plugins are available for download, including one that informs you of your current PHP version. The most accessible plugin is the Display PHP Version, which requires installing and activating it. Then, you can see the PHP version under At a Glace within the WordPress dashboard.
If your server is running the latest version, you don’t need to do anything besides send a box of chocolates to your system admin. On the other hand, if you have never dealt with this type of issue, the PHP version needs to be updated. Luckily, you have us to show you how to do so safely! Before you start, your provider must offer you the option to switch, and if they don’t, it may be time to search for new hosting.
Safely Upgrading PHP
Like with any upgrade, there are risks that you must be aware of. The biggest is that the code on your WordPress site (within the themes, scripts, plugins, or core code) is incompatible with the new version. If this happens, some sections or all of your site could show faulty behavior, so checking compatibilities using the following method beforehand is critical.
So that you know, this process is how to upgrade a live site. The best idea is to create a copy of your site and review it on your computer, not in a live setting. This will allow you to reduce the risk of having a nasty surprise post-upgrade.
Step One: Back up Everything
The most significant upgrading problem is compatibility issues between older and newer code. The best solution is to upgrade all aspects of your site. The WordPress community advocates for utilizing the latest version of PHP, so most theme, plugin, and core developers will ensure their latest versions are compatible. Even if you are not upgrading your PHP, you should update your site for security reasons. To do so, please back up your site and click the upgrade button when possible.
Step Two: Utilize Plugins to Check for Compatibility
Even the most updated WordPress and extensions do not guarantee smooth sailing. Luckily, you aren’t left hoping for the best outcome. Therefore, you can test for incompatibility issues using a plugin. There are free plugins available that test for incompatibilities. The plugin checks all code on your site and reports any related issues.
Upgrade
Now, we are finally on to the actual upgrade stage. There are several methods, the easiest of which is switching through the admin dashboard. For instance, in cPanel, search for the PHP Version Manager menu, select your site’s location, choose the version you wish to change, and then hit Save. Every admin panel differs, so you must search for this option or contact support. In some cases, your hosting provider may have turned off this option.
Check and Double-Check
Once the site has been upgraded, the last action item is to navigate to your website and check each page for any issues. Test the plugins and theme features within WordPress. If you have taken these precautions, you will unlikely have an issue. Finally, congratulate yourself on a job well done!
SpiderSavvy Managed WordPress Hosting
Here at SpiderSavvy, we recognize that you are the experts in your field, and we are the experts here. Can you keep your website up to date? Sure, but is there something else that needs to be added to your plate? You can google and perform the steps yourself, or let us handle them. With our Managed WordPress Hosting plan, these updates are another thing off your plate and your mind. We keep your site up to date and provide your clients with a fast, smooth experience and you with the security you need to sleep soundly at night.
In Summary
PHP is the glue that holds together websites and Content Management Systems like WordPress. With it, you would have a beautiful and functional website. Therefore, installing the latest PHP version on your server is critical. This will ensure you profit from increased security and speed.
In this article, you have learned what PHP is and why upgrading to the latest version is essential. We discussed deciding which version you have and what preparation measures to take for upgrading. Also, you’ve learned how to implement the upgrade using your web hosting administration panel.
As you can see, upgrading to the latest version of PHP is simple. It may take a few hours to back everything up, but you will be grateful when there is an issue, and you have the backed-up version of your site.
If you have been able to follow this step-by-step process, congratulations! Your site is prepared for the future! If you aren’t interested in DIYing it, let us handle it with our Managed WordPress Hosting services.
