Is PHP dead in 2022?
Short answer: No, PHP is not a dead programming language.
Now here’s the full explanation.
If you are asking this question, you’re probably contemplating whether taking the PHP backend trajectory is a step in the right direction or whether it’s worth it in 2022?
Well, if you want to learn backend web development fast and quickly build something worthwhile in a matter of weeks, there is nothing wrong with learning PHP in 2022. In fact, it’s a good choice of backend development, especially if you’re just beginning your coding journey.
Now, this might not be the regular answer to this sort of question, especially when you look it up on the internet. To tell you the truth, PHP has received loads of backlash from several programming “gurus” and “communities”, and its popularity is gradually on the decline.
In fact a recent study done by StackOverflow shows Python as the most used programming language with 70% votes while PHP only peaked at 25%. But the irony still remains that over 78% of websites online are built with PHP, making a total of 244 million websites running on PHP.
This doesn’t come as a surprise because with the yearly influx of libraries like Angular and React as well as evolution and modification of most programming languages, newcomer programmers are easily attracted by the buzzing programming language of the moment. But PHP has been around since 1994, since when the internet became mainstream.
Why Should I Choose PHP?
Having established that PHP is not a dead programming language, let us also explore the reasons why you should consider using PHP for your web development.
1. It is simple and easy to learn
With its rich documentation and arrays upon arrays of blogs and tutorials on the subject, you can find virtually any solution to your PHP challenge. PHP is well documented, simple and easy to follow as a developer.
2. Open Source
PHP is open source, which means it is free to both use and distribute. Virtually anyone can download, develop, and create a website without paying a cent to use PHP. This has enhanced its accessibility and expanded its popularity.
3. Flexibility
Another good reason to choose PHP is because of its flexibility. PHP can be used to create any type of website. Plugins and modules for content management sites like WordPress can also be created using PHP since these sites rely heavily on PHP.
4. Database Support
You can easily connect database to your application using PHP.
PHP supports the use of databases including MySQL, PostGreSQL, Oracle, MongoDB, mariaDB, SYBASE, MaxDB, SQLIte, SQLite3, Paradox, Ingress, IBM-DB2, FrontBase, dBase, Informix, etc. Most of these databases are open source while others are proprietary.
5. Framework Support
With PHP’s framework a developer can create web applications easier and faster by providing libraries that handle common tasks and functions, which means there is less code to write. Some of these frameworks include CodeIgniter, Laravel, CakePHP, Symfony, etc.
6. Easy to Deploy
PHP can run virtually anywhere. PHP applications can run on old or new systems, Linux, OSX, and Windows, depending on what is available to the developer.
7. Security
Although PHP is often ridiculed for its security features because of sql injection attacks, but the problem is not really with the language. The problem is how the developer writes his/her code and whether they adhere to the security policies.
Just because you can execute a code with a command and get result doesn’t mean you should do it. You should consider your applications security by following good coding standards and procedures.
In fact, PHP is no less secure than any other programming language. A poorly written logic and architecture is the same in whatever programming language it is presented.
8. Stability and Performance
For over 25 years PHP has stood the test of time, against all odds and backlash and has powered some of the world’s popular platforms like Facebook and Wikipedia.
Indeed, PHP has seen recent developments in both stability and performance and is not going anywhere soon.
Conclusion
For more than 2 decades, PHP has been at the forefront of web development.
PHP is expected to still be around and will continue to see renewed improvements.
PHP is not a dead programming language.
Kene Samuel