Is PHP Dead? The Truth About Learning PHP in 2025

Introduction 

In the tech world, there’s always some debate on the latest technologies and programming languages and whether they’ll stick around. It feels like there’s a new “favorite language” or “flavor of the month” every other year, influencing developers’ choices along the way. Take PHP, for instance. While many consider it a good programming language, others find it challenging to justify its relevance for big tech and unicorn startups.  This is because despite powering 75% of websites, PHP isn’t commonly chosen for tackling modern software engineering challenges. This leaves many developers wondering: is PHP still relevant, or has it fallen behind newer languages?

If you’re considering the future of PHP in 2025 and beyond, you’re in the right place. In this write-up, we’ll go over PHP’s current state, its future potential, and whether learning it is still a worthwhile investment. Let’s break it down into details and find out if the future of PHP is worth exploring.

The State of PHP in the Web Development Industry

Over the last decade, here is what PHP’s market share has looked like:

Source 

A good portion of PHP’s popularity comes from its integration with leading CMS platforms like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. This close association between PHP and these platforms highlights how much PHP’s legacy contributes to the success of these platforms and vice versa is true too.

Today, approximately 18.2% of developers choose PHP as their main scripting language. Within the PHP ecosystem, CodeIgniter leads as the most widely used framework, followed closely by WordPress and Laravel.

PHP has had stable updates, bringing substantial improvements, but the recent 8.x versions have been especially transformative. They introduced significant features that have bridged performance gaps, aligning PHP with modern web development standards. With enhanced execution speed, streamlined syntax, and advanced debugging tools, PHP 8.x updates have helped move PHP beyond its “legacy” image, making it a more competitive and contemporary choice.

The following image illustrates the distribution of websites across different PHP versions:

Source: W3Techs

What is Keeping PHP Alive? 

Despite being an age-old programming language, PHP has still retained its heritage. Here are a few reasons why:

Legacy Backing

PHP has been used to build several large-scale platforms like Facebook, Wikipedia, and Slack. Even though these platforms have migrated to newer tech stacks, PHP still remains a part of many of their crucial applications. Consider Facebook, for example. Facebook initially developed the HHVM (HipHop Virtual Machine) compiler for core PHP syntax. Even after transitioning to Hack, a successor programming language, the very creation of HHVM highlights PHP's potential in powering complex, high-traffic platforms.  

Regular Updates

PHP boasts of an active developer community that contributes to regular updates. Additionally, it has had a steady development timeline, with just seven major versions over the past 30 years. The most recent updates, particularly those that came with PHP 8.x, introduced significant performance improvements with the JIT (just-in-time) compiler, bringing PHP closer to “faster” languages. 

CMS Dominance 

PHP probably has the strongest hold in the CMS segment. Leading platforms (WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal) have been developed primarily using PHP, and these platforms power more than half of the websites on the internet. WordPress alone powers 43% of the web. 

Lack of Similar Alternatives

Many alternative programming languages, particularly Python and JavaScript, have been considered potent alternatives to PHP. However, each comes with its shortcomings in back-end web development. Python is a competitive choice but often lags in terms of speed and performance. Similarly, with JavaScript-based server-side programming, customizations may take a back seat. We’ll go over detailed comparisons in the next section. 

Long-Term Support

Many PHP-based web development frameworks, such as Symfony, offer long-term support versions with extended maintenance. This stability means you won’t have to constantly overhaul or rewrite the entire codebase with every new update, making PHP the go-to choice if you need reliable software support. 

Extensive Talent Pool and Strong Community Support

With over 25 years of development, PHP has gathered a large and skilled community of developers, making it easier for businesses to find PHP experts with niche expertise. Additionally, PHP developers are known to contribute actively on platforms like Stack Overflow, GitHub, and PHP.net, ensuring the availability of a wealth of resources for complex problem-solving and fostering a collaborative development environment.

PHP vs. Python, Node.js, and More: Which Fits your Project?

This section will give you insights into how PHP performs compared to other popular programming languages. 

PHP vs. JavaScript

• Similarities: Both PHP and JavaScript are widely used in web development and often complement each other. PHP is mostly used to handle the back-end, while JavaScript is majorly known for its ability to create interactive front-end UIs. 
• Key Differences: JavaScript can also be used for full-stack development (with Node.js) across the front and back end. Conversely, PHP remains largely back-end-focused and excels in content management applications based on CMS WordPress. PHP is also considered more secure, being a server-side scripting language. 

Choose PHP in 2025 if you’re building CMS-based websites or need a reliable back-end solution. Opt for JavaScript if you want consistency across full-stack development, especially for dynamic, interactive web applications.

Below is a representation of the portion of websites using both languages as their primary server-side scripting language. As you can see, PHP clearly outshines in the back-end. 

Source: W3Techs

PHP vs. Node.js

• Similarities: Both PHP and Node.js are powerful contenders for server-side development. Each programming language has active and strong community support, with access to extensive libraries like Composer for PHP and npm for Node.js. This means you can find abundant resources and many pre-built, readily available web solutions.

• Differences: The major difference is their language foundations—PHP is a server-side scripting language. At the same time, Node.js extends JavaScript’s functionality to handle the back-end while creating a unified “JavaScript everywhere” environment. Node.js also performs well in handling multiple simultaneous requests with its asynchronous, event-driven model, which is perfect for real-time apps. In contrast, PHP is often used for synchronous tasks, making it less efficient for highly concurrency tasks. However, PHP is widely compatible with shared hosting environments, simplifying simultaneous deployment.

Node.js is ideal for real-time applications where non-blocking, high-concurrency performance is essential.

PHP vs. Ruby

• Similarities: Both PHP and Ruby are object-oriented programming languages used for building dynamic web applications. They are well-integrated with widely used development frameworks like Laravel (for PHP) and Rails (for Ruby). Additionally, they have a notable collection of packages (libraries), are easy to learn, and are available freely, making them a preferred choice. 
• Key Differences: PHP’s syntax is more straightforward and can be easily embedded with traditional HTML. However, this can sometimes lead to less organized code structures. On the other hand, Ruby’s syntax is known for being clean and readable, resulting in fewer lines of code than PHP. Additionally, Ruby offers more flexibility, though it can be slower in performance compared to PHP. However, the introduction of the Just-in-Time (JIT) compiler in Ruby 3.0 has significantly helped developers work around this performance gap. 

PHP is well-suited for simpler web applications and CMS platforms, while Ruby is a great choice for developers seeking readability and flexibility, especially for company applications using Rails.

Here is a general representation of top websites using PHP and Ruby for server-side rendering. 

Source: W3Techs

PHP vs. Python

• Similarities: Both PHP and Python are high-level programming languages with extensive library and community support. Being open-source and having a beginner-friendly syntax, they are widely used by beginners and experienced developers alike. 
• Key Differences: PHP was primarily designed with web development in mind, so it’s particularly well-suited for building and running websites securely and quickly, often outperforming Python even in standard server-side tasks. However, for data-heavy applications, Python has also emerged as a go-to programming language. Python stands out, especially in fields like data science, AI, and ML. 

Go for PHP in 2025 for relatively traditional web development projects. Python is the better choice for data-intensive applications, especially in AI and scientific fields.

Here is a general representation of top websites using PHP and Python for server-side rendering. 

Source: W3Techs

PHP vs. Go

Similarities: Like PHP, Go is also prominently used for server-side scripting. It was built with efficiency and speed as primary goals, especially in handling concurrent tasks.

Differences: Go, designed by Google, offers built-in concurrency mechanisms, making it ideal for applications needing high parallel processing, like cloud services. On the other hand, PHP (lacking native concurrency) is less suited for such tasks. While PHP boasts a vast ecosystem of frameworks and CMS options (like Laravel and WordPress), Go is leaner, with a smaller, specialized toolset that’s growing in areas like microservices and cloud-native backend systems.

Go is a strong choice for performance-critical applications, especially those requiring concurrent processing. 

There’s little to no data comparing for top websites using Go (and not PHP) for server-side scripting. 

Should you Invest in Learning PHP in 2025?

It is clear that PHP remains a vital programming language, especially when it comes to secure server-side scripting. However, the ultimate choice may depend on a few factors, such as the learning curve, job market, etc. Here’s a look at some factors that can help you decide if PHP could still be a smart investment in the coming years.

Learning Curve

PHP has a low learning curve, making it a great entry point for aspiring web developers. Its simple and readable syntax allows beginners to work around foundational web development concepts quickly. Moreover, the legacy of PHP has led to extensive documentation, tutorials, and community support, making it easy to find resources that can help your growth.

Job Market

The job market for PHP developers varies by region. In countries like the U.S. and the U.K., demand for core PHP roles has slowed. However, PHP skills paired with popular frameworks like Laravel and Symfony remain valuable. On the other hand, regions such as the Asia-Pacific, particularly India, have seen a steady demand for PHP developers (driven by outsourcing of PHP development services and the affordability of hiring PHP developers). 

Career Prospects

Starting your web career with PHP can be a solid foundation, especially if you’re interested in working with CMS platforms like WordPress or eCommerce solutions like Magento and WooCommerce. Moreover, if coupled with mastery in development frameworks like Laravel and Symfony, it can lead to more advanced roles in cloud-based applications, microservices, and AI-integrated web development.

Many developers continue to work in PHP while expanding into specialized roles, such as:

• Full-Stack Developer: Leveraging PHP alongside front-end technologies like JavaScript.
• DevOps Engineer: Utilizing PHP with Docker and CI/CD for efficient deployment.
• API Developer: Creating and maintaining secure, scalable APIs for web and mobile.
• Technical Consultant: Advising on CMS implementations or platform migrations.

So, is PHP still relevant? A big YES.

The Future of PHP in 2025

The outlook for PHP in 2025 is a mix of legacy and adaptation, but overall, it remains a strong choice. As the backbone of popular platforms like WordPress and Joomla, PHP has secured its place in web development, and for beginners, it’s still a valuable language to learn.

That said, evolving tech trends and shifting job demands mean PHP alone may not be sufficient for a long-term career. In regions like India and the Asia-Pacific, PHP jobs are in high demand, largely due to outsourcing from global companies seeking cost-effective development. However, in areas like the U.S. and the U.K., the market for core PHP roles has slowed, prompting many developers to diversify their skills with additional languages like Node.js, Python, or cloud technologies.

In short, the future of PHP in 2025 (or even beyond) is bright, especially when combined with modern frameworks and complementary tools. By broadening your skill set, you can build a stable and rewarding career.

Author Bio: Nathan Smith is a Technical Writer at TechnoScore with extensive knowledge in software documentation, API guides, and user experience. Mastering HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and tools like JIRA and Confluence, Nathan's expertise covers Application Development, Software Engineering, AI/ML, QA Testing, Cloud Management, DevOps, and Staff Augmentation (Hire mobile app developers, hire WordPress developers, and hire full stack developers etc.).