Content management systems such as WordPress, Joomla!, TYPO3 or Drupal are programmed in PHP. The open source scripting language is used for the server-side delivery of dynamic web content stored in databases, while other scripting and markup languages such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript run in the web browser (client).
The PHP 7.3 version was released in December 2018. On 06 December 2021, PHP 7.3 also reached the official End of Life (EOL) and will no longer be provided with security updates. Switching to successor versions in your hosting environment is strongly recommended after each end of support if you want to protect yourself against hackers, fix bugs and optimise the loading time of your website or shop. If you want to plan far ahead, you can now also use the EOL of PHP 7.3 for a major update to PHP 8.0.x or PHP 8.1.x. The 8.0 version was released on 26 November 2020 and offers significant improvements compared to the latest PHP 7.4.x version. PHP 8.1.x offers further improvements in terms of security and performance, PHP 8.1.0 was released on 25 November 2021.
.Statistics on PHP distribution show that outdated PHP source code has often not yet been updated. Many website operators shy away from the migration effort and anticipate technical problems when switching over. A lack of time is another reason why many of my potential customers put off overdue updates or major upgrades for a long time. However, if you have lost touch with the latest standards, the effort required for updates can increase significantly. Ultimately, the greater the leap between PHP versions, the greater the expected effort required for customisation. Additional effort is also to be expected when switching to a new major release, e.g. from version 7.4.x to version 8.0.x or PHP 8.1.x.
Those who do not keep up with the latest web standards must bear the consequences. This can lead to an increase in technical problems, as the website no longer meets the latest standards. The performance of the website suffers, making it stand out in comparison to competitor websites with longer loading times. This can ultimately lead to a drop in visitor numbers.
Outdated PHP code has a particularly fatal impact on the security of websites or online shops. Hackers exploit security vulnerabilities that have not been closed. These points of attack become more frequent if you wait a long time to update PHP. It is now assumed that bugs and security gaps in PHP versions up to 7.3.8 can be used to install malware, change or even delete data.In view of the end-of-life of PHP 7.3.33, a switch to a more up-to-date PHP version is strongly recommended. PHP 7.4, for example, works without compatibility problems with frequently used content management systems such as Joomla!, Drupal or WordPress. In addition to PHP 7.4, PHP 8.0.x and PHP 8.1.x have also been available as major updates for some time now.
