Why PHP Still Matters in 2024: A Look at Its Continued Relevance

by Girish Tiwari

At its peak in the early 2010s, PHP powered the majority of websites globally, including major platforms like Facebook and Wikipedia. This dominance established PHP as the backbone of web development, cementing its role in building dynamic, server-side applications.

WordPress itself is built on PHP and powers over 43% of all websites*, solidifying PHP’s continued relevance. Modern frameworks like Laravel and Symfony drive ongoing innovation, allowing PHP to evolve and maintain its status as a reliable and efficient programming language.

Why PHP?

Proven Track Record
- Powers over 75% of websites**, including Wikipedia.
- Rich developer community with over 100,000 contributors on GitHub.
- Extensive resources and libraries to accelerate development.
Modern Frameworks and Compatibility
- Frameworks like Laravel and Symfony support modern practices (MVC, RESTful APIs).
- Magento—a powerful PHP-based e-commerce platform—offers customizable shopping experiences, payment solutions, and inventory management.
- PHP’s versatility powers various web applications efficiently, from basic sites to complex e-commerce solutions.
Flexibility and Integration
- Compatible with databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB.
- Works seamlessly on multiple platforms: Linux, Windows, and macOS.
- Supports modern architectures: cloud services, microservices, and serverless environments.
Cost-Effectiveness
- Open-source and free, reducing development and hosting costs.
- Compatible with many affordable hosting environments.
Security Enhancements
- Built-in security features like password_hash(), parameterized queries, and tools to prevent SQL injections, XSS, and CSRF attacks.
- Constant security updates from a proactive community.
Sustainable Development
- PHP enables streamlined, efficient codebases, reducing digital carbon footprints, and aligning with CFG’s sustainability mission.

PHP’s Evolution: Driving Innovation

Modern Frameworks
- Laravel offers an elegant syntax, ORM (Eloquent), and templating engine (Blade).
- Symfony provides modular components, offering flexibility and performance.
Integration with Headless CMS and Frontend Frameworks
- Tools like Inertia.js combine Laravel with frontend frameworks (React, Vue, Svelte), maximizing server-side capabilities while enabling dynamic single-page applications.
E-Commerce Solutions
- Platforms like Magento and WooCommerce leverage PHP’s flexibility, making it a top choice for building scalable online stores.
Cloud and IoT Adaptation
- Compatible with cloud computing environments like AWS and Google Cloud.
- Embraces microservices and serverless architectures, enhancing scalability and performance.
Community Support and Security
- A vibrant, open-source community ensures continued innovation, security, and updates.
- PHP 8 features, like Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation, improve performance and security.

Conclusion

PHP is still a top choice in 2024 for building robust, scalable, and secure web applications. At CFG, we rely on PHP to power a wide range of solutions, from eCommerce platforms to sustainable web development. Its cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and community support make it a dependable choice for modern development.

Ready to leverage the prowess of PHP for your next project? Contact us at CFG today to discuss how our expertise can help bring your ideas to life while embracing sustainable practices. Talk to us at letstalk@cueforgood .com

Sources:

* w3techs.com