Posted by PHP has been the language of choice for web developers since the 90s. But some developers have questioned its longevity and usability in the coming years, addressing security concerns and other factors.
It’s mainly because there are more programming languages available now. For example, Node.js came along around 2010 and provided developers with multiple features that they could use for the front end (their browser) and the back end (their servers). There has been a rapid increase in the popularity of Python as well because of its simple syntax.
Moreover, a recent study by StackOverflow shows Python as the most widely used programming language with 70% votes, whereas PHP only received 25%. Here, the irony is- over 77.5% of websites are built with PHP, and around 244 million PHP-based websites are running on the web today.
Why Should I Choose PHP In 2022?
PHP still possesses multiple advantages as an open-source server-side scripting language. In addition, PHP is under active development, with many intelligent and passionate IT professionals working on it. Consequently, PHP has changed considerably over the past few years and has become a much more robust language.
With an estimated 80% of websites using PHP today, the following are some reasons why PHP won’t be dead in 2022.
Popularity
Stack Overflow’s annual developer survey shows that PHP has fallen from the most popular programming languages ranking. However, around 80% of all websites still use PHP. Social media platforms like Facebook, Wikipedia, and Tumblr use PHP for server-side scripting.
Easy to Learn & use
PHP is a simple programming language that’s easy to learn and use. It’s designed to create dynamic websites and applications and is often used as a server-side scripting language, making it a popular choice for web development. It can be used with any operating system, so you don’t need expensive software licenses. PHP may be the perfect solution for your business if you’re looking for an easy-to-learn, cross-platform solution for your needs.
Graph below shows how many “IT jobs” in the UK requested PHP as a key skill.
Open Source Language
PHP, an open-source language, is used by many of the most popular business sites on the internet.
Its open-source feature makes it very cost-effective for organizations and corporations. PHP also has a wide array of libraries and frameworks constantly updated by the community. It’s also easy to learn, which makes it appealing for beginners, but still powerful enough for developers who want complex features like databases. Some other key benefits include its clean syntax and developer-friendly language syntax.
Many companies, such as Facebook and Yahoo!, have all relied on PHP at some point in their history. PHP is an excellent option for startups that need something with a little less upfront cost.
A Wide Range of Web Hosting Providers
One of the key benefits of PHP that is still luring web developers in 2022 is that it is well-supported by a wide range of web hosting providers. As the number of web hosts increases, so does the number of PHP hosting providers. You can easily find a reputable PHP web development company, such as PixelCrayons, that offers PHP and other features you need for your sites, like easy-to-use website-building software and 24/7 customer support.
Multi-Platform Support
The PHP programming language supports a number of operating systems, including Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. It allows programmers to use a web host that best suits their needs.
In the past, programmers may have needed to learn different languages depending on their working platform. PHP has solved this issue by being compatible with multiple platforms. It means you only need to learn one language instead of three or more, saving you time and money!
Ecosystem Support (Database support, frameworks, libraries, etc.)
The PHP language is supported by many frameworks, libraries, and other tools. These are usually open-source projects found on GitHub and other sites. Laravel, CodeIgniter, Yii2, CakePHP, Slim, etc., are the frameworks supported by the PHP language.
There are also several libraries for various tasks, such as sending emails or connecting with a database server. These support functions mean you can write code from scratch whenever you want to do something new. As more and more people share their code through these websites, it becomes available to everyone.
Flexibility
The flexibility of PHP is a significant factor that makes it such a popular web programming language. PHP runs on all operating systems, so you don’t need to worry about compatibility issues. Since PHP doesn’t require additional software installation or configuration, you can start building your website immediately!
With the PHP programming language and WordPress CMS platform, you can create dynamic and interactive websites without spending too much time learning to code and without paying for expensive software.
Data Security
PHP has become a more secure and stable language over time. It has a built-in function called hash, which creates a unique, irreversible value from any input string, making it difficult for attackers to use the exact input string more than once and get the same result.
The open-source language can use data security features like password protection and encryption.
Web developers choose PHP so that only the intended users with the proper credentials can access any information. It is an excellent way for companies to handle sensitive data and wants to minimize the risk of hacking or theft.
PHP Development Trends to Watch out in 2022
PHP is an open source server-side scripting language designed to work on many operating systems and platforms.
Let’s check out top PHP development trends to watch out for in 2022 that will revolutionize the way PHP developers work, making the process of creating apps easier and faster than ever before.
Chatbots
Chatbots are a powerful way to provide users with tailored and personalized content. They can be programmed to respond dynamically, and can even be designed to have conversations with each other or humans. The trend that will see more adoption in the coming year. Due to this reason, PHP has currently adopted chatbots, a game-changing way for businesses to interact with customers.
User Interface
If your website is advanced and full of features but doesn’t provide a user-friendly interface, all your efforts will go in vain. Website success depends on how user-friendly it is. Therefore, you will see PHP web development focusing on creating user-friendly interfaces.
Several PHP frameworks and tools enable us to create user-friendly and easy-to-navigate websites are:
- CodeIgniter
- Laravel
- CakePHP
Website Security
Website security is one of the most important aspects when it comes to running a successful business. As the number of online scams and data breaches are rising, cybersecurity has become more crucial than ever. Governmental organizations and individuals lose millions of dollars every year. For this reason, the latest releases of PHP prioritize website security. Additionally, it has tools like Laravel that offer full-proof security.
Competitors of PHP
Since the 90s, PHP has become one of the most popular scripting languages used to build web applications, along with Java and ASP. It uses server-side scripting that generates dynamic web pages based on the data received from the web server in the form of text files or databases. But now, several languages are coming out to challenge this position in the market, including:
- Javascript
- Java
- Python
- Ruby
- C#
- Go
- Erlang
- Elixir
Summing Up
PHP might not be the most popular language today, but it still has much to offer. It has been around for over two decades, with an active community of developers and growing adoption rates at significant corporations like Netflix and Facebook.
The open-source nature of the language means that it’s constantly being improved and updated by developers worldwide, and there are plenty of tools to make it easy to use. PHP cannot die if 79% of the web is using it.
Therefore, PHP is not going anywhere as it is still an incredible programming language with multiple uses and functionalities.
If you are looking to hire PHP developers for building a successful website for your business, contact us now. With a highly professional team of developers, we are dedicated to providing robust, secure, and scalable solutions to our clients.
Also Read Here – https://thetechtarget.com/best-php-frameworks-for-savvy-web-devs-in-2022/