WordPress, Wikipedia, Yahoo – these are just 3 examples of giants who opted for PHP. And for good reason! Are you wondering why you should use this programming language to build your website? You'll find the answer in our guide.
PHP 101. What is it and what does it do? 🧐
PHP is a scripting programming language that is primarily used to create websites and web apps. But that’s not all! Programmers can also use it to build databases and CRM systems and to generate XML, XLS or PDF files.
Mainly back-end solutions are designed in PHP: this means website functionalities such as user registration, the content creation system, login panel or various e-commerce store options.
Is this a popular solution?
Definitely. Just look at the numbers. According to the TIOBE Index, PHP is the 11th most searched programming language. Meanwhile, data from W3Techs shows that 77.6% of known websites use it.
The popularity of PHP among programmers is due to two features of the language: it's available for free and can be freely modified.
But enough about programmers – this article is about you. 😉 What are the benefits of PHP for you and your website? Find out below!
7 reasons why you should have a PHP website
You should opt for PHP especially when the website needs to have a lot of advanced features that both you and your customers will use.
Do you need a complex content management system? Choose PHP.
Do you want to easily manage the settings of your e-commerce store? Choose PHP.
Does the information on your website change quickly and often? Yes, you should also choose PHP in this case.
Now you're probably wondering, why specifically PHP? 🤔 I'll answer that now.
The key benefits of PHP are:
1️⃣ Speed. The scripts run quickly, which improves the server response time. It's worth noting that, according to Google, as many as 40% of users abandon a web page if it takes more than 3 seconds to load.
2️⃣ Security. This aspect is particularly critical both for your company and the website users. PHP has built-in security features and protects websites from malware and viruses.
3️⃣ Low costs. This is due to the open source license, which means that all frameworks and libraries are free.
4️⃣ Continuous development. The PHP language is continuously improved and updated. On average, every few years a new version of the language is released with additional improvements. So you can be sure that the solutions used on your website will keep up with the latest innovations. PHP development is supported by an international community.
5️⃣ Versatility. In principle, PHP can be used for all projects – both for simple landing pages and complex pages with many functionalities. Importantly, the language works on all web browsers.
6️⃣ Simplicity. The well-organized structure means that virtually any programmer can write the code. Even if a completely new team takes over the project, they will be able to make changes with no problem.
7️⃣ Website personalization. PHP makes it possible to create a dynamic website, i.e. one which allows you to display content tailored to users.
The perfect solution? Not always and not everywhere 💡
What are the disadvantages of PHP from your perspective? To answer this question, we have to refer back to the advantages...
...because the advantages may also turn out to be disadvantages. The easy access and simple language structure mean that virtually any programmer (even those who are just learning PHP) can create your website. Inexperience can result in, for example, sloppy code.
You probably won't even notice it at first glance (everything will work, after all). But if you get professionals to make changes later, they'll have to start cleaning up after the previous programmer. We've been through it dozens of times!
Do you want a website? Keep this in mind! 📌
Here are a few more things you need to know before commissioning a website:
There are many ways to get to the final site design, so sometimes it's necessary to test different solutions and choose the right technology.
Choose experienced programmers who specialize in a given technology to complete your website.
Updates are the key when it comes to maintaining the website.
Let's take a look at the last bullet point. Updating PHP to the latest version means the ability to use new solutions or add-ons. But that's not the most important thing. If your site is based on an old, outdated version of PHP, it may become infected or... stop working altogether.
Regular updates are important for one more reason. PHP is a language that's constantly being developed and improved, so the transition from a very old version to the latest version often results in errors on the website.
Summary
In 2024, PHP will turn 30. Yes, you read that right! This programming language has been used successfully for almost 30 years. It has seen many improvements during this period and will certainly see many more. 😉
What do you need to know about PHP before we start on your project?
It's a scripting programming language that can be used to create even the most advanced websites.
Using it means your website will work quickly, securely and in accordance with user needs.
Adding new functionalities to the website won't be a problem, even for a programmer who didn't work on the project.
PHP is great for creating advanced content management systems.
Updates are crucial for the smooth operation of the website.
If you're just starting work on a website but don't know what to include on it,
check this out 👇