When a version of PHP, a server-side scripting language used to build dynamic websites. Also known as Hypertext Preprocessor, it powers over 77% of websites today, including WordPress, Facebook’s early codebase, and Etsy. reaches its end of life, it stops receiving security updates, bug fixes, and performance improvements. That doesn’t mean the code breaks overnight—but it becomes a sitting duck for hackers. If your site runs on PHP 7.4 or older, you’re already on borrowed time. In 2025, only PHP 8.1 and newer are officially supported. Anything else is a liability.
PHP end of life isn’t about the language dying—it’s about outdated versions becoming dangerous. Think of it like driving a car without airbags. The engine still runs, but if something goes wrong, you’re on your own. Many small businesses still use legacy PHP because they don’t know the risks, or they’re scared of breaking their site. But here’s the truth: modern PHP 8.3 is faster, safer, and easier to maintain than the old versions. Frameworks like Laravel and Symfony make development smoother, and built-in features like typed properties and union types reduce bugs before they happen. You don’t need to rewrite your whole site—you just need to upgrade.
What’s at stake? Security breaches, lost customer trust, and Google penalizing your site for being outdated. A site running unsupported PHP can get hacked, steal user data, or get blacklisted. And if you’re using WordPress? Your plugins and themes might stop working if they’re not compatible with PHP 8+. You don’t need to be a developer to understand this: if your site isn’t running a supported version, you’re already behind.
You’ll find real-world examples below—how companies fixed their PHP issues, what happens when you ignore updates, and how to check your current version without touching code. This isn’t theory. It’s what’s happening right now to websites that waited too long.
Outdated PHP versions like 7.4 and 8.1 are no longer secure or supported. Learn which versions to avoid, how to check your PHP version, and why upgrading to PHP 8.3 is critical for security, speed, and compatibility.