PHP Releases
Track every PHP release. Version lifecycle, EOL dates, feature comparisons, and upgrade guidance for PHP developers and WordPress administrators.
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Total Versions
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Supported
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Latest
Version Timeline
All tracked releases with lifecycle status and EOL dates.
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Lifecycle Timeline
Visual overview of active support and maintenance windows.
Upgrade Paths
Migration guidance between major versions — breaking changes, effort estimates, and tips.
Breaking Changes
- Readonly classes added
- Deprecated dynamic properties
- Deprecated utf8_encode/utf8_decode
- Null/false/true as standalone types
Migration Notes
Dynamic property deprecation is the most impactful change. Add #[AllowDynamicProperties] attribute or use __get/__set. Most WordPress plugins are already updated.
Breaking Changes
- Typed class constants
- json_validate() added
- Randomizer additions
- Deprecated some internal functions
Migration Notes
Very smooth upgrade. Typed class constants are additive. No major behavioral changes. Test your application, especially around Randomizer if used.
Breaking Changes
- Property hooks (get/set)
- Asymmetric visibility
- New DOM API (Dom\* replaces DOMDocument)
- Implicit nullable types deprecated
- New Multibyte functions
Migration Notes
The new DOM API is the biggest change if you do XML/HTML parsing. Property hooks and asymmetric visibility are additive. Check implicit nullable deprecation in function signatures.
Version Risk Assessment
Evaluate risk factors before choosing a version for production.
| Version | EOL Risk | CVE Risk | Ecosystem | Cloud Support | Overall | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHP 8.0 | Critical | High | EOL | Dropping | Critical | EOL Nov 2023. No security patches. Upgrade now. |
| PHP 8.1 | Critical | High | Security-only | Supported | Critical | EOL Dec 2025. Upgrade immediately. |
| PHP 8.2 | High | Medium | Security-only | Full | High | Security-only until Dec 2026. Plan upgrade. |
| PHP 8.3 | Low | Low | Active | Full | Low | Active support. Recommended for production. |
| PHP 8.4 | None | Low | Active | Full | Low | Latest stable. Recommended for new projects. |
| PHP 8.5 | None | Low | Growing | Partial | Low | Current release. Check extension compat. |
PHP has a strict 3-year lifecycle per minor version (2y active + 1y security). Running EOL PHP is extremely risky as it is the most targeted server-side language. WordPress sites on old PHP are prime attack targets.
PHP Version Feature Comparison
Side-by-side feature differences across major versions.
| Feature | 8.1 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enums | New | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
| Fibers | New | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
| Readonly properties | New | Classes | Stable | Stable | Stable |
| Typed class constants | No | No | New | Stable | Stable |
| Property hooks | No | No | No | New | Stable |
| Asymmetric visibility | No | No | No | New | Stable |
| Dynamic properties | Allowed | Deprecated | Deprecated | Error | Error |
| JIT compiler | Basic | Improved | Improved | Enhanced | Enhanced |
| WordPress compat | Full | Full | Full | Full | Testing |
| Performance vs 8.1 | Baseline | +5-10% | +8-15% | +10-20% | +15-25% |
Embed Badges
Add live PHP status badges to your README, docs, or dashboard.
Health Status
Overall support health
EOL Countdown
Next end-of-life date
Latest Version
Current stable release
CVE Status
Known vulnerabilities
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PHP releases and lifecycle.