Is PHP Dead? A 2025 Reality Check

For years, developers have debated whether PHP is on its way out. With newer languages gaining traction, the question persists: Is PHP dead? The reality is more complex. PHP remains a cornerstone of web development, but its role has shifted as competitors emerge.

PHP by the Numbers

• 74% of websites with a known server-side language still run on PHP as of July 2025.
• WordPress, Drupal, Magento, and Facebook continue to rely heavily on PHP.
• Packagist, the PHP package repository, now hosts over 400,000 packages, showing strong community engagement.

These statistics alone prove that PHP remains a cornerstone of web development.

Why PHP Is Still Relevant

• Continuous Updates: PHP 8.4 was recently released, introducing async-friendly features and performance improvements.
• Framework Ecosystem: Popular frameworks like Laravel and Symfony keep PHP modern, offering elegant syntax and robust tooling.
• CMS Dominance: WordPress, which powers over 40% of all websites, is built on ...