On November 28, the community-supported model of PHP 7.4 will attain Finish of Life (EOL) standing, which means the crew of PHP builders who commonly keep the coding language in secure model releases will not present bug fixes, safety patches, or vital safety updates.

Whereas that’s par for the course on the subject of PHP—at present every PHP model is supported for 2 years after its preliminary launch and absolutely deprecated after three—the PHP 7.4 EOL is exclusive in that WordPress, together with a variety of themes and plugins, are not but absolutely appropriate with newer PHP variations (8.0+).

The best way to Test Which Model of PHP You’re Utilizing

Prolonged Assist for WP Engine and Flywheel Clients 

Whereas we choose that each one of our clients improve to the newest variations of WordPress and PHP,  we additionally perceive that doing so proper now might result in vital errors on their web sites.  

That’s the very last thing we wish, however on the identical time, WP Engine has at all times labored onerous to forestall our clients from utilizing unsupported variations of PHP (or another software program for that matter) as it may well open up their websites, and our platform, to safety dangers. 

With that in thoughts, WP Engine has invested in ongoing safety help for PHP 7.4. It will permit all of our clients—throughout WP Engine and Flywheel—to remain on PHP 7.4 previous the November 28 EOL date, whereas nonetheless holding their websites and our platform safe. It’s additionally at present the one such providing for prolonged PHP 7.4 help by a managed platform supplier. 

Whereas we haven’t but decided a brand new deadline for purchasers to cease utilizing PHP 7.4, we imagine extra time will afford them, the broader WordPress group, and particular person plugin and theme builders with the window they should resolve open incompatibilities.

As a managed supplier that’s deeply concerned with the WordPress group, we perceive the present ache factors surrounding PHP 8.0 compatibility and look at this as a possibility to supply our clients with a much-needed service—prolonged safety help. With that in thoughts, WP Engine won’t require clients to improve from PHP 7.4 to PHP 8.0 on the EOL date, November twenty eighth, 2022.

In case you have any questions, please attain out to our Assist groups by way of the WP Engine Consumer Portal, the Flywheel App, or any of the choices listed right here. 

Are You Able to Replace to PHP 8.0? 

Whereas compatibility points are certainly one thing you have to be conscious of, WP Engine clients are absolutely capable of make the replace to PHP 8.0, if they want to take action. 

No matter identified compatibility points, WP Engine at all times recommends that website updates be performed in a staging or improvement setting to make sure your dwell website stays secure. This will even provide the possibility to check for compatibility points earlier than pushing your up to date website dwell. 

Performing the replace by yourself is a straightforward course of—simply log in to your person portal and comply with the steps supplied right here. For those who nonetheless have questions you’ll be able to login to your account to contact help. 

What Are the Advantages of PHP 8.0?

There are a selection of enhancements and new options that include PHP 8.0, together with: 

Whereas usually, working an up-to-date model of PHP will pace up your website (the improve to 7.4 final 12 months noticed a big pace improve throughout our clients’ websites) it additionally prevents unhealthy actors from profiting from safety vulnerabilities that could possibly be lurking in older PHP variations—a significant factor in our resolution to spend money on prolonged PHP 7.4 help.  

Conserving Your WordPress Websites—and Your PHP Model—Secure From Vulnerabilities

With WP Engine’s prolonged help for PHP 7.4, clients needn’t fear about vulnerabilities in that model (and no present vulnerabilities have been flagged). 

That stated, all WP Engine and Flywheel clients are at present utilizing PHP 7.4, 8.0, or greater, and making the bounce (or making ready to make the bounce) to eight.0 from older variations of PHP is one thing it’s best to start to contemplate.

You possibly can take a more in-depth have a look at PHP compatibility with particular WordPress variations right here in addition to an inventory of remaining deprecation notices (associated to incompatibility) in WordPress 5.9 right here.

Wish to discover out extra? Converse to a WP Engine WordPress professional immediately, or take a look at our PHP Model and Improve Information for extra element.