PHP 7

PHP 7 is a major release of the PHP scripting language. It was officially released on December 3, 2015. This version followed PHP 5.6 and brought several changes that improved the performance, reliability, and efficiency of PHP-based applications. PHP 6 was skipped due to challenges during development. The changes made in PHP 7 aimed to clean up the language and boost its speed without changing its nature.

History and Background of the PHP language

PHP began in 1995 and quickly grew in both features and adoption. Over the next decade, major milestones shaped the language’s evolution.

Key developments in early PHP history:

• PHP 4 (2000) introduced the Zend Engine, significantly improving performance
• PHP 5 (2004) added:
  • Object-oriented programming
  • Improved support for complex web applications
• Over time, PHP 5 became slower and more difficult to maintain despite new features
• PHP 6 development began in the late 2000s with a focus on Unicode support
• Major issues with Unicode integration:
  • Difficult to implement
  • Caused performance regressions
• After years of effort, the PHP 6 project was ultimately abandoned

Following this, developers refocused on performance and simplicity:

• They salvaged stable parts of the PHP 6 codebase
• Introduced PHPNG (PHP Next Generation), a new Zend Engine core
• This work led to PHP 7, which delivered:
  • Much faster execution
  • Better code handling
  • A simpler, more modern language design

PHP 7 represented a turning point, setting the foundation for future versions focused on speed, clarity, and maintainability.

Differences between PHP 7 and PHP 5

Here are the key differences:

• Performance - The most visible change is speed. PHP 7 runs code about twice as fast as PHP 5.6. This comes from PHPNG, which refactored how PHP executes code. It reduced memory use and allowed web servers to handle more users with the same hardware. This was a big help for high-traffic sites.
• Error Handling - PHP 5 used error codes and warnings. Many problems had to be handled through complex logic or ignored. PHP 7 added a new error handling model. It introduced throwable exceptions for many errors. This made it easier to catch problems and write cleaner code.
• Scalar Type Declarations - PHP 7 lets developers set expected input and return types for functions. It supports int, float, string, and bool. This makes programs more predictable and easier to debug. PHP 5 had no way to enforce simple types.
• Return Type Declarations - Functions in PHP 7 can now specify a return type. This tells the engine what type to expect. It helps make the code clearer and easier to test. PHP 5 had no such feature, and developers had to check return values manually.
• Null Coalescing Operator - PHP 7 added the ?? operator. This helps check for null values in a shorter way. Before, developers had to write long checks using isset(). The new operator makes the code simpler and easier to read.
• Spaceship Operator - PHP 7 introduced the <=> operator. It compares two values and returns -1, 0, or 1 depending on their relation. It works for sorting and comparisons. This operator did not exist in PHP 5.
• Anonymous Classes - PHP 7 allows the creation of unnamed classes. These are useful for short-lived objects. PHP 5 did not support this. This change makes it easier to write tests and organize temporary objects.
• Consistent 64-Bit Support - PHP 7 brought better 64-bit support for Windows. PHP 5 had inconsistent behavior on 64-bit systems. With PHP 7, large integers and file sizes work more reliably across platforms.
• Removal of Deprecated Features - PHP 7 removed old features like the mysql_* functions and replaced them with better tools like mysqli and PDO. This helped clean up the language. PHP 5 had kept many outdated functions for backward compatibility.
• Abstract Syntax Tree - PHP 7 changed how code is parsed. It added an abstract syntax tree (AST). This allows better tools for static analysis and code optimization. PHP 5 did not use an AST and had more limited tools for understanding code.

Main Advantages of PHP 7

PHP 7 brought several benefits for developers, hosting providers, and website owners. These changes made the web faster, more secure, and easier to maintain.

• Speed - One of the biggest gains is speed. PHP 7 can handle more requests per second with lower resource use. This helps web servers respond faster. Users see pages load quicker. Businesses save money on hosting since they need less hardware.
• Better Code Quality - New features like type declarations help developers write safer code. Programs behave in more expected ways. Bugs are easier to find. Projects are easier to scale as a result.
• Cleaner Error Handling - With throwable exceptions, developers can manage problems in a clearer way. Code becomes easier to test and maintain. Fewer hidden errors slip through.
• Future Growth - PHP 7 made it easier to build and maintain large applications. It removed old parts of the language that caused confusion. It gave developers better tools. This helped PHP remain a good choice for modern web projects.
• More Secure - Old features removed in PHP 7 helped reduce risks. New error handling models reduce the chance of silent failures. Type checking stops many mistakes. These changes make applications more secure.
• Easier Hosting - Hosting companies prefer PHP 7 since it uses fewer resources and handles more traffic. It allows them to serve more customers on the same hardware. This makes hosting cheaper and more reliable.
• More Tools and Libraries - Since PHP 7 became the standard, more tools and libraries began supporting it. Developers have more options and better frameworks. This helped move the PHP ecosystem forward.

Adoption and Legacy

Many websites moved to PHP 7 over time. The upgrade from PHP 5 to PHP 7 often brought large gains with little change to code. Hosting companies encouraged the switch. Frameworks like Laravel and Symfony used PHP 7 features to build better apps. CMS platforms like WordPress became faster with PHP 7.

PHP 7 had several minor releases. Each added improvements. PHP 7.1 brought nullable types and iterable type hints. PHP 7.2 improved security. PHP 7.3 added performance tweaks. PHP 7.4 added typed properties and preloading. These steady steps helped PHP stay modern while keeping its familiar style.

PHP 8 followed PHP 7 in late 2020. It was built on the same base but added features like the JIT compiler. Still, PHP 7 is seen as the version that brought PHP back into the modern era. It gave developers speed and better tools while keeping the language simple.

PHP 7 Support with NTC Hosting

At NTC Hosting, we know that there are apps that work better with certain versions of PHP, and updating them can be costly. This is why, on our web hosting platform, each host can run on a different PHP version in an isolated environment. This way, you can have one website on PHP 7 and one on PHP 8.