Why PHP is Still the Most Alive Language in 2024 (Yes, Really)

In the ever-evolving world of web development, there’s one question that continues to haunt the minds of developers, enthusiasts, and, unfortunately, a lot of tech "purists": Is PHP still relevant?

Let’s be blunt: Every year, we hear that “PHP is dead” or “PHP is outdated.” Some even claim it should be buried alongside other dinosaurs of the tech world. But I’m here to tell you, in 2024, PHP is more alive than ever—and here’s why.

1. PHP Powers the Web. Period.

Despite what the critics say, PHP isn’t going anywhere. In fact, according to W3Techs, PHP is still powering over 78% of websites using server-side programming. That includes some of the most visited websites in the world, like Facebook (yes, even Facebook), Wikipedia, and WordPress-powered websites.

Do we really think a language that runs more than 70% of the web is "dead"?

2. WordPress and CMS Domination

Let’s talk about the 800-pound gorilla in the room: WordPress. It’s not just a blog platform anymore; it’s a full-fledged content management system (CMS) used by businesses, agencies, and individuals worldwide. WordPress accounts for over 40% of all websites on the internet.

Guess what? WordPress is built on PHP. So, if you’re a developer who writes code that powers millions of businesses and websites, you can’t afford to ignore PHP.

3. Frameworks Galore

Anyone still claiming PHP is “dead” clearly hasn’t been paying attention to the ecosystem of modern PHP frameworks. Laravel, Symfony, Yii2, and CakePHP are among the best frameworks available today.

In fact, Laravel has become a go-to framework for building scalable, modern web applications, with a thriving ecosystem that includes packages for authentication, database migrations, queueing, and more. PHP has evolved from a “script kiddie” language into a powerful, flexible tool that developers can use to build robust applications.

4. Performance: A Lot of People Are Wrong

If you’ve heard the arguments that PHP is slow or inefficient, well, it’s time to set the record straight. PHP has come a long way, especially with PHP 7 and beyond. Thanks to massive performance improvements in the engine and features like OPcache, PHP has become incredibly fast and efficient.

Compare that with languages like Python or Ruby, and you’ll see that PHP is still holding its ground in terms of raw speed for many use cases. And the best part? It’s easy to scale with proper optimizations. So, don't let anyone tell you that PHP is “too slow” in 2024.

5. PHP's Strong Community

A language lives and dies by its community, and PHP’s community is thriving. With thousands of open-source libraries, frameworks, and tools, developers are constantly improving and pushing the language forward. The PHP-FIG (PHP Framework Interoperability Group) continues to work towards setting standards that ensure future compatibility and consistency across the language.

If PHP were “dead,” it would hardly have one of the largest and most active developer communities in the world.

6. Backward Compatibility? A Blessing, Not a Curse

A lot of people knock PHP for being inconsistent or for having "too many" versions. But let’s face it, backward compatibility is one of PHP's greatest strengths. Unlike other languages, where updating to a new version can sometimes break everything (I’m looking at you, Python), PHP allows you to keep your old code running smoothly.

In the real world, this means less disruption, fewer headaches, and a longer-lasting codebase. Developers don’t have to start over from scratch every few years—something that’s still a major issue in other ecosystems.

7. The PHP Job Market is Booming

Despite all the noise, the demand for PHP developers is alive and well. In fact, there’s still a huge market for skilled PHP developers—especially those who know modern frameworks and understand full-stack development. As a Middle+ PHP Full-Stack Developer myself, I can tell you that there’s no shortage of opportunities for talented PHP developers.

In fact, many job listings still mention “PHP experience” as a prerequisite, alongside JavaScript, SQL, and modern frameworks.

Conclusion: PHP is Not Dying, It's Evolving

In 2024, PHP is more alive than ever. It’s evolved from a simple scripting language into a powerful, enterprise-grade development tool. It powers billions of websites and applications, and it’s not going anywhere soon.

So, if you’re still holding onto the outdated belief that PHP is “dead” or “irrelevant,” it’s time for an intervention. PHP isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving. It’s fast, it’s modern, and it’s here to stay.

If you’re a developer who hasn’t jumped on the PHP train yet, what are you waiting for?