On November 28, the community-supported model of PHP 7.4 will attain Finish of Life (EOL) standing, that means the group of PHP builders who repeatedly keep the coding language in steady model releases will now not present bug fixes, safety patches, or vital safety updates.
Whereas that’s par for the course in the case 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 suitable with newer PHP variations (8.0+).
How you can Examine Which Model of PHP You’re Utilizing
Prolonged Help for WP Engine and Flywheel Prospects
Whereas we want that every 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 all the time labored exhausting to stop our clients from utilizing unsupported variations of PHP (or another software program for that matter) as it could possibly 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. This can enable all of our clients—throughout WP Engine and Flywheel—to remain on PHP 7.4 previous the November 28 EOL date, whereas nonetheless conserving 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 patrons to cease utilizing PHP 7.4, we consider further time will afford them, the broader WordPress neighborhood, 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 neighborhood, we perceive the present ache factors surrounding PHP 8.0 compatibility and look at this as a chance to supply our clients with a much-needed service—prolonged safety help. With that in thoughts, WP Engine is not going to require clients to improve from PHP 7.4 to PHP 8.0 on the EOL date, November twenty eighth, 2022.
When you’ve got any questions, please attain out to our Help groups through 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 in a position to make the replace to PHP 8.0, if they need to take action.
No matter recognized compatibility points, WP Engine all the time recommends that web site updates be carried out in a staging or growth surroundings to make sure your stay web site stays protected. This may even provide the choice to check for compatibility points earlier than pushing your up to date web site stay.
Performing the replace by yourself is a straightforward course of—simply log in to your person portal and observe the steps supplied right here. In the event you nonetheless have questions you may login to your account to contact help.
What Are the Advantages of PHP 8.0?
There are a variety of enhancements and new options that include PHP 8.0, together with:
Whereas typically, operating an up-to-date model of PHP will pace up your web site (the improve to 7.4 final yr noticed a big pace enhance throughout our clients’ websites) it additionally prevents dangerous actors from making the most of safety vulnerabilities that could possibly be lurking in older PHP variations—a significant factor in our resolution to put money into prolonged PHP 7.4 help.
Maintaining 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 larger, and making the leap (or making ready to make the leap) to eight.0 from older variations of PHP is one thing it is best to start to contemplate.
You may take a more in-depth take a look at PHP compatibility with particular WordPress variations right here in addition to a listing of remaining deprecation notices (associated to incompatibility) in WordPress 5.9 right here.
Need to discover out extra? Communicate to a WP Engine WordPress skilled right this moment, or take a look at our PHP Model and Improve Information for extra element.
