On November 28, the community-supported model of PHP 7.4 will attain Finish of Life (EOL) standing, that means the crew of PHP builders who frequently keep the coding language in secure 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 the moment 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+).
How one can Examine Which Model of PHP You’re Utilizing
Prolonged Assist for WP Engine and Flywheel Clients
Whereas we favor that every one of our prospects improve to the most recent 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 would like, however on the similar time, WP Engine has at all times labored arduous to stop our prospects from utilizing unsupported variations of PHP (or another software program for that matter) as it will probably open up their websites, and our platform, to safety dangers.
With that in thoughts, WP Engine has invested in ongoing safety assist for PHP 7.4. This can enable all of our prospects—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 the moment the one such providing for prolonged PHP 7.4 assist 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 examine this as a chance to supply our prospects with a much-needed service—prolonged safety assist. With that in thoughts, WP Engine is not going to require prospects to improve from PHP 7.4 to PHP 8.0 on the EOL date, November twenty eighth, 2022.
You probably have any questions, please attain out to our Assist 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 try to be conscious of, WP Engine prospects are absolutely capable of make the replace to PHP 8.0, if they need to take action.
No matter recognized compatibility points, WP Engine at all times recommends that web site updates be carried out in a staging or improvement setting to make sure your reside web site stays secure. This may even provide the possibility to check for compatibility points earlier than pushing your up to date web site reside.
Performing the replace by yourself is an easy course of—simply log in to your person portal and comply with the steps supplied right here. If you happen to nonetheless have questions you possibly can login to your account to contact assist.
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 generally, operating an up-to-date model of PHP will pace up your web site (the improve to 7.4 final yr noticed a major pace improve throughout our prospects’ websites) it additionally prevents dangerous actors from profiting from safety vulnerabilities that might be lurking in older PHP variations—a significant factor in our choice to spend money on prolonged PHP 7.4 assist.
Maintaining Your WordPress Websites—and Your PHP Model—Secure From Vulnerabilities
With WP Engine’s prolonged assist for PHP 7.4, prospects needn’t fear about vulnerabilities in that model (and no present vulnerabilities have been flagged).
That stated, all WP Engine and Flywheel prospects are at the moment utilizing PHP 7.4, 8.0, or increased, and making the leap (or getting ready to make the leap) to eight.0 from older variations of PHP is one thing you need to start to think about.
You possibly can take a better have 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 as we speak, or try our PHP Model and Improve Information for extra element.
