PHP 7.4 vs PHP 8.4: The What, When, and How of PHP Versions

PHP is the backbone of web development for many of the world’s leading websites and platforms. Trusted by WordPress, Wikipedia, and countless others, PHP continues to evolve, bringing new features, enhanced security, and better performance with every version.

As of November 2024, the latest release is PHP 8.4. This version introduces exciting new features and further improves upon the advancements of PHP 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3. But why should you upgrade, and how does PHP 8.4 compare to older versions like PHP 7.4? Let’s explore.

Upgrading to PHP 8.4 is more than just a technical decision—it’s an investment in your website’s security, performance, and longevity. With managed hosting solutions like Scalesta, the upgrade process is seamless, giving you peace of mind while focusing on your business goals.

PHP 8.4 builds upon the strong foundation of its predecessors. Here are the highlights of this release:

Async Functions
PHP 8.4 introduces native support for asynchronous functions, making it easier to write non-blocking code. This is a game-changer for high-load websites and real-time applications.

Standalone Null and Boolean Types
Developers now have more precise type declarations, enhancing code clarity and reducing bugs.

Improved Caching Mechanisms
PHP 8.4 optimizes caching at the core level, speeding up data-heavy operations and improving overall application performance.

Enhanced Immutable Class Support
Building on features from PHP 8.2, PHP 8.4 allows developers to create fully immutable objects, ensuring data consistency and reliability.

Security
PHP 7.4 reached its end of life in November 2022, meaning it no longer receives security updates. PHP 8.4, as the newest version, offers the latest protections against vulnerabilities.

Performance
PHP 8.4’s async functions and caching improvements make it significantly faster than PHP 7.4, especially for high-traffic websites.

Developer Efficiency
With features like async functions and standalone types, PHP 8.4 enables cleaner, more maintainable code, reducing development time and errors.

Future-Proofing
Staying updated ensures compatibility with modern frameworks and libraries, many of which are optimized for the latest PHP versions.

To ensure your website runs smoothly, securely, and efficiently, it’s important to aim for using a supported PHP version. However, it’s not always possible to simply upgrade to the latest version without careful consideration.

Websites are typically developed on the PHP version that was current at the time of their creation. Over the years, upgrading PHP without proper preparation can lead to compatibility issues, causing part or all of your site to stop functioning correctly.

For this reason, while updating to a newer PHP version is recommended for better performance and security, it must be done carefully. Consult your website developers before making any changes to ensure your site is fully compatible with the updated version.

If managing PHP updates feels complex, consider a managed hosting solution like Scalesta. Our team ensures safe and timely updates while maintaining compatibility, so your website remains stable and secure.