PHP Explained And Why PHP Extended Support Is Important

When running a website, you may not think about PHP very often. In fact, most people only notice it when something changes or stops working. PHP is a general-purpose scripting language that helps power the dynamic parts of your site and plays a direct role in how pages load, how forms work, and how your content is managed.

For some, moving to the latest version is simple; for others, it is not that straightforward. Older plugins, applications, and custom code can make updating immediately risky. That is where Domains.co.za’s PHP Extended Support Add-On comes in, helping keep your site running safely and smoothly on older, unsupported versions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• PHP is a server-side scripting language that helps power websites, especially sites built with WordPress.
• When a PHP version reaches EoL (end of life), it stops receiving official updates, thereby  increasing the risk for websites still using it.
• Some websites stay on older PHP versions because upgrading too quickly can cause downtime, broken features, or plugin and theme conflicts.
• Domains.co.za PHP Extended Support Add-on helps websites run on older PHP versions, keeping them performing and secure.
• PHP Extended Support helps when your website is not ready to upgrade, and you need hosting that supports old PHP versions instead of updating.
• You can check your PHP version in cPanel by opening MultiPHP Manager and looking at the version listed next to your domain.

What is PHP?

PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server-side scripting language. It is built for web development and powers everything from small blog sites to large ecommerce platforms.

How it works is that when someone visits your website, PHP (which runs on your web hosting server) starts building it in real time. It loads pages and content, executes database queries, processes user input (forms, passwords, etc.), and sends the final HTML code to the browser.

PHP makes a website interactive rather than just a collection of text and images. Without it, your website wouldn’t have the features that make it functional and engaging. Even if you never touch the code yourself, PHP is what makes things run in the background.

PHP and WordPress

The WordPress core software is built mainly on PHP and uses it to process requests, retrieve database content, and generate pages. This means it is a big part of your site’s performance and stability. The same goes for PHP powering themes and plugins.  

So, depending on the version you’re using, it can affect how fast your website loads, if your layout displays correctly, and how various features behave. That is why it can have a site-wide effect if not managed correctly.

An outdated PHP version can make a site harder to maintain and WordPress plugins may also require a newer PHP version. A theme may use functions that behave differently on older versions, or a future WordPress update may expose previously hidden compatibility issues.

In other words, WordPress and PHP are inseparable. If PHP falls behind, the rest of a website can often follow shortly thereafter.

What Happens When a PHP Version Reaches End of Life?

Each new PHP version gets 2 (two) years of full support, followed by 2 more years of security support. After that, the development team stops doing updates, meaning it has reached End of Life (EOL). A recent example is PHP 8.1, with its EOL date of December 31, 2025, meaning it’s officially listed as unsupported.

Once that happens, that version no longer receives bug fixes or security patches. This doesn’t mean your site instantly stops working, but the safety net is essentially gone.

Over time, this can increase the risk of security breaches, make site maintenance more difficult, cause compatibility issues, and make later updates more complicated.

When Old PHP Versions Become a Problem

Old PHP versions can still work, but over time, you’re probably going to notice more issues popping up.

One of the biggest problems is security. As we said earlier, when a version is unsupported, official updates stop. That leaves your site more exposed, as older versions may still have security vulnerabilities and bugs that have been fixed in more current releases.

Compatibility is another problem. Old PHP versions can struggle to keep up with new software versions. This includes WordPress core updates, plugins, themes, third-party tools, and custom code, all of which affect your site’s features and functionality.

Performance can also suffer. Supported PHP versions are much faster, receive ongoing improvements, new features, and general fixes, while older ones miss out. This means that database queries and requests take longer to process, and loading times may increase.

Then it’s often much harder to maintain a smoother running of your website if you stay on an older version for too long. This may cause problems when you eventually do upgrade. Instead of a smooth changeover, you may end up dealing with a rushed fix after a conflict, layout break, etc..

Lastly, even if an older PHP version still runs your site, platform updates can make it harder to keep it secure, functional, and stable later on.

For example, the upcoming WordPress 7.0 (at the time of writing) has dropped support for PHP 7.2 and 7.3, meaning the minimum supported version will be 7.4, with 8.2 or higher recommended for the best performance.

Why Some Websites Stay on Older PHP Versions

Updating to the latest, supported PHP version isn’t always something people can do immediately.

Specifically, when a website needs legacy plugins and themes, custom code, or scripts to work that were designed for an earlier PHP version.

In those cases, updating too quickly (or at all) can cause major problems. A custom website stack that has worked for years may suddenly see page breaks, lost functionality, or a complete crash. Hence, people stay on old PHP versions as long as possible, because they don’t have much choice. 

This is especially common on older WordPress websites, where the core, plugins, and theme have all changed, usually at different times, with different requirements.

What is Domains.co.za PHP Extended Support?

Updating PHP is part of keeping a website healthy, but it’s not always feasible, and many people need some breathing room before going ahead. They need time to test compatibility, check what may break, and plan properly instead of upgrading and hoping for the best. And that’s if they can update at all.

Domains.co.za PHP Extended Support is a product designed specifically for websites that still need to run on older EOL PHP versions that no longer get official updates and the security patches that come with them.

The PHP Extended Support that is an add-on to our Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting plans covers:

• PHP 5.6
• PHP 7.0
• PHP 7.1
• PHP 7.2
• PHP 7.3
• PHP 7.4
• PHP 8.0
• PHP 8.1

Instead of forcing an immediate version change that could harm your site, you can focus on your online business and manage the upgrade in your own time. We handle all the security and performance updates behind the scenes, keeping your site protected and running smoothly.

PHP Extended Support vs Upgrading to a Newer PHP Version

Deciding between changing PHP versions and PHP Extended Support doesn’t have to be complicated. They solve different problems depending on what your website needs to keep functioning and running as it usually does.

Upgrading to a newer PHP version gives you access to additional features, improved performance, security patches, and better compatibility with new software and tools.

That said, your site may not be ready for the move right away (if at all), and that’s okay because this is where PHP Extended Support becomes your lifeline.

If you have a site that needs older plugins and themes, specific code, or custom scripts that won’t work if you upgrade to a more recent PHP version, Extended Support gives you the breathing room you need so you don’t have to make any rushed changes that could break features or crash your site.

It helps you keep your current website stack while reducing the pressure that often comes with dealing with unsupported PHP versions. Instead of treating an upgrade like an emergency when the time comes, you can avoid unnecessary conflicts and downtime without needing to rearrange your site’s entire backend to accommodate it.

The best way to look at it is this:

• Choose PHP Extended Support when your website still needs the older setup, or you need more time to plan an update to the latest PHP version.
• Choose a PHP update when your website, plugins, and themes are compatible with it, and you’re ready to move forward.

How to Check Your PHP Version

A PHP update, especially with WordPress, can affect core software, plugins, and themes simultaneously, so upgrading without checking first can lead to compatibility issues. The easiest way to see what version your site is running on is through the MultiPHP Manager in your cPanel dashboard. Here’s how:

1. Login to your cPanel account through the Domains.co.za Client Portal.
2. Scroll to the Software section.
3. Open MultiPHP Manager.
4. Find your domain in the list.
5. Check the PHP Version column to see which one your website is using.

If your domain is using an older PHP version, you can decide whether to use PHP Extended Support or attempt an upgrade.

IMPORTANT:

Before updating, it’s essential to do a full backup in cPanel, so you have a stable copy of your site in case any issues may arise.  

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