PHP is a programming language that runs on the web server. When a visitor requests a .php page, the server runs the code and sends back the HTML it produces.
What PHP makes possible
- Pages built from a database: blogs, shops, forums
- Logins, forms, sessions and shopping baskets
- Content management systems — WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Moodle and most Softaculous apps are written in PHP
A tiny example
<?php
echo "Today is " . date('l j F Y');The visitor never sees the code, only the result: “Today is Tuesday 15 September 2026”.
Why the version matters
PHP releases a new version each year. Each version receives active support, then security fixes only, then nothing.
- Newer versions are faster — often noticeably
- Old versions stop getting security fixes
- Code written for old versions may break on new ones, and vice versa
Traxio offers PHP 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3, switchable per domain. Choosing a PHP version: compatibility and support dates helps you choose.
PHP and the database
PHP usually works alongside MySQL/MariaDB: PHP handles logic, the database stores content. What is MySQL (and MariaDB)?
Not with Traxio yet? You can try this on a real server with our free PHP hosting trial: 30 days free with no card, then £0.99 a month.
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