Ensuring Security and Performance: Tips for Updating PHP

HomepageSecurityHow to Easily Update PHP in WordPress for Better Performance and Security

PHP refers to an open-source, server-side scripting and programming language that is an integral part of WordPress. Unlike other static HTML sites, WordPress websites generate their webpages dynamically by pulling data from the server using PHP. The server uses PHP code here to process what is needed to deliver an HTML page to your website’s visitors.

WordPress is one of the most versatile platforms that helps run a large number of blogs, websites, and online businesses. PHP, on the contrary, is a powerful scripting language that makes all this possible by constantly working behind the scenes.

To ensure the security and performance of your website, one key essential requirement is to keep your WordPress website up to date all the time.

However, updating the PHP version of the WordPress website is one aspect that most business owners fail to prioritise. Making use of the latest version of PHP in WordPress can significantly improve your website’s performance, security, and overall user experience.

In this post, we will discuss the importance of updating PHP in WordPress and how you can do it easily.

Importance of Updating PHP Version in WordPress

Updating the PHP version of your WordPress website can boost your website’s performance. There are several advantages of updating PHP in WordPress, including:

Updated PHP versions come with patches for security vulnerabilities and bugs, thus protecting your website against malware and hackers.
The update gives you the advantage of various new features to make the website run its processes much faster and reduce memory usage.

On the contrary, using an older PHP version makes your WordPress website less secure, slower, and prone to errors. This happens due to compatibility issues with WordPress core, plugin, or theme. Fortunately, most WordPress hosting companies offer the latest PHP versions to meet all WordPress requirements.

How to Update PHP in WordPress for Better Performance and Security

There are multiple ways to update PHP in WordPress, such as through your hosting provider, SSH with terminal commands, or just by requesting it through your web host.

Here is a stepwise procedure for updating PHP in WordPress for better performance and security:

Step 1: Back up the Website Before PHP Update

Backing up your WordPress site allows you to restore the website as needed and return to the original place in case of an issue or a problem.

Step 2: Update your WordPress Website

You need to update your WordPress website as soon as the backup is done. This means updating the active theme, installed themes, plugins, and your existing WordPress version.

Pro tip: Remember that WordPress sends you a notification on the dashboard whenever an update is available. To be able to go ahead with an update, select the respective theme, plugin, or WordPress version, followed by clicking on the update button.

Step 3: Check your Website’s Compatibility with the PHP Version

This is the stage where you need to check your website’s compatibility with the PHP version to be updated. Typically, everything works perfectly well if you go ahead with the latest versions of PHP and WordPress websites.

Pro tip: Check the compatibility of each theme with the respective version of PHP you’re activating.

Step 4: Update PHP Versions in Your Hosting Account

Upgrading PHP versions can differ slightly based on your web host. But in most cases, you must log in to your hosting account and scroll to the Software or Programming section. Then, find the PHP version manager and upgrade to the most recent PHP version (now PHP 7.4).

Also Read: Why Update to the Latest PHP Version (+ How to Do it Right)

Step 5: Check the WordPress Website for Errors

Once the PHP update is done, it is time to check the pages on your WordPress site for any visible errors. You can stay on the newest PHP version if there are no errors.

Step 6: Revert To An Earlier PHP Version If Required

If there are any errors while updating PHP versions, there is a possibility that there are incompatible plugins in use. In such a scenario, you need to either find that particular plugin and delete it or simply replace it with a more compatible plugin.

Make a Safe and Speedy WordPress Website With PHP Updates

Whether it’s big website updates or small and minor bugs, regular PHP updates are very important to ensure that your WordPress website remains secure and performs optimally.

This is crucial as an outdated PHP version can make your website prone to harmful security breaches, negatively impact performance, and lead to compatibility problems.

If you are a website owner looking for an extra layer of protection before launching a PHP update, Vodien can help you. Compatible with the latest versions, it offers a comprehensive security solution to your WordPress website.