PHP Programming: Complete Guide (2026)
PHP powers 77% of all websites - the dominant language for WordPress, Laravel web apps, and dynamic web backends.
What is PHP?
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server-side scripting language created in 1995 by Rasmus Lerdorf. Originally designed for web development, PHP has evolved into a mature, object-oriented language. It powers WordPress (43% of all websites), Facebook (started in PHP), and thousands of web applications. Modern PHP (8.0+) is fast, type-safe, and actively maintained.
Why Learn PHP in 2026?
- WordPress Dominance: 43% of websites use WordPress (PHP)
- Easy Deployment: Cheap hosting, runs everywhere
- Laravel Ecosystem: Modern, elegant PHP framework
- Freelance Opportunities: Massive WordPress plugin/theme market
- Job Availability: 70,000+ PHP jobs in UK
Strengths
- Easy Deployment: Shared hosting, one-click WordPress installs
- Huge WordPress Market: Themes, plugins, customization work
- Laravel Framework: Modern, elegant, productive
- Large Community: Decades of tutorials, packages, help
- Improved Performance: PHP 8+ is significantly faster
- Low Barrier to Entry: Easy to start, gentle learning curve
Weaknesses
- Inconsistent API: Function naming is historically messy
- Legacy Reputation: Old PHP code gives it bad rep
- Declining Popularity: Losing ground to Node.js, Python
- Security Issues: Easy to write insecure code (if careless)
- Not for Everything: Primarily web-focused
Best Use Cases
| Domain | Why PHP? | Popular Tools |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress Development | 43% of websites, huge market | WordPress, WooCommerce, ACF |
| Web Applications | Laravel makes PHP development elegant | Laravel, Symfony |
| Content Management | Mature CMS options | WordPress, Drupal, Joomla |
| E-commerce | WooCommerce, Magento dominance | WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop |
Job Market & Salary (2026)
Average Salaries (UK)
- Junior PHP Developer: £25,000 - £38,000
- Mid-Level Developer: £40,000 - £60,000
- Senior PHP Developer: £60,000 - £80,000
- Laravel Specialist: £55,000 - £85,000
Job Demand
- LinkedIn Jobs (UK): 70,000+
- Growth: Declining but still massive installed base
- Remote Work: 60% offer remote options
- Freelance: Huge WordPress customization market
Learning Curve
Difficulty: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (Easy)
Time to Proficiency:
- Basic Skills: 2-4 weeks
- Job-Ready: 3-5 months
- Advanced: 1-2 years
Getting Started: Hello World
// Hello World in PHP
// Variables and types
'Alice',
'age' => 25
];
// Modern PHP 8+ (arrow functions, null safe operator)
$numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
$doubled = array_map(fn($n) => $n * 2, $numbers);
// Null safe operator
$country = $user?->address?->country;
// Named arguments
function createUser(string $name, int $age) {}
createUser(name: "Alice", age: 25);Popular Frameworks & Tools
Modern Frameworks
- Laravel: Most popular modern PHP framework
- Symfony: Enterprise-grade framework
- CodeIgniter: Lightweight framework
- Slim: Micro-framework for APIs
CMS Platforms
- WordPress: 43% of all websites
- Drupal: Enterprise CMS
- Joomla: Flexible CMS
E-commerce
- WooCommerce: WordPress e-commerce (28% of online stores)
- Magento: Enterprise e-commerce
Career Paths
- WordPress Developer: Themes, plugins, customization
- Laravel Developer: Modern web applications
- Full-Stack Developer: PHP backend + JavaScript frontend
- E-commerce Developer: WooCommerce, Magento stores
- Freelance Developer: WordPress/PHP customization projects
Best PHP Courses (2026)
Master PHP with these highly-rated courses (affiliate links coming soon).
PHP for Beginners - Complete Course
Learn PHP from scratch. Modern PHP 8, OOP, MySQL databases, and build real projects.
Laravel - The Complete Guide
Master Laravel framework. Build modern web apps with Eloquent ORM, Blade templates, and APIs.
WordPress Plugin & Theme Development
Build custom WordPress themes and plugins. Complete WordPress development course.
Final Verdict
You should learn PHP if you:
- Want to work with WordPress (huge market)
- Building web applications with Laravel
- Interested in freelance web development
- Want easy deployment and cheap hosting
- Need a gentle learning curve to get started
Look elsewhere if you:
- Want the latest, trendiest technology (use JavaScript, Go, Rust)
- Building mobile apps (use Swift, Kotlin, Dart)
- Want maximum performance (use C++, Rust, Go)
- Prefer strong, static typing (use TypeScript, Java)
Bottom line: PHP gets a bad reputation from old code, but modern PHP (8.0+) with Laravel is actually quite pleasant. The WordPress ecosystem alone provides endless job opportunities and freelance work. If you want stable employment in web development with a gentle learning curve, PHP is a safe bet. It's not dying anytime soon - 77% of websites is a massive installed base that needs maintenance and development.