Since its humble beginnings in 1995, PHP has often been declared “dead.” Every few years, a new framework or language rises with promises to replace it. In the late ’90s, ColdFusion was touted as the future of web development. By the early 2000s, ASP.NET gained traction, especially within enterprises. Then came Ruby on Rails in 2004, which shook the developer community with its simplicity and speed. Django followed in 2006, and more recently, frameworks like Next.js have been seen as the future of modern web applications.
Yet, despite these waves of competition, PHP continues to stand strong. In 2025, PHP proudly celebrates its 30th birthday, proving that it is far from obsolete. The language powers more than 70% of websites on the internet, including giants like WordPress, Facebook (in its early days), and Wikipedia. Its longevity stems from constant evolution—modern PHP looks nothing like the early versions. With improvements such as PHP 7’s performance boosts, PHP 8’s Just-In-Time compilation, and a strong ecosystem of frameworks like Laravel and Symfony, developers still find PHP relevant and powerful.
Critics often underestimate PHP because it has been around for so long. But longevity is not a weakness—it is a testament to stability, adaptability, and community support. PHP remains one of the most accessible languages for beginners while still offering advanced capabilities for large-scale enterprise systems.
The truth is simple: technologies don’t die just because newer ones arrive. They evolve, coexist, and serve different needs. PHP has done exactly that. In 2025, instead of saying “PHP is dead,” it’s more accurate to say, “PHP has grown up.”
So, happy 30th birthday, PHP! After decades of doubt and countless challengers, you’re still here—relevant, reliable, and running the web.
