PHP Web Development: What It Is, Why It Still Matters, and What You Need to Know

When you think about how websites work behind the scenes, PHP web development, a server-side scripting language used to build dynamic websites and web applications. Also known as Hypertext Preprocessor, it runs on the server to generate HTML that your browser displays—no coding required on the user’s end. Despite what you might hear, PHP isn’t dying. It’s still running over 75% of all websites that use a server-side language, including big names like Facebook (in its early days), Wikipedia, and WordPress—which powers nearly 40% of the entire web.

So why does PHP stick around? Because it’s simple, cheap to host, and works with almost every server setup. You don’t need a fancy cloud environment to run PHP—it runs on basic shared hosting for under $5 a month. Compare that to Python or Node.js, which often need more memory and configuration. And while Python, a versatile language often used for web development, data science, and automation is growing fast, most companies don’t pick one over the other—they use both. A site might run on PHP for the front-end content, while Python handles the data analysis or AI features behind the scenes. That’s not competition. That’s teamwork.

And then there’s the ecosystem. WordPress, a content management system built on PHP that lets anyone create a website without coding is the biggest reason PHP stays relevant. Thousands of plugins, themes, and developers know how to fix, customize, or scale WordPress sites. If you need a website that loads fast, ranks well, and can be updated by your marketing team, PHP is still the most reliable path. You don’t need to be a coding expert to get results—just someone who understands how to pick the right tools.

PHP isn’t flashy. It doesn’t have the hype of new frameworks or the trendy reputation of JavaScript. But it gets the job done. Real businesses—local shops, service providers, e-commerce stores—rely on it every day because it works, it’s affordable, and it’s been tested for over 25 years. If you’re learning web development, you don’t have to choose between PHP and Python. You need to know when each one fits. And if you’re hiring a developer, asking if they know PHP isn’t outdated—it’s smart.

Below, you’ll find real comparisons, practical advice, and no-fluff breakdowns of how PHP stacks up today. Whether you’re deciding which language to learn, evaluating a website project, or just trying to understand why your site runs on PHP, these posts give you the facts—not the noise.