If you’re a WordPress user, you may have heard about the importance of keeping your website up-to-date. This includes not only updating your WordPress core and plugins, but also ensuring that your website is running on the latest version of PHP.
But what exactly is PHP and why is it important for your WordPress website? In this article, we’ll discuss the basics of PHP, why it’s important for your WordPress site, and How to check your PHP version in WordPress.
What is PHP?
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server-side scripting language used to create dynamic web pages. It is the most popular programming language for web development, with over 79% of websites using PHP.
PHP is used to create dynamic content on websites, such as contact forms, login pages, and shopping carts. It is also used to connect to databases, making it an essential component for content management systems like WordPress.
Why is PHP Important for WordPress?
WordPress is built on PHP, which means that it requires a PHP server to function. This means that the version of PHP your website is running on can have a significant impact on your website’s performance and security.
Older versions of PHP are no longer supported by the developers, which means they are not receiving security updates. This can leave your website vulnerable to attacks and malware. Additionally, newer versions of PHP are optimized for performance, which can improve the speed and functionality of your website.
How to Check Your PHP Version in WordPress
Now that you understand the importance of PHP for your WordPress website, let’s discuss how to check your PHP version.
Method 1: Using a Plugin
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The easiest way to check your PHP version in WordPress is by using a plugin. There are several plugins available that can display your PHP version, such as Display PHP Version and WP Server Stats.
To use this method, follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to the “Plugins” section and click on “Add New”.
- Search for “Display PHP Version” or “WP Server Stats”.
- Install and activate the plugin of your choice.
- Once activated, the plugin will display your PHP version in the WordPress dashboard.
Method 2: Using the WordPress Debugging Mode
WordPress has a built-in debugging mode that can display your PHP version. To use this method, follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to “Appearance” and click on “Editor”.
- Click on the “functions.php” file on the right-hand side.
- Add the following code at the bottom of the file:
- Click on “Update File”.
- Go to your website and refresh the page.
- You will see a page with all the information about your PHP version, including the version number.
Method 3: Using cPanel
If you have access to your website’s cPanel, you can also check your PHP version from there. To use this method, follow these steps:
- Log in to your cPanel.
- Scroll down to the “Software” section and click on “Select PHP Version”.
- The current PHP version will be displayed at the top of the page.
How to Update Your PHP Version in WordPress
If you find that your website is running on an older version of PHP, it’s important to update it to the latest version. This will ensure that your website is secure and running at its best.
Step 1: Check Your Theme and Plugins
Before updating your PHP version, it’s important to check if your theme and plugins are compatible with the latest version of PHP. You can do this by checking the documentation or contacting the developers.
Step 2: Backup Your Website
Before making any changes to your website, it’s important to create a backup. This will ensure that you have a copy of your website in case anything goes wrong during the update process.
Step 3: Update Your PHP Version
To update your PHP version, follow these steps:
- Log in to your cPanel.
- Scroll down to the “Software” section and click on “Select PHP Version”.
- Click on the dropdown menu next to “PHP Version” and select the latest version.
- Click on “Set as current”.
- Click on “Save”.
- Your website will now be running on the latest version of PHP.
How to Keep Your PHP Version Up-to-Date
To ensure that your website is always running on the latest version of PHP, you can enable automatic updates. This will automatically update your PHP version whenever a new version is released.
To enable automatic updates, follow these steps:
- Log in to your cPanel.
- Scroll down to the “Software” section and click on “Select PHP Version”.
- Click on “Options” at the top of the page.
- Check the box next to “Auto-Update”.
- Click on “Save”.
- Your website will now automatically update to the latest version of PHP.
Conclusion
Keeping your WordPress website up-to-date is essential for security and performance. This includes not only updating your WordPress core and plugins, but also ensuring that your website is running on the latest version of PHP.
In this article, we discussed the basics of PHP, why it’s important for your WordPress site, and how to check and update your PHP version. By following these steps, you can ensure that your website is secure and running at its best.
