You must ascertain the version of PHP that is currently installed on your server before updating PHP. Either a PHP info script or a terminal command can be used to do this. When you are aware of the most recent version, take the following actions:
2. Verify compatibility: Prior to updating PHP, you must ensure that your website and any plugins work with the most recent PHP version. To scan your website and identify any compatibility problems, use a plugin like PHP Compatibility Checker. 3. Update PHP: The procedure for doing so depends on your hosting company and the setup of the server. If your WordPress hosting is managed, you can ask the support staff to update PHP for you. A package manager like apt-get or yum can be used to update PHP if you have a VPS or dedicated server. If you have the appropriate knowledge, you may also compile PHP from its source code. What Takes Place If You Change Your PHP Version? Depending on the compatibility and functionality of the new version, updating PHP might have a variety of affects on your website. In general, upgrading PHP to a newer version can enhance the speed, security, and compatibility of your website with the newest technology. However, some plugins or themes might not work with the most recent PHP version, which could result in crashes or issues. Because of this, it’s crucial to verify compatibility before updating PHP. Does PHP 7.0 still receive support? Released in 2015, PHP 7.0 ended its end of support in December 2018. That implies that it is no longer subject to security or bug fixes. Upgrading to a newer version of PHP, such as 7.4 or 8.0, which is supported right now and gets frequent updates, is highly advised. How Long Does It Take to Update PHP? The size of your website, the settings of the server, and the hosting company all affect how long it takes to update PHP. PHP updates should often only take a few minutes to an hour. To make sure everything is operating properly, it is always advised to make a backup and test your website following the upgrade. Is PHP 5.6 a secure version? In December 2018, PHP 5.6 completed the end of support, and security updates are no longer provided. As a result, websites using PHP 5.6 should be updated to a more recent version of PHP since they are at risk from security risks. It is advised to upgrade to PHP 7.4 or 8.0, which are supported and regularly updated for security.
In conclusion, updating PHP on WordPress Linux is an essential step in maintaining the security and performance of your website. You must create a backup, verify compatibility, and select the appropriate version of PHP for your website before updating it. Although updating PHP is a simple operation, you must make sure everything continues to function properly following the upgrade. You can ask your hosting company or a WordPress professional for help if you’re unsure about updating PHP.
You can inspect your website’s source code to see if it was created with PHP or WordPress if you are unsure. Click the page with your right mouse button and choose “View Page Source” or “Inspect” from the drop-down menu. The code that begins with “!– This is WordPress –>” or “html ” should be found.?php language_attributes(); ?>>”. If you see any of these codes, then your website is built with WordPress and uses PHP.
It is advised to use PHP version 7.4 or above for WordPress 2021 since it offers greater performance, security, and compatibility with the most recent WordPress upgrades. Check to see if your WordPress plugins and themes are compatible with the newer PHP version before updating PHP, though.