A PHP version is a numbered edition of PHP, like 8.3. Each edition is looked after for a limited time, then gets security fixes only, then nothing. Two sites can run the same WordPressWordPress is free software for building and editing a website in your browser. It is written in PHP, so it builds each page when someone visits. and still sit on very different PHP versions, with very different risk, so it is worth knowing which one yours uses.
What is a PHP version?
The number, such as 8.3 or 8.3.36, tells you which features your site can use and whether the PHP project still fixes problems in it.
A PHP version has three parts: major, minor and patchA security patch is a software update that closes one known security weakness and adds nothing else, so installing it protects you against that problem.. In 8.3.36, the 8 is the major version, the 3 the minor version and 36 the patch release. People usually talk about the branch, which is the major and minor number together, so 8.3. Within a branch, patch releases fix bugs and security problems without adding features.
Each branch moves through phases. First it gets active supportActive support is the phase in which a PHP version is fully looked after: both ordinary bugs and security problems get fixed, with regular updates., with bug fixes and security fixes. Then it moves to security supportSecurity support is a phase in which a PHP version only gets fixes for security problems. Ordinary bugs are no longer repaired., where only security problems are fixed. After that it reaches end of lifeEnd of life (EOL) means the makers have stopped looking after a version of software. It still works, but it no longer gets updates, not even security fixes. and gets nothing.
The current dates
According to php.net, read on October 21, 2026, PHP 8.2 and 8.3 are in security support until December 31, 2026 and December 31, 2027. PHP 8.4 has active support until December 31, 2026 and security support until December 31, 2028. PHP 8.5 has active support until December 31, 2027 and security support until December 31, 2029. PHP 8.1 and 8.0 are end of life.
Why the version matters for your site
Your WordPress themeA WordPress theme is a ready-made package that decides how your WordPress site looks and how its pages are laid out. Change the theme and the design changes. and plugins are written for a range of PHP versions. A version that is too old can stop a current pluginA WordPress plugin is an add-on you install in WordPress to give your site extra features, such as contact forms, SEO tools or a webshop. from installing. A version that is too new can break an old plugin, because functions it relies on have been removed or changed after a deprecationA deprecation is an early warning that a feature still works today but will be removed in a future PHP version, so code using it must be changed in time. period.
The version also decides what happens when a vulnerabilityA vulnerability is a weakness in software that an attacker can use to do something the software was never meant to allow, such as reading private data. is found. On a supported branch the fix arrives as a patch release, and you install it. On a branch past its end of life there is no official fix for your branch.
How to check and compare
Open your hostingWeb hosting is the service that keeps your website's files on a computer that is always online, so visitors can open your site at any time. panel and look for the PHP settings of your domainA domain name is the address people type to reach your website, such as yourcompany.com. It points visitors to wherever your site is hosted., or ask your host. Write down the full version including the patch number, because the patch number tells you whether you have the latest security fixes. On October 21, 2026, the PHP project released 8.5.12, 8.4.27, 8.3.36 and 8.2.35.
Then compare with the support table on php.net. If you are not sure what your site shows to the outside, you can check your PHP version with the free tool, which gives you the version that is visible from the public side.
When to move to another version
Move when your branch is end of life, when security support ends within the next year, or when a plugin you need requires a newer version. Put the date in your calendar well before it, because a tested update takes more time than a quick one. When we update PHP in WordPress, we take care of the backupA backup is a separate copy of your website's files and database, so you can bring the site back after a mistake, a hack or a failed update., the stagingA staging environment is a private copy of your website where you try updates first, so any mistakes happen there and not on the live site. test and the switch. Read PHPPHP is a programming language that builds your web pages on the computer that hosts your site, just before they reach the visitor. WordPress runs on it. first if you want the background on what is being updated.
Frequently asked questions
What does PHP 8.3.36 mean?
The 8 and 3 together name the branch, 8.3. The last number, 36, is the patch release in that branch. Patch releases contain fixes and keep the same features.
How often does PHP release a new version?
The PHP project publishes a new minor version such as 8.4 or 8.5 about once a year, and patch releases in between. Each branch has a fixed support window listed on php.net.
Can I skip a PHP version when I update?
Usually yes, if your code and plugins work on the target version. Larger jumps just collect more deprecations and removed features, so test the site on the target version before you switch.
Where do I see my PHP version?
In your hosting control panelA hosting control panel, such as cPanel, Plesk or DirectAdmin, is the web page where you manage your domain, email, databases and PHP version., in a phpinfo page, or through the command php -v if you have shell access. The free PHP exposure check shows what is visible from outside.