PHP Supported Versions
Each PHP release branch is actively supported for two years after its initial stable release, receiving bug fixes and security patches. After that period, it enters one additional year of security-only support. Once all support windows have closed, the branch reaches its end of life and no further updates are provided.
| Branch | Initial Release | Active Support Until | Security Support Until | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHP 8.5 | 20 Nov 2025 | 31 Dec 2027 | 31 Dec 2028 | Active |
| PHP 8.4 | 21 Nov 2024 | 31 Dec 2026 | 31 Dec 2027 | Active |
| PHP 8.3 | 23 Nov 2023 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Dec 2026 | Active |
| PHP 8.2 | 8 Dec 2022 | 31 Dec 2024 | 31 Dec 2025 | Security Only |
| PHP 8.1 | 25 Nov 2021 | 31 Dec 2023 | 31 Dec 2024 | End of Life |
| PHP 8.0 | 26 Nov 2020 | 26 Nov 2022 | 26 Nov 2023 | End of Life |
| PHP 7.4 | 28 Nov 2019 | 28 Nov 2021 | 28 Nov 2022 | End of Life |
Support Lifecycle
PHP follows a predictable release schedule. A new minor version is published each year, typically in November. Every release goes through three distinct phases:
- Active Support (2 years): The branch receives both bug fixes and security patches on a regular basis.
- Security-Only Support (1 year): Only critical security vulnerabilities are addressed; general bug fixes are no longer backported.
- End of Life: The branch is no longer maintained. Upgrading to a supported version is strongly recommended.
Why Staying Current Matters
Running an unsupported PHP version exposes your application to unpatched security vulnerabilities and means missing out on performance improvements and new language features. Each major PHP 8.x release brings significant speed gains and modern syntax additions that make code cleaner and easier to maintain.
Explore PHP Functions
Browse our full reference of PHP built-in functions with examples and usage notes.
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