PHP 8.3 was released today on November 23, 2023. This is a major update, and official support will soon end for PHP 8.1.
PHP 8.3 Features
A new version of PHP always means performance improvements and bug fixes. Among other things, it introduces new methods for the Random extension, first introduced in PHP 8.2: Randomizer::getFloat() and Randomizer::nextFloat().
PHP 8.3 of course also brings changes to syntax and new functions and classes, such as the json_validate() function which checks if a string contains valid JSON. For deprecations and more information on backward compatibility, click here – for example, calls to get_class() and get_parent_class() functions without arguments will be deprecated.
When Will PHP 8.3 Be Available?
PHP 8.3 will soon be available at Seravo – we will update this article as soon as it is available for developers. Currently the latest available version is PHP 8.2. All PHP versions at Seravo (and the PHP versions that are being deprecated with schedules for removal) can also be found in our Knowledge Bank.
Which PHP Version Does WordPress Support?
The latest WordPress, version 6.4, requires PHP 7.4 or newer. PHP 8.0 and 8.1 are supported with some exceptions, and support for PHP 8.2 and 8.3 are currently in beta stage. It is therefore not recommended to upgrade to the latest PHP version immediately upon release, as the WordPress core and plugins will only start supporting newer PHP versions as they are updated by their developers.
Checking Your Site’s PHP Version in WordPress
If your WordPress site is hosted at Seravo’s premium hosting and upkeep, you can check which PHP version your site is currently using – just log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and access the Seravo plugin menu.
How to Update PHP in WordPress?
At Seravo you can check your WordPress site’s PHP compatibility. You can run the wp-php-compatibility-check command to find out if all the plugins installed on your site are compatible with a newer PHP version. For more detailed instructions for upgrading your site’s PHP version, see the Seravo Knowledge Base.
Help for Upgrading PHP in WordPress
If you need help updating the PHP version of your site, let our WordPress experts help – get in touch with us by email, help@seravo.com!