What is PHP and What You Need To Know About It

Posted by Christina Hills | WordPress Tips | 0

If you own a WordPress website, you may have seen the words “PHP Update Needed” on your Site Health dashboard. Most website owners do not know what PHP is because it is rare that you need to do anything with it.

However, it is helpful to understand the connection between PHP, your website, and your hosting account. In this article, I will break it down in simple language and explain how you can update your own PHP when you see those alerts.

What Is PHP?

PHP is a programming language that runs behind the scenes on your website. You never see it when you visit a page, but it is working in the background to run your website. WordPress itself is built using PHP.

PHP helps your WordPress website pull information from the database, display the right content to visitors, process forms, and make plugins and themes work correctly. Every time someone visits your site, PHP is putting the page together before it is shown in their browser.

So, WordPress runs your website, and PHP runs WordPress. While you can make updates to your WordPress website through your dashboard, you have to go into your hosting account to make updates to PHP.

Why Updating PHP Is Important

When you see an alert that your PHP needs to be updated, do not ignore it. There are a few reasons why keeping your PHP up to date is important.

1) Security
Older versions of PHP no longer receive security updates. This can leave your website vulnerable to hackers and malware. Updating PHP ensures that your site has the latest security patches.

2) Performance
Newer versions of PHP are faster and more efficient. Websites running updated PHP load quicker, which can improve visitors’ experience and even help your search engine rankings.

3) Compatibility
WordPress themes and plugins are designed to work with current versions of PHP. Using an outdated version can cause features to break or plugins to stop working altogether.

4) Stability
Updated PHP versions reduce the risk of errors, crashes, or conflicts with WordPress core updates. This helps keep your website running smoothly.

How to Tell If Your PHP Is Outdated

WordPress or your hosting dashboard will often alert you if your PHP version is out of date. When your PHP is outdated, you might see a message in the WordPress Site Health screen or in your hosting control panel. That is your sign to check your version and take action.

How to Find Your PHP Version

Here is how you can check which version of PHP your site is using:

In WordPress: Go to Tools → Site Health → Info, then look for the Server section.
In cPanel: Check your hosting dashboard under server information or PHP configuration.
Ask your host: Contact your hosting provider if you cannot find the version.

How to Update Your PHP Version in GreenGeeks cPanel

Some hosting companies will update your PHP for you when needed, but most do not because they want to avoid breaking anything on your site. If you see an alert that your PHP version is out of date, contact your hosting company or watch the video below to see how to update it yourself. The video is specific to GreenGeeks, but the steps are similar for many other hosts.

If you host your website with GreenGeeks (my affiliate link for them), I have created a short video showing how to update your PHP version.

Steps to Update Your PHP in GreenGeeks

Here are the steps I followed in the video. These are usually similar for other hosting companies such as Bluehost, SiteGround, and Hostinger.

Log in to your GreenGeeks cPanel.
Scroll to the Software section.
Click Select PHP Version, choose a newer version, and click Apply.
Refresh your WordPress dashboard to make sure the warning is gone.

If you run into any problems after updating, you can switch back to the previous PHP version or contact your hosting support team.

Note: if you are using another web hosting company, contact them for the steps to update your PHP software.

Final Thoughts

In short, PHP is the foundation WordPress runs on, even though you never see it.

Keeping your PHP version updated helps your website stay fast, secure, stable, and compatible with the latest themes and plugins. Pay attention to any PHP warnings in WordPress and update it through your hosting account or ask your host for help.

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About The Author

Christina Hills

Christina Hills helps entrepreneurs set up their websites using WordPress without having to rely on a webmaster or any tech people. Her trainings are fun and she makes it easy! Get the free PDF "The Do-It-Yourself Website Creation Checklist" Report Here

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“I never thought I would be this happy with a website!”

I never thought I would be this happy with a website! I was stuck between paying AT LEAST $5000 for someone else to create a good website vs. creating a website myself that I wouldn’t really like. I didn’t want to pay that much, but I knew that I didn’t have the expertise to create even a bad website.

But with Christina’s Website Creation Workshop, I produced something that I am proud of and that is constantly getting me compliments! The step-by-step process is very straightforward and easy. Christina has “game-a-fied” the creation process so you see yourself making progress as you go. Not only do I love my site, but I’ve been able to even help some other people because of the training I’ve received!

Steven Cooper

www.ClarityFocusHeart.com

“Thank God I found Christina and her team!”

WOW! I can’t believe I created my own website! When I began this journey I was not sure I could really do it. After years of having paid others to create and maintain a website, I thought I might be getting in over my head. Thank God I found Christina and her team!

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AkashicWorkshop.com

“I love my new site and I feel very proud of myself for pushing through my anxiety to learn so many new skills!”

Christina’s methodical and detailed approach to teaching WordPress is amazing! I had been afraid of WordPress before joining the WCW!! But Christina and her team make it all feel manageable, one step at a time.

I love my new site and I feel very proud of myself for pushing through my anxiety to learn so many new skills. There is no way I could have done it (or would have had the nerve to try) without Christina Hills and the WCW. Thank you so much!!

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www.AllThingsOrganizedKC.com

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Thank you, Christine and Team – you have all be fabulous and the training and support from the Facebook Group have gone over and above what I could have ever imagined. Thank you and I am looking forward to managing my own website!

Jackie Kloosterboer

“I have gained skills and confidence in designing my own site!”

Christina and her team have finessed the tricky balance between challenge and encouragement through an on-line platform allowing for even the most technically-challenged entrepreneur to be successful with developing their own website. I have gained skills and confidence in designing my own site – and now maintaining it — all while having fun! I’m so glad I found you when I did.

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“A superb program to learn and implement technologies that are typically out of reach to non-techies.”

Christina Hills is a natural teacher! The Website Creation Workshop is a superb, comprehensive program to learn and implement technologies that are typically out of reach to non-techies. As a tool for every size business to establish an online brand, I’m confident that an investment in this program is worth the time and every penny spent working with Christina and her team. The support and guidance are invaluable!

Phyllis Shabad

www.ExecutiveBrandCoach.com

“I would recommend the Website Creation Workshop to anyone who wants to gain the freedom of building their own online presence!”

I am very grateful for Christina and her team to develop such a wonderful and useful course!

The workshop is so well-organized that a non-technical person like me can learn and master at my own pace. It teaches almost anything you can think of while building a website. I also had chances to ask my own questions and get answers on live calls. I feel so empowered that I can put up my own beautiful websites, and produce content that I want to share with the world.

I love the precious “real estate” on the Internet that belongs to me, instead of building on the rented land such as social media. I used to work with web developers on websites, it’s very time consuming with numerous back-and-forth emails and calls on any design idea or change, let alone the cost, time delay, and headache associated with it.

I would recommend the Website Creation Workshop to anyone who wants to gain the freedom of building their own online presence. I did it in four months with about an hour a day. It is an incredibly freeing experience to learn from Christina. Thank you!

Aileen Fan

AileenFan.com

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I want to deeply thank you Christina Hills and Team for the outstanding quality of the program and the kind and helpful assistance I received all along my Website Creation Workshop journey. I will keep being and attached member of Christina Hills Community and I’m honored to be one of her students.

Cecilia Roger

JapaneseEmbroideryAcademy.com

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Christina’s Website Creation Workshop was FANTASTIC! As a graphic designer, I know how to make things look pretty! But I learned so much more about building an interesting and effective website.

Christina teaches at a pace that is slow and powerful, so all of the details have time to soak in. I highly recommend, and do to all of my entrepreneur friends, Christina’s training. It is EMPOWERING! Thanks!

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I have attempted to learn WordPress many times with online tutorials, and continued to hit “roadblocks” where I couldn’t figure out how to move forward.

With the Website Creation Workshop, I was able to understand how WordPress works so much more clearly and was able to ask critical questions when needed. I am glad to have taken a chance on this course and am so happy to have completed this website – one that I hope will be the first of many more!

Maria Moyser

BrooklynAnimalAction.org

“Christina Hills’ Website Creation Workshop course is The Best online course I’ve ever taken!”

Christina Hills’ Website Creation Workshop course is The Best online course I’ve ever taken! Here’s why: It’s way more than information-packed (which it is). It took me, step-by-step, to create my own website in a way that was thorough, and easy to understand, and supportive, and encouraging, and easy to follow … AND FUN!

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Kathryn Gillett

TheHeroMethod.com

“I highly recommend Christina’s course – and have to many, many people!”

I have been a member of Christina Hills’ community for three years now. I have appreciated her clear and understandable teaching. Christina’s lessons are very step by step so that anyone can follow them – even with NO website experience. Her process has been refined so that you just need to follow the process. You do not get lost down the many, many rabbit holes in WordPress or building a website. Her course is well organized and easy to navigate.

I recently purchased a Pinterest course from a “big name” and was shocked how sparse the information was and how much she assumed you knew. Christina is NOT like this. Her course is stellar if you want to build your own website.

Depending on the amount of time you have, you could build it quickly, or it could take you more time. It also depends what you are trying to build. My site is fairly complicated with two kinds of blog posts – one to support my podcast and one for the recipes. I have many pictures for each recipe. But with Christina’s help and that of her team, it is built and out in the world!!

I highly recommend Christina’s course – and have to many, many people.

Cindy Sullivan

FoodSensitivityKitchen.com

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If it weren’t for the Website Creation Workshop, I might still not have a website up and running! Christina goes through things step by step so that you not only know what buttons to click, but why.

The knowledge will continue to be helpful so that even if I have someone else manage updates on my website, I can easily go in and make quick changes myself and will understand what I’m asking someone else to do. This was a great way to get myself going!

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Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I joined the workshop in Spring 2019 and I completed a website for my husband’s music business. It is not perfect, but at the moment it is enough for our purposes. Of course it will grow and change alongside our business.

I agreed to help my husband to publish his music (stuck indoors, Covid and all…) Suddenly, I acquired a very clear vision where I wanted to go and now we not only have a website, but have also gained a verified and approved artist status on Spotify and YouTube – In three short months ? and this is really just the beginning. And you helped with a very important piece – building a foundation, our house on the web.

I wanted to say thank you for providing a very comprehensive resource that helped me to overcome “it is not enough” syndrome and to create my first ever working WordPress website. You gave me enough confidence to finish and publish it.

Thanks a million. You are awesome!

Neris Gallo

DantePlay.com

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One of the things I love about you and your company Christina, is that you run it from an abundant loving place, like you’re caring for your fellow human. Along with all your brilliant teaching skills, you make it easy to want to stay connected to you, Christina, because you have built in the space for people to be human and change their mind or go through hard things and you support us in that.

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livingfromjoy.com

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Jim Phillips

www.LivingInFullExpression.com

“Christina instills confidence and independence in her students.”

I decided the new skill I’d learn during Covid lockdown would be web design, and I couldn’t have chosen a better teacher and program than the Website Creation Workshop. Christina Hills is a teacher’s teacher ( I say that as a teacher!) She has tremendous facility teaching technical skills and breaking them down in a simple, non-overwhelming process that is actually fun, especially to a non-technical audience. She is logical as well as creative in the perfect balanced combination. She understands creative multi-faceted people who are working with more than one niche, yet provides structure and sound advice at the same time. I have taken almost all of her different programs at this point, and each one has delivered far beyond my expectations.

Above all, Christina instills confidence and independence in her students so that a non-technical solo entrepreneur can manage their own online presence independently without stress, multiple contractors or overwhelm. This newfound freedom, confidence and independence to be able to update my websites anytime I want on my own timeline is absolutely priceless. I’ve even noticed benefits outside the class, in that I am more eager to tackle complex technical things a lot more lately because of my overall increased technical skills.

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Laura Kessler

CreativeLeadershipInstitute.com

“I am not a technically savvy person. And I just completed a gorgeous website that I’m really pleased with!”

“I am not a technically savvy person. And I just completed a gorgeous website that I’m really pleased with! Christina’s WCW is extremely well organized and detailed. Even I could follow it with ease! I feel empowered, because the world of websites is no longer a big mystery. What a wonderfully surprising silver lining.”

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www.WiseHeartedWoman.com

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The Website Creation Workshop has been extraordinarily helpful and made it fun to build a website – and in a shorter time than expected. Building a website used to be something I dreaded, but knew that I had to take care of as a new online entrepreneur. I feel proud of what I have accomplished, and empowered to maintain and improve the site on an ongoing basis. Thank you so much Christina and team!

Susanna Grinsvall

www.SusannaGrinsvall.com

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Christina provides a wealth of information in a clear, concise, practical and fun manner. I tried to do my own WordPress website and ended up frustrated and with unsatisfactory results. After attending a free webinar about the Website Creation Workshop, I knew immediately that she was an excellent teacher, presenter and a person of heart.

I am so thrilled with my new website and my ability to control and grow my content over time. I ran into some challenges along the way, but Christina and her team were there every step of the way. That is a sign of a great teacher! Thank you Christina and I look forward to continuing the journey with you in other workshops.

Debra Duwe

FourPawsDogTraining.com

“Super big thank you to Christina!”

After following Christina Hills online for a while I found her instruction to be very thorough, and honest in approach, so I decided to give the Website Creation Workshop a try. It happened at a time when I was struggling with another web designer, again, a grand total of four designers over a period of 15 years!!! I couldn’t be happier to not have to make those angry, frustrated calls anymore. Seriously!

Aside from things typically taking way too long, if they were even done, creative differences tended to be a problem for me as well. “What do you mean you don’t want to do that?” I find myself repeating over and over for things like “Why is the site not mobile responsive?”….. Never again!

Super empowering to not be subjugated to the will of another. With my vision, and the skills I’ve learned, I can build what I want, and change/modify it when I see fit, or necessary. Super big thank you to Christina and the WCW team for helping me get here!

Pat Magrath

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What is PHP and What You Need To Know About It

What Is PHP?

Why Updating PHP Is Important

How to Tell If Your PHP Is Outdated

How to Find Your PHP Version

How to Update Your PHP Version in GreenGeeks cPanel

Steps to Update Your PHP in GreenGeeks

Final Thoughts

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About The Author

Christina Hills

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