A PHP Upgrade from your web host might cause an error on your website. As a web development company for over 15 years, we have built many websites using open source technologies that take advantage of a PHP server-side software. This technology allows websites to perform dynamically allow website builders to add some very interesting features. Well, in recent months, we’ve received many notices that web hosting companies are updating their default PHP version to 7.4 or higher in order to keep the server technology updated which can be a problem for websites that are not up to date.
So what does this mean for you if your website is built on wordpress, the most popular CMS website platform? If your website has been around for some time, it might be possible that the wordpress version used utilizes an older version of PHP. Additionally, there are many features that add interactivity to a website that also rely on an updated PHP version of the server software. In many cases, those older websites and features may possibly not work properly after the mandatory upgrade. In some instances, websites will not load and show to visitors (your possible customers) and only show an error. Typically, if your website doesn’t load, this would be a disaster and would contribute to a very bad day. In some less severe cases, features like the Contact Us form or plugins may appear to be okay but in hindsight may not perform correctly. As a general rule, it is very important that you have your website checked by a qualified web development professional to make sure that your website will not break if the PHP server side software is upgraded. In our personal experience, we have seen several major hosting announce the upcoming upgrade in the next few weeks and months. Hostgator and Fatcow are two hosting companies that we know have pending upgrades. Our company is undergoing a complete check of all of our clients websites to ensure that there are no issues.
If your company relies on your website, it is critical to keep it maintained and updated with the latest software versions and backed up to prevent any issues. More often, we are updating websites to the newest versions of wordpress or the web platform because of security patches or new features. Both can be very important to your website, to the functionality of your website and should be checked on a regular basis.
So what happens if your web developer has not reviewed your website in quite some time? It is possible that your website will still work but with outdated software. In this case, several scenarios are possible. One scenario is that the hackers of the world can hack your website which in turn could lead to stolen information, compromised security, and even high-jacking of your website. A different scenario could be that your website may appear to be working properly but just not working when the time comes for a client to use your website like on a contact us form and it doesn’t work.
In summary, if your company relies on your website do not leave it to chance. Contact a qualified web developer to take a look at your website and make sure it’s updated the latest versions of the software. If you do not have a web developer you can turn to, our company Advanzmedia is able and ready to help you with all your programming or digital marketing needs.