Andreas Möller

July 16, 2023 September 11, 2023

maintenance,  php

You build, maintain, run, and distribute PHP applications and packages - but are you aware of the lifecycle of a PHP version?

Initial release

The initial release marks the beginning of the lifecycle of a PHP version.

Active support

Active support for a PHP version begins with the initial release and ends two years after the initial release.

During active support, maintainers fix bugs and security issues and release new patch versions.

The following PHP versions currently have active support:

• PHP 8.3
  • initial release on November 23, 2023
  • active support ends on November 23, 2025
• PHP 8.2
  • initial release on December 8, 2022
  • active support ends on December 8, 2024

💡 Also see the official list of supported PHP versions.

Security support

Security support for a PHP version begins with the end of active support and ends one year after the beginning of security support.

During security support, maintainers fix critical security issues and release new patch versions.

The following PHP versions currently have security support:

• PHP 8.1
  • initial release on November 25, 2021
  • active support ended on November 25, 2023
  • security support ends on November 25, 2024

End of life

The end of security support marks the end of the lifecycle of a PHP version.

• PHP 8.0
  • initial release on November 26, 2020
  • active support ended on November 26, 2022
  • security support ended on November 26, 2023
• PHP 7.4
  • initial release on November 28, 2019
  • active support ended on November 28, 2021
  • security support ended on November 28, 2022
• PHP 7.3
  • initial release on December 6, 2018
  • active support ended on December 6, 2020
  • security support ended on December 6, 2021
• PHP 7.2
  • initial release on November 30, 2017
  • active support ended on November 30, 2019
  • security support ended on November 30, 2020
• PHP 7.1
  • initial release on December 1, 2016
  • active support ended on December 1, 2018
  • security support ended on December 1, 2019
• PHP 7.0
  • initial release on December 3, 2015
  • active support ended on January 4, 2018
  • security support ended on January 10, 2019
• PHP 5.6
  • initial release on August 28, 2014
  • active support ended on January 19, 2017
  • security support ended on December 31, 2018
• PHP 5.5
  • initial release on June 20, 2013
  • active support ended on July 10, 2015
  • security support ended on July 21, 2016
• PHP 5.4
  • initial release on March 1, 2012
  • active support ended on September 14, 2014
  • security support ended on September 3, 2015
• PHP 5.3
  • initial release on June 30, 2009
  • active support ended on July 11, 2013
  • security support ended on August 14, 2014
• PHP 5.2
  • initial release on November 2, 2006
  • active support ended on November 2, 2008
  • security support ended on January 6, 2011
• PHP 5.1
  • initial release on November 24, 2005
  • active support ended on November 24, 2007
  • security support ended on August 24, 2006
• PHP 5.0
  • initial release on July 13, 2004
  • active support ended on July 13, 2006
  • security support ended on September 5, 2005
• PHP 4.4
  • initial release on July 11, 2005
  • active support ended on July 11, 2007
  • security support ended on August 7, 2008
• PHP 4.3
  • initial release on December 27, 2002
  • active support ended on December 27, 2004
  • security support ended on March 31, 2005
• PHP 4.2
  • initial release on April 22, 2002
  • active support ended on April 22, 2004
  • security support ended on September 6, 2002
• PHP 4.1
  • initial release on December 10, 2001
  • active support ended on December 10, 2003
  • security support ended on March 12, 2002
• PHP 4.0
  • initial release on May 22, 2000
  • active support ended on May 22, 2002
  • security support ended on June 23, 2001

💡 Also see the official list of unsupported PHP branches.

Are you currently running PHP versions in production that have reached their end of life?