PHP is not just a general-purpose programming language; yes, PHP is a technology. Using PHP, you can create dynamic web applications and desktop applications. PHP is the world's most popular scripting language, widely used in web applications. Many companies work with PHP frameworks like Laravel and CodeIgniter. The market value of PHP will never decline because more than 50% of organizational websites are PHP-based. Some famous companies like Facebook and Wikipedia also use PHP.

Should I Learn PHP in 2023?

Yes, you should definitely learn PHP in 2023 or even next year because the PHP market is stable and growing. As more than 50% of companies are working with PHP CMS like WordPress and Magento, these companies rely on PHP. Additionally, many companies use PHP frameworks. Website developers are still creating almost all organizational websites using PHP. PHP is not going anywhere, so learning PHP is not a waste of time. The demand for PHP developers is strong and growing.

Why Should I Learn PHP?

There are many benefits to learning PHP. First, it is completely free; you can download any PHP software without cost. Second, PHP is easy to learn. No prior programming knowledge is required to start learning PHP. You can directly run PHP code because its syntax is easy to understand for web developers. The PHP environment is very user-friendly. If you want to build a strong and bright career and need a job quickly, learning PHP is a great choice. PHP has a large community, so if you ever encounter an error, you can easily find help. In summary, PHP is not a wasteful language to learn.

What Can You Make with PHP?

PHP is used to create dynamic websites, but there are also several practical applications where you can boost your career and earn more money. These include:

• Web-based applications
• Web pages
• E-commerce applications
• Management systems
• Image processing
• Representation of data

PHP offers many functions and commands that can be easily used without cost. The easy accessibility of this scripting language is a major benefit for developers.

PHP and Other Languages

Let's discuss how PHP compares with other programming languages. We won't compare PHP with each language individually, but consider this: if you have a client who needs fast delivery for a project, why would you choose a more expensive language like Python, Java, or JavaScript? PHP is open-source, meaning only developer effort is required, so PHP developers don't expect as much payment from clients. As a beginner, you can master PHP in just three to four weeks. You can create a website for fun that includes sessions, cookies, database connectivity, data retrieval, and login and registration forms. This experience is enough to make you proficient in PHP. After that, you can move on to other languages like Java or Python. Everything depends on your interest. If you're interested in website development, PHP is a great choice.

Comparisons with Other Programming Languages

Many people believe that the salaries of Java and .NET developers are higher than those of PHP developers. While this might be true, it's not the whole story. If you're a Java developer, you might not have as many freelancing opportunities as a PHP developer. PHP has more freelancing opportunities than any other programming language. So while a PHP developer's salary might be lower, their overall income can be higher. PHP developers can work independently. To increase your salary, you should also have knowledge of frontend frameworks, and switching companies periodically can boost your income. Staying in one company may not make you rich.

Skills Required to Learn PHP

First, you should learn PHP core concepts thoroughly. After mastering the core, you should learn PHP object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts. Then, learn a PHP framework like Laravel or CodeIgniter. Additionally, learning a frontend framework like React.js, HTML, CSS, or JavaScript is beneficial. With these skills, you can apply to any multinational company as a PHP developer. To earn more money, you should have at least medium-level knowledge of frontend development and be familiar with at least one framework like React.js, Angular, Bootstrap, or Tailwind.

How Much Knowledge Do You Need to Become a Professional PHP Developer?

Here are a few key areas of knowledge:

• Knowledge of JavaScript, jQuery, and Ajax
• Knowledge of MySQL
• Skills in frontend technologies like HTML, CSS, React.js, or Angular
• Understanding of PHP communities like Stack Overflow
• Understanding of unit testing
• Knowledge of PHP APIs and MVC frameworks
• Good communication skills
• Problem-solving skills

Conclusion

PHP developers are highly paid across the world. In this article, you've learned about the current scope of PHP globally. Beyond creating dynamic websites, PHP offers many other services that can help you boost your career. After learning about the scope of PHP, whether you're a beginner or more experienced, you'll see that the average income for a PHP developer worldwide is $110k/year. This is a very good income compared to other positions in the market