PHP web hosting

PHP operates on the server side, meaning PHP scripts are executed on the server as opposed to on the client side – as is the case with other scripting languages such as JavaScript. Accordingly, the source text is not sent to a web browser, but to a so-called "PHP interpreter" on the web server. When a user sends a request to the server, the PHP interpreter must first process the script on the server itself before sending the output to the user's browser. This output can be in the form of HTML documents or a range of other file types, such as .jpg or .pdf documents.

In order for PHP scripts to function properly on web applications, some prerequisites must also be fulfilled on the server side. For instance, programming interfaces such as ISAPI are necessary for server services like Apache to execute PHP interpreter command lines. One of the most common configurations – known as LAMP – is combining a Linux operating system with an Apache PHP web server, a MySQL database, and PHP script. Other combinations with Windows or macOS are also possible. With IONOS, you have the assurance that all technical requirements for PHP hosting will be fulfilled. You can find further information on PHP in our comprehensive tutorial.

Backward compatibility with version 5.x is guaranteed, allowing you to run most of the old PHP 5.x applications as normal and simultaneously enjoy the benefits of PHP 7. In order to avoid encountering errors when migrating from PHP 5.5 or 5.6 to PHP 7, be sure to first consult the PHP developer's migration guide. Among other things, the guide gives an overview of the points at which backward compatibility must be broken. For applications that are not self-written, we recommend checking the provider's specifications before modifying the PHP version of your domain. Support for older versions of PHP has been discontinued.

Yes. You can view your current PHP version and choose to switch to a newer version in the IONOS Control Centre settings. This makes it simple for you to choose the most appropriate solution for your applications and scripts. Once you notice they are compatible with PHP 7, you can update to the latest version directly in order to achieve the optimal level of security and performance. For security reasons, older PHP versions are only available as part of IONOS Extended Support for existing customers. You can find further detailed information on changing your version of PHP in our Help Centre.

Yes. IONOS supports all other important and widely used scripting languages, including Perl, Python, and Ruby. Frameworks like Zend are also supported by IONOS, so you can easily find the best solution and corresponding script language for any given project. This gives you a wealth of possibilities for creating dynamic content on your website, allowing faster database access and hassle-free customization according to your individual requirements.

With a short piece of PHP script, you can easily find out how PHP is configured in your hosting package. To do this, use the following command to display the PHP file info:

<?php

phpinfo();

?>

This will help you identify the specific PHP version number and see which modules are installed at a glance. Alternatively, you can use your FTP main user login data to access the log file via your webspace's log directory and view it in your browser. Simply enter your domain into the browser address bar and log in: http://YOURDOMAIN.co.uk/logs/info.php.