Is it worth being a PHP developer in 2023 | Scope of PHP developers

PHP is used by 78.9% of all websites, including Facebook, Zoom, and Wikipedia. Since its introduction in the middle of the 1990s, the server-side programming language PHP has gained widespread popularity among developers. You may read articles these days predicting its demise, but the raw data suggest that this may be premature. Additionally, the release of the most recent PHP version (7.4) in November 2019 is not indicative of a dying language.

Therefore, demand for PHP developers is likely to remain robust for the time being, even though it may get overshadowed by the hype surrounding Python and other languages that are rapidly growing. The problem is that there are also a lot of PHP developers; according to a recent Slashdata report, 5.7 million of them. It means that you need to put in a lot of effort to stand out from the crowd as a PHP developer.

What is PHP?

As the PHP website, it states PHP (the PHP recursive acronym: Hypertext Preprocessor) is a popular open-source general-purpose scripting language that can be embedded into HTML and is ideal for web development.

The PHP code runs on the server, and the client receives the generated HTML. For a beginner, it's a relatively easy language to learn. Despite its simplicity, there are a surprising number of advanced features that any professional programmer with experience will appreciate.

PHP is the server-side programming language for 79% of all websites. Popular websites like Etsy, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, Wikipedia, and WordPress use the language.

Fun fact: PHP used to stand for Personal Home Page, but the name changed because it got used to pigeonhole the language. Sometimes, the packaging is everything!

Read about: Software Developer as a career in 2023 

Who are PHP developers?

Simply put, a PHP developer is a professional who uses the dynamic scripting language PHP to create applications, programs, and websites. Doesn't that sound simple enough? The terms "software developer" or "web developer" are sometimes used to refer to PHP developers. PHP developers are just one subset of developers.

Read about the Evolution of IT Skills in 2023

Roles and Responsibilities for PHP Developers 

PHP developers are kept pretty busy by the numerous tasks they must complete. These include, but are not limited to:

• Identify and resolve compatibility issues involving CSS, HTML, and scripting, frequently between different platforms and browsers, while simultaneously working with other developers to meet data acquisition requirements. 
• Create, test, and deploy new, innovative website applications effectively.
• Test websites on mobile, desktop, and tablet browsers and even address any issues uncovered by customer feedback.
• Study and investigate various architectural aspects of the system design process, such as website performance, usability, and database design. Investigate and evaluate many options for implementing new application features.
• Work with other development teams and company management to resolve conflicts, set priorities, select the most effective solutions, or create criteria for new content.

Also, read Why are Python Developers in-demand in 2023?

Skills Required to Become a PHP Developer 

A competent PHP developer must be able to draw from a comprehensive set of relevant skills to meet all of the requirements. The essential skills and abilities are as follows:

• Naturally, PHP, even if you're starting. It's a beginning.
• Familiarity with MySQL, jQuery, and Ajax.
• You need to know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to work as a full-stack developer.
• Unix/Linux, MVC Framework Architecture, and APIs.
• Understanding PHPUnit, a unit testing framework, and CakePHP, an open-source web framework.
• Photoshop or a design program similar to it. 
• Excellent communication skills.

Know more about the Scope of working in Cloud Computing 

How to improve your PHP skills 

The following methods get used to improve your PHP skills:

Take a course on web writing.

You can take a class to learn the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript or improve your web development skills.

Keep up with any new developments.

Web development is a rapidly expanding field that constantly changes in response to new technologies. You can increase your chances of getting hired as a PHP developer by staying up to date on other languages, processes, and tools.

Understand databases.

You can take a class or do your research to learn more about database management and languages if you don't know them well.

Learn to code.

Challenge yourself to complete projects you can practice regularly and improve your PHP and other language skills.

Think about how you communicate.

Reflecting on ways to improve your professional communication is one way to improve your written and verbal communication skills. You might be able to identify areas in which you can improve.

Additional read Why are Game Developers in demand?

Does PHP have a future, are PHP developers still in demand?

In 2013, there were over 5 million PHP developers worldwide, according to DAXX. By September 2018, that number had increased to 5.5 million. As a point of comparison, it is essential to know the number of software developers worldwide, regardless of their proficiency in a particular programming language. This number gets projected to rise from 23 million in 2021 to 27.7 million by the end of 2023.

By the year 2026, the U.S. Board of Labor Statistics anticipates a 15% increase in positions related to web development, including PHP positions. PHP gets used by nearly 80% of the world's websites and has a large community of dedicated adherents, although concerns that it is dying. PHP will always be around, particularly if it continues to advance alongside the more advanced languages. New languages may appear and disappear, but PHP will always be there. For the record, PHP's most recent release, 7.3.11, came out in October 2019, indicating it continues to evolve. For a language first used in 1995, that's not bad!

PHP developers looking for opportunities can send their CVs to resume@outworx.com or apply directly at Outworks Job Portal. You may also upload your resume here.