How is PHP 7 the best server-side scripting language for your new e-commerce store?
Ever since the dawn of modern website design, PHP has been the king of all server-side scripts. It provides better security, quicker turn-around time and it is much cheaper than other server-side scripts that are still struggling to find dedicated followership. Almost all the popular business websites, organization platforms and social media sites we see today still use some version of PHP. Facebook started out with a simple version of PHP, and right now, they have derived their very own, super complex server-side scripting language from the basics of the good-old PHP. Wikipedia still uses PHP in mint condition. The language has seen innumerable updates, yet it is easy to master and multifarious in every way.
What is new with PHP?
Over the years, inflation has gotten worse, the stock market has plummeted a couple of times and Hollywood producers have lost their awards, but PHP has only become better. The language has somehow managed to retain its inherent simplicity and at the same time power over 98.5% of all PHP solutions across the globe. Ever since the launch of PHP 7, e-commerce design styles have found a new lease of life. Although the newer version of PHP looks and feels quite like its predecessors, the 7th generation has managed to reduce RAM consumption by a whopping 50%. Right now, almost 11.5% of all active websites use PHP 7.
Should you opt for PHP 7 while designing your e-commerce site?
Version 7 comes with its sub-versions - PHP 7.0, PHP 7.1, PHP 7.2 and PHP 7.3. Among them, version 7.0 is leading with almost 64% of the market share. Bored Panda, CNBC, and En son Haber are few of the websites that currently use version 7 to power their websites. All of these websites handle heavy traffic each day. Version 7 is seeing a slow but steady adoption rate among website developers. Although the experts had predicted a lighting fast adoption rate for the new PHP version, the new rate is way less than the one projected.
- Several CMS platforms like WordPress have not updated their plug-ins to work with Version 7.
- Most hosting servers are not yet up-to-date to run with PHP 7 in tow.
- The cost of migrating from a perfectly functioning version of PHP to a newer one is undeniable and sometimes, superfluous.
- PHP 6 does not show severe compatibility issues or security flaws. Thus, the sites already running on it do not feel compelled to migrate to the newer version.
In case you were feeling a little apprehensive about the low rate of adaption, you can now rest your thoughts right here. Experts recommend that newer websites start out in PHP 7. In fact, almost 80% of the websites that came to limelight in 2018 are PHP 7 based. They use one of the subversions to run, and several hosting companies working with new start-ups, new social media platforms, and new e-commerce sites are adopting PHP 7 practices for their clients. The new version has paved the way for error-free and easy custom web development.
Why should your e-commerce site have PHP?
New e-commerce sites have a lot of ground to cover. Amazon, Etsy, and eBay have set a high standard for the new websites to compete. The emphasis is gradually moving from product range and prices to user experience (UX) and mobile readiness. Therefore, while picking your server-side scripting language, you need to pick one that can vouch for smooth, responsive designs, flash compatibility, quick online presentations, fancy headers for desktop and mobiles, and special effects on the websites.
- Responsive designs for e-commerce -up until December 2017, almost 82% of all online shoppers have used a mobile device for shopping. This is the very reason you need a scripting language like PHP to take care of your mobile e-commerce aspects.
- Special effects - Although Redtail Las Vegas SEO experts are still unsure about the effects of parallax scrolling on optimization, research shows that e-commerce websites with parallax scrolling perform better with mobile users.
- Header bar designs - PHP for e-commerce sites make it possible to include fixed headers in your site. This contributes to ease of access to the main menu as well as boosts website and brand promotion.
- Flash - Flash is not dead, especially in a world that refuses to replace the old with the new. You can still see incredible interventions of Flash on Facebook modules and games! Your website can utilize PHP's affection for Flash to create stunning banner ads, beautiful responsive headers, and eye-catching 3D interactions.
Perhaps the best attribute of PHP is its enterprising nature. You can "borrow" design elements from libraries. For example – you are using WordPress for your e-commerce site, and you want to expand a few functionalities. You can always turn to the verified PHP libraries and frameworks to add new features to your WordPress powered store in a wink. This language is best friends with every popular CMS you can think of. Just like WordPress, you can introduce new functionalities to your Drupal, Joomla and Magento e-commerce sites within a few minutes.
Wrapping things up
PHP is the scripting language that you should consider if you value user interaction as much as the leading search engines. The user interface (UI) design determines the levels of UX, and you can always rely on this server-side programming language to grease up your sales funnel. PHP is always powerful and always agile. With enough knowledge of the scripting language, you can create a new derivative language that can give your site the kind of server-side look, rendering, flexibility, and compatibility you want. Most importantly, PHP enables your e-commerce site to expand and explore. Many call PHP a developer's best friend due to the ease with which it provides options to add new features, make sitewide changes, include extensions, improve performance, incorporate new frameworks and present options of scalability. Selecting PHP for matching needs is an excellent idea!