PHP 8 and PHP 7 are two of the most popular versions of the open-source scripting language PHP. But how do they compare when it comes to performance? In this article, we’ll take a head-to-head look at the performance differences between PHP 8 and PHP 7.

The Different

First, let’s look at the main differences between the two versions. PHP 8 is the latest version of the language, released in December 2020. It includes various new features, including JIT (Just-In-Time) compilation, improved type system, and improved performance. On the other hand, PHP 7 was released in December 2015, and it has fewer features but is still widely used.

When it comes to performance, one of the most noticeable differences between PHP 8 and PHP 7 is the JIT compiler. The JIT compiler in PHP 8 allows for faster execution of code, resulting in improved performance. In addition, PHP 8 also has an improved type system, which helps reduce the amount of memory used in the execution of code. This reduces the time it takes for the code to run.

When comparing the performance of PHP 8 and PHP 7, it’s important to look at the results from a variety of benchmarks. For example, the TechEmpower Framework Benchmark compares the performance of various web frameworks across a variety of metrics. In this benchmark, PHP 8 was found to be faster than PHP 7 in most categories, including requests per second, latency, and throughput.

In addition to the TechEmpower benchmark, there are other benchmarks that can be used to compare the performance of PHP 8 and PHP 7. For example, the PHPBench benchmark measures the performance of PHP 8 and PHP 7 in terms of memory usage and execution time. The results of this benchmark show that PHP 8 is faster than PHP 7 in most categories, including memory usage and execution time.

Conclusion

Overall, PHP 8 is the clear winner when it comes to performance. Its improved type system and JIT compiler make it faster than PHP 7 in most benchmarks. However, it’s important to note that the differences in performance may not be significant enough to justify upgrading from PHP 7 to PHP 8. Ultimately, the decision to upgrade should be based on the needs of the project.