This article explains how PHP is configured at DreamHost and provides details about the extended support plan.
What is PHP?
PHP is a free scripting language that is usually combined with HTML to create dynamic and interactive websites and software like WordPress. PHP can add the following functionality to a website:
- Create and manipulate files on the server
- Save contact form data
- Connect a website to a database
- Encrypt data
PHP versions
PHP versions at DreamHost
See this article to learn more about the various PHP versions available at DreamHost.
The following articles explain how to view and upgrade your site's PHP version:
Updates
PHP is continually updated by its developers. At any given time, there are versions that are officially supported by PHP's development team and versions that are no longer being maintained.
It's very important to make sure the version your site is using is currently supported by PHP's developers. The benefits of staying updated include:
- New features/functionality
- Security improvements
- Stability and speed improvements
- Bug fixes
Supported/outdated versions
As newer versions are released, older versions are retired. When an older version of PHP is no longer supported by its developers, it has reached its End of Life (EOL) status. A list of current PHP versions and their EOL schedule can be found here.
DreamHost extended support
DreamHost requires PHP Extended Support in order to continue using older PHP versions that have been EOLed by php.net. This gives you extra time to upgrade the version of PHP after it's no longer officially supported. See this article for further details.
DreamHost PHP configurations
PHP server configuration
DreamHost runs PHP as a FastCGI application.
mod_php is not supported on managed hosting plans. These include:
- Shared
- VPS
- DreamPress
- Dedicated (without an admin user)
However, you can install this manually on a Dedicated Server or DreamCompute, as those plans allow sudo access.
Adjusting the default PHP settings
PHP is installed with default settings. You can adjust many of these by creating or editing a file named php.ini. Any settings you add to this file override the server's default PHP settings.
The standard term for this file is php.ini; however, DreamHost uses the term phprc file instead. This acts the same way — only the name is different. See this article for more information.
See also
DreamHost links
PHP mail articles
Third-party links
- php.net – PHP's official website
- PHP tutorial – W3Schools