July 13, 2004
PHP 5.0 released
The PHP project released PHP 5.0 on July 13, 2004 with Zend Engine 2, objects, exceptions, and a redesigned object model.
What it was for
PHP 5 turned PHP from a scripting language with classes bolted on into something closer to a real OOPObject-oriented programming — organizing code around objects that combine data and behavior. language — constructors, destructors, visibility, interfaces, and exceptions. It powered the WordPressA PHP CMS powering millions of sites — themes, plugins, and the block editor for publishing. and DrupalA PHP-based CMS known for flexibility — popular for large government and enterprise sites. boom and set the stage for PHP's dominance on shared hosting through the 2000s.
Why it's here
PHP 5 was the object-model rewrite that made PHP viable for frameworks and CMSs.
Why it mattered
Exceptions and a proper object model replaced PHP 4's shallow class syntax.
What it solved
PHP 4's object handling was too limited for growing web applications and frameworks.
Media
- ImagePHP
Colin Viebrock, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Related
- PHP Tools 1.0 announcedJune 8, 1995
- PHP 7.0 releasedDecember 3, 2015