If you use WordPress to build your website, you’ve already used PHP. It’s no exaggeration to say that PHP is the engine behind WordPress – it runs your theme, loads your content, powers your plugins, and handles everything from contact forms to login screens.
Without PHP, WordPress simply wouldn’t work. So if you’re serious about building, running, or optimising a WordPress site, it helps to understand what PHP is, how it works, and where it fits into the bigger picture.
In this post, we’ll explain how PHP powers WordPress and why it matters for site speed, security, and functionality, as well as where PHP web hosting fits in.
What is PHP?
The first thing you need to know is that PHP stands for “PHP: Hypertext Processor”. Technically speaking, PHP is a server-side scripting language, which means it runs on the web server and not the user’s browser. Unlike HTML or CSS, which control how a page looks, PHP controls what the page does.
It generates content dynamically, connects to databases, and lets websites behave like applications – pulling in data, processing input, and serving different content depending on the context.
How is PHP used in WordPress?
WordPress is built entirely on PHP. When someone visits your site, PHP scripts run on your server to generate the page. These scripts pull your content from the database, apply your theme, run your plugins, and build the final page that’s sent to the browser. And because it’s dynamic, PHP lets your site adapt instantly, whether you’re displaying new blog posts, changing a widget, or personalising content for different users.
PHP, themes, and templates
Every WordPress theme contains PHP files that control how content is displayed. These template files – like header.php, single.php, and footer.php – define the structure of each page. When a user lands on your site, WordPress pulls in the right template file using PHP, then combines it with your content to render the full page. Even if your site looks simple on the surface, PHP is running the show underneath.
PHP and the WordPress database
Beyond the way your site looks, PHP is also the link between your WordPress site and its MySQL database, i.e. the database on your server that contains data to be used/displayed on your site. So, when someone views a blog post, it’s PHP that fetches the post title, content, images, and metadata from the database so that it can be displayed on the page.
PHP and plugins
WordPress plugins extend the functionality of your site, and, yep, they’re all powered by PHP. That means your contact forms, SEO tools, security scanners, ecommerce integrations, and every other plugin you use runs PHP code to add features and connect with external services. Poorly written PHP can slow down your site or introduce security risks, so the quality of the PHP behind your plugins matters just as much as what they do.
PHP and site speed
Every time someone visits a WordPress site, PHP scripts have to run and generate the page. If those scripts are slow or inefficient, your page load time suffers. That’s why good PHP code combined with techniques like caching and database optimisation is crucial for keeping your site fast and responsive. Hosting infrastructure also plays a key role here, since faster servers can process PHP requests more efficiently.
PHP web hosting and why it matters
Because PHP runs on the server, the quality of your hosting environment directly affects how well your site performs. PHP web hosting simply means your hosting is configured to support PHP scripts. But not all providers are equal. A good PHP hosting setup includes the latest PHP versions, fast server response times, enough resources to handle dynamic requests, and tools to manage caching, security, and backups. So, if you’re using WordPress, choosing PHP-optimised hosting isn’t just optional, but essential.
PHP versions and why they matter
WordPress supports different versions of PHP, but newer versions are faster, more secure, and better optimised. If your hosting provider is still running an older version (like PHP 5.x), your site could be vulnerable and underperforming. Moving to PHP 8 or later can speed up your site, reduce memory usage, and patch known security flaws all without changing a line of your code.
Editing PHP in WordPress
While WordPress lets you edit theme files directly from the admin dashboard, it’s not always safe to tweak PHP unless you know what you’re doing. A single typo can break your site. If you need to modify PHP, it’s best to work in a child theme or use a staging environment first. And always back up your site beforehand, ideally with a hosting provider like us that makes backup and rollback easy.
Make your Wordpress website faster with Fasthosts
PHP is the foundation of WordPress. It runs your themes, plugins, and content and plays a direct role in your site’s performance and stability. Whether you're managing a blog, running a shop, or building for clients, a solid PHP setup can make all the difference.
At Fasthosts, our PHP Web Hosting solutions are fully optimised for modern PHP versions, with support, security, and performance built in. Ready to level up your WordPress site? Talk to us today and find a hosting plan that keeps your site running smoothly.