PHP, or Hypertext Preprocessor, has come a long way since its inception in 1994. Created by Rasmus Lerdorf, it was initially a simple set of Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripts used for tracking visits to his online resume. But as the web grew in popularity, so did the demand for more dynamic and interactive websites. This led to the release of PHP/FI (Forms Interpreter) in 1995, which added more functionality to the language, including support for database integration.

In 1997, developers Andi Gutmans and Zeev Suraski rewrote the core of PHP, creating PHP 3. This version introduced support for object-oriented programming (OOP), making it easier for developers to create and maintain complex web applications. This release also marked the beginning of PHP’s journey into becoming a popular server-side scripting language.

With the rise of e-commerce and online business, PHP gained even more popularity in the early 2000s. The release of PHP 4 in 2000 brought major improvements, including better performance and support for more databases. This version also introduced the PHP Zend Engine, a powerful scripting engine that improved the language’s speed and stability.

In 2004, the PHP development team released PHP 5, which included even more enhancements to the language, particularly in the area of OOP. This version also saw the introduction of the SimpleXML extension, making it easier to work with XML data. PHP 5 also marked the beginning of a more organized and structured development process for the language, with the creation of the PHP Group and the adoption of a formal release cycle.

Over the years, PHP has continued to evolve and improve, with new versions being released regularly. The latest version, PHP 7, was released in 2015 and brought significant performance improvements, making it twice as fast as its predecessor. It also added support for new features such as anonymous classes and return type declarations, further enhancing the language’s capabilities.

Today, PHP is one of the most widely used server-side scripting languages, powering over 79% of all websites on the internet. Its rich history and constant evolution have made it a reliable and versatile language for web development. And with the release of PHP 8 in 2020, which promises even more improvements and new features, it is clear that this journey is far from over for PHP.