PHP operates on the server side, meaning PHP scripts are executed on the server as opposed to on the client side – as is the case with other scripting languages such as JavaScript. Accordingly, the source text is not sent to a web browser, but to a so-called \"PHP interpreter\" on the web server. When a user sends a request to the server, the PHP interpreter must first process the script on the server itself before sending the output to the user's browser. This output can be in the form of HTML documents or a range of other file types, such as .jpg or .pdf documents. In order for PHP scripts to function properly on web applications, some prerequisites must also be fulfilled on the server side. For instance, programming interfaces such as ISAPI are necessary for server services like Apache to execute PHP interpreter command lines. One of the most common configurations – known as LAMP – is combining a Linux operating system with an Apache PHP web server, a MySQL database, and PHP script. Other combinations with Windows or macOS are also possible. With IONOS, you have the assurance that all technical requirements for PHP hosting will be fulfilled. You can find further information on PHP in our comprehensive tutorial.

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PHP web hosting

Q: Can I change the PHP version of my web hosting package?

Yes. You can view your current PHP version and choose to switch to a newer version in the IONOS Control Center settings. This makes it simple for you to choose the most appropriate solution for your applications and scripts. Once you notice they are compatible with PHP 8.1, you can update to the latest version directly in order to achieve the optimal level of security and performance. For security reasons, older PHP versions are only available as part of IONOS Extended Support for existing customers. You can find further detailed information on changing your version of PHP in our Help Center .

Q: Does IONOS web hosting support other scripting languages besides PHP?

Yes. IONOS supports all other important and widely used scripting languages, including Perl, Python, and Ruby. Frameworks like Zend are also supported by IONOS, so you can easily find the best solution and corresponding script language for any given project. This gives you a wealth of possibilities for creating dynamic content on your website, allowing faster database access and hassle-free customization according to your individual requirements.

Q: How is PHP configured in my web hosting package?

With a short piece of PHP script, you can easily find out how PHP is configured in your hosting package. To do this, use the following command to display the PHP file info: <?php phpinfo ();?> This will help you identify the specific PHP version number and see which modules are installed at a glance. Alternatively, you can use your Secure FTP main user login data to access the log file via your webspace's log directory and view it in your browser. Simply enter your domain into the browser address bar and log in: http://YOURDOMAIN.ca/logs/info.php.

Q: How secure is PHP web hosting with IONOS?

IONOS provides you with the latest PHP security standards, as well as geo-redundant storage for all your data. By storing two copies of your data in two geographically independent data centers (geo-redundancy), you benefit from 99.9 percent uptime. Even if one data center goes off the grid due to power failure, the other is primed and ready to take over, leaving your data intact. A powerful firewall reliably protects the IONOS servers, and the data they contain, against cyberattacks. Because we use SSL encrypted data transmission, your customers' sensitive data is also secure. For PHP security in particular, as well as other scripting languages, it is also necessary to implement protective measures against cross-site scripting (CSS or XSS). This type of script is used by cyber criminals to insert foreign, malicious code into otherwise trustworthy webpages. IONOS helps you protect your site from XSS attacks. In our Help Center, you will find valuable advice on how to implement the necessary protective measures. With this information, securing your data entry and output for your PHP website is easy to achieve. The Help Center also provides you with details on the additional security features of some hosting tariffs, such as safety scans. If you have any further questions about the security of IONOS PHP hosting, don't hesitate to contact our expert support team, who will be available 24/7 to assist you.

New Zend Engine
Independent of the operating system
PHP 8.1 with JIT, HTTP/2, and gzip

Starting at $1/1st year then $8/month

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Business

For one website or project

6 months $4/month then $8/month

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Best for 1 website

100 GB storage

Expert

For multiple large web projects

6 months $7/month then $14/month

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Best for up to 50 websites

500 GB storage

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What is PHP/PHP web hosting?

PHP is a recursive acronym that stands for "Hypertext Preprocessor", but was previously known as "Personal Home Page Tools". It is the most used script language for website creation in the world and, in conjunction with MySQL databases, enables the creation of dynamic websites. The server-executed PHP scripts are used in content management systems (CMS), blogs, and online stores, as well as app development. Since PHP provides extensive database support, and is distributed as freeware, it is implemented in approximately 82 percent of websites worldwide. For instance, the world's most popular CMS, WordPress, is based on PHP.

Among the range of attractive hosting packages available, IONOS offers you the very latest PHP version – PHP 8.1. This delivers a significant boost in performance compared with previous versions, which will result in shorter website access and loading times for you and your customers. In turn, this performance improvement can increase user satisfaction and your chances of ranking highly on search engines such as Google.

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With hosting packages from IONOS, you will always benefit from the latest PHP version
Work with a wide range of CMS using PHP, with IONOS PHP hosting packages
Create dynamic forums, blogs, online stores, or a professional web presence for your company using PHP

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Advantages of PHP hosting with IONOS

With IONOS PHP servers, you can rest assured that the security of your data and maximum uptime of your site are guaranteed. Our geo-redundant backup of data ensures an extremely high level of availability for your website – 99.9 percent. Geo-redundancy means that copies of all data are stored in two entirely independent, high performance IONOS data centres. Should one of the data centres go offline, due to a regional power outage for example, then the second will be ready to take over and ensure your website remains online for your visitors. This way, online store owners need not worry about revenue losses.

Furthermore, with our PHP hosting packages, you benefit from the world-renowned IONOS expert support. We are on hand at all times to offer PHP support for your projects and answer any questions you may have.