PHP Best Practices in 2025

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1. Use the Latest PHP Version (PHP 8.3+)

  • Use PHP 8.3 or later for better performance and security.
  • Utilize new features like `json_validate()` and `randomizer` class.

✅ Why?

  • Improved performance
  • New features
  • Long-term support

✅ Example: Using json_validate()

$json = '{"name": "Alice", "age": 25}';
if (json_validate($json)) {
    $data = json_decode($json, true);
    echo $data['name']; // Alice
}

✅ Example: Using Randomizer

$randomizer = new Random\Randomizer();
echo $randomizer->getInt(1, 100); // Random integer between 1-100

2. Strengthen Type Safety

  • Enable `strict_types=1`.
  • Use Union types and Intersection types appropriately.
  • Improve backend API type hints (DTOs, request validation).

✅ Use strict_types=1

declare(strict_types=1);

function add(int $a, int $b): int {
    return $a + $b;
}

echo add(5, "10"); // TypeError: Argument #2 must be of type int, string given

✅ Use Union & Intersection Types

function processInput(int|string $input): void {
    echo "Received: " . $input;
}

3. Choose the Right Frameworks & Libraries

  • Use the latest frameworks like **Laravel 11** and **Symfony 7**.
  • Maintain PSR-12 compliance for code formatting.
  • Consider lightweight frameworks (Slim, Mezzio) when necessary.

✅ Use Laravel 11 or Symfony 7

composer create-project laravel/laravel myapp

✅ Use Slim for Lightweight API

use Slim\Factory\AppFactory;

$app = AppFactory::create();
$app->get('/hello/{name}', function ($request, $response, $args) {
    $response->getBody()->write("Hello, " . $args['name']);
    return $response;
});
$app->run();

4. Security Enhancements

  • Follow OWASP PHP Security Best Practices.
  • Update dependencies regularly (use Composer’s `audit` feature).
  • Implement XSS/CSRF protection (e.g., `csrf_token()` in Laravel, CSP).
  • Prevent SQL injection by strictly using prepared statements.

✅ Prevent SQL Injection (Prepared Statements)

$pdo = new PDO("mysql:host=localhost;dbname=test", "user", "pass");
$stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT * FROM users WHERE email = :email");
$stmt->execute(['email' => 'test@example.com']);
$user = $stmt->fetch();

✅ Secure HTTP Headers (Nginx)

add_header X-Frame-Options DENY;
add_header X-Content-Type-Options nosniff;

5. Use Static Analysis & Code Quality Tools

  • Use PHPStan / Psalm for static analysis.
  • Apply PHP CS Fixer / Rector for formatting and refactoring.
  • Optimize dependencies using `composer unused`.

✅ PHPStan / Psalm

composer require --dev phpstan/phpstan
vendor/bin/phpstan analyse src --level=8

6. Cloud & Container Optimization

  • Standardize the Docker + PHP-FPM + Nginx setup.
  • Design for microservices when applicable.
  • Leverage Serverless PHP (Bref, Laravel Vapor).

✅ Docker + PHP-FPM + Nginx

Dockerfile

FROM php:8.3-fpm
COPY . /var/www/html
WORKDIR /var/www/html
RUN docker-php-ext-install pdo pdo_mysql
CMD ["php-fpm"]

✅ Serverless PHP with Bref

composer require bref/bref
vendor/bin/bref init

7. Performance Optimization with Asynchronous Processing

  • Utilize Swoole / RoadRunner for async execution.
  • Optimize OPcache settings (e.g., `opcache.validate_timestamps=0`).
  • Implement Redis / Memcached caching strategies.

✅ Use Swoole for High-Performance Async Processing

use Swoole\Http\Server;

$server = new Server("127.0.0.1", 9501);
$server->on("request", function ($request, $response) {
    $response->end("Hello, Swoole!");
});
$server->start();

✅ Optimize OPcache (php.ini)

opcache.enable=1
opcache.validate_timestamps=0

✅ Use Redis for Caching

$redis = new Redis();
$redis->connect('127.0.0.1', 6379);
$redis->set('key', 'value');
echo $redis->get('key'); // value

8. Standardize Testing & CI/CD

  • Automate testing using PestPHP / PHPUnit.
  • Build CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions / GitLab CI.
  • Establish robust database migration strategies.

✅ Use PestPHP for Testing

composer require --dev pestphp/pest
vendor/bin/pest --init
test('adds numbers', function () {
    expect(1 + 1)->toBe(2);
});

✅ Set Up CI/CD with GitHub Actions

.github/workflows/php.yml

name: PHP Tests
on: [push, pull_request]
jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Set up PHP
        uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
        with:
          php-version: '8.3'
      - name: Install dependencies
        run: composer install
      - name: Run tests
        run: vendor/bin/phpunit

Conclusion

By adopting these PHP best practices in 2025, developers can ensure better performance, enhanced security, and modernized workflows in their applications. Whether it’s leveraging the latest PHP features, improving type safety, optimizing for cloud deployment, or enhancing API development, these strategies will help you stay ahead in PHP development.