Perplexed and Bursting with WordPress Knowledge: Checking PHP Version

Introduction

Have you ever wonder how WordPress, the popular Content Management System, powers millions of websites worldwide? One of its most robust features is its ability to support multiple programming languages. PHP, one of the most popular programming languages, is commonly used by WordPress.

PHP: A Server-Side Programming Language

PHP is a server-side programming language used to create dynamic web pages, develop WordPress plugins and themes, and to execute WordPress code on the server. However, ensuring PHP’s optimal performance requires knowledge of your WordPress site’s installed PHP version. In this article, we describe the various methods to check your PHP version.

Method 1: WordPress Theme Checker

Looking for a simple way to check your WordPress site’s PHP version without any programming knowledge required? The WordPress Theme Checker tool is a fantastic option. Follow these steps:

1. Install and activate the WordPress Theme Checker plugin from the WordPress repository.
2. Once the plugin is activated, you will find a new menu item in your WordPress Dashboard labeled “Theme Checker.”
3. Click on “Theme Checker” to launch the tool.
4. The tool will scan all WordPress files and plugins and generate a report when completed.
5. Locate the “PHP Version” section in the report to determine your current PHP version.

Method 2: WordPress Dashboard

Another way to check your WordPress site’s PHP version is to use the WordPress Dashboard. Here’s how to go about it:

1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
2. Find the “Plugins” menu and select “Add New.”
3. Type “Display PHP Version” in the search bar and press enter.
4. Select the “Display PHP Version” plugin and click “Install Now.”
5. Once the plugin is installed, find the “Tools” menu and select “Display PHP Version.”
6. The tool will display your site’s current PHP version.

Method 3: PHP File

Can you access your WordPress file directory? If so, you can check PHP version by creating a PHP file. Follow the steps below:

1. Begin by opening a text editor, such as Notepad or Sublime Text.
2. Copy and paste the following PHP code:

“`

“`

3. Save the edited text file, making sure to include the “.php” extension in the file name.
4. Upload the new file to the root directory of your WordPress site.
5. In your browser, type the file’s URL in the address bar (for instance, “https://yourdomainname.com/php_version.php”) and hit enter.
6. The PHP code will output your website’s current PHP version.

Conclusion

Knowing your website’s PHP version is integral to optimizing WordPress performance. By doing so, you will identify compatibility issues with plugins and themes and ensure that you are using the most up-to-date, stable version of PHP available. Whether you use the WordPress Theme Checker tool, WordPress Dashboard, or create a PHP file, we strongly recommend that you use the methods highlighted in this article to check your WordPress site’s PHP version.