PHP Returns to the Top of StackOverflow's Most Loved Languages

PHP burst into the top of the most loved programming languages according to StackOverflow

The annual StackOverflow developer survey is one of the most authoritative studies in the IT world. In 2025, the results brought a surprise: PHP, which for a long time was considered "outdated" and "unloved," unexpectedly took high positions in the "Most Loved Languages" category. This fact sparked heated discussions in the community and forced many to reconsider their attitude towards the veteran of web development.

What did the survey show?

According to StackOverflow data, PHP overtook heavyweights such as Java, C++, and even TypeScript, closing the top five in terms of love among developers. At the same time, the language showed a record decline in the "Most Dreaded" category, giving way to younger and more niche tools. Analysts attribute this turnaround to the release of PHP 8.x and the active development of frameworks.

Why is PHP back in favor?

Experts highlight several key reasons for this renaissance:

• PHP 8 Performance: The JIT (Just-In-Time) compiler made code execution 2-3 times faster, bringing PHP closer to the speed of Go and Rust in web scenarios.
• Modern Syntax: Attributes, named arguments, match expressions, and improved typing made code cleaner and safer.
• Laravel Ecosystem: The framework continues to dominate, offering elegant solutions for APIs, queues, and real-time applications.
• Salary Growth: PHP developers with experience in high-load projects (e.g., on Symfony or Laravel) receive offers comparable to Java and Python specialists.
• Ease of Entry: Despite its evolution, PHP remains one of the most beginner-friendly languages, supporting an influx of fresh talent.

PHP vs Python: what to choose in 2025?

For the PythonLib audience, comparing the two languages is especially interesting. If Python is a universal tool for data science, ML, and backend, then PHP remains the king of the web. PHP 8 proved that it can compete with Python in development speed and performance when creating complex web applications, CMS (WordPress, Drupal), and online stores.

Many developers note that PHP has ceased to be a "language for layout designers." Now it is a serious tool with powerful static typing (thanks to Psalm and PHPStan) and support for asynchronicity through ReactPHP and Swoole.

What's next?

The rise of PHP in the StackOverflow ranking is not an accident, but a natural result of years of community work. The language is adapting to modern requirements while retaining its main feature: maximum speed of web application development. If your project is related to the web, and not to machine learning, PHP 8 could be the best choice in 2025, even despite competition from Python.

Stay tuned for updates on PythonLib — we will keep you informed of all trends in the programming world!