A Sneak Peek at the Upcoming Features and Changes in PHP 9.0

PHP is a collaborative open-source initiative. Discovering the forthcoming features and changes in the next version is quick and straightforward — just a little research reveals the accepted RFCs (Request for Comments) for various PHP versions.

However, although PHP 9.0 is in the planning stages, development has yet to commence, requiring us to look more closely at what’s in store.

Release Date for PHP 9.0

As of now, there is no confirmed release date for PHP 9.0. This version remains a distant prospect, and it’s likely we’ll see versions 8.5 and 8.6 before any consideration is given to 9.0.

How to Install and Test PHP 9.0

Since work on PHP 9.0 hasn’t begun, it’s currently impossible to download or compile any version of its code.

Anticipated Features and Changes for PHP 9.0

1. Improved Increment and Decrement Behavior

PHP 9 is set to enhance the functionality of the ++ and -- operators. The changes include:

• Elimination of Odd String Increments:

• Previous PHP (8 and below):

$foo = 'a9';
$foo++;
echo $foo;  // Outputs: 'b0'