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PHP Development for New and Legacy Systems

Modern PHP 8 applications and APIs, plus careful upgrades of older PHP code that still runs important parts of your business.

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src/OrderRepository.php
Sample code

PHP development that is modern, typed and maintainable

PHP still powers a large share of the web, from WordPress and Magento to custom portals and billing systems built years ago. Modern PHP 8 is a very different language from the PHP many people remember, with strict types, attributes, enums, JIT compilation and mature frameworks such as Laravel and Symfony. Hosting is widely available and affordable, and experienced PHP developers are easy to find.

PHP is the practical choice when you already run PHP systems, when you need a CMS-backed site with custom features, or when budget favours affordable shared or managed hosting. For new real-time products or heavy data processing, Node.js or Python may suit better. For greenfield business apps in PHP, Laravel is usually our recommendation over raw PHP.

Much of our PHP work is rescue and modernisation: upgrading PHP 5 or 7 code to PHP 8, adding Composer and tests, fixing security holes and moving fragile servers to containers. We stabilise first, then improve gradually, so the business keeps running while the code base gets safer and easier to change month by month.

Read PHP, the way we write it

A short, idiomatic sample. Scroll and the editor types each part while the note beside it explains why it is written that way.

src/OrderRepository.php
Sample code
<?php
declare(strict_types=1);
// PHP 8: constructor promotion and readonly properties
final class OrderRepository
{
public function __construct(private readonly PDO $db) {}
// Prepared statements: values never touch the SQL string
public function forCustomer(int $customerId): array
{
$stmt = $this->db->prepare('SELECT id, total FROM orders WHERE customer_id = :id ORDER BY id DESC');
$stmt->execute(['id' => $customerId]);
// Typed return, plain arrays for the view layer
return $stmt->fetchAll(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);
}
}

  1. line 4-8

    PHP 8: constructor promotion and readonly properties

  2. line 9-14

    Prepared statements: values never touch the SQL string

  3. line 15-18

    Typed return, plain arrays for the view layer

What we build with PHP

Custom PHP web applications, portals and API backends, plus upgrades and rescue work on legacy PHP code.

  1. 01

    Custom PHP Applications

    Business portals, booking systems, billing tools and dashboards built in modern PHP with Laravel or Symfony and a clean, typed codebase.

  2. 02

    PHP 8 Upgrades

    Migration of PHP 5.x and 7.x applications to supported PHP 8 versions, fixing deprecated functions, incompatible libraries and hidden runtime errors.

  3. 03

    Legacy Code Rescue

    Audit and stabilisation of inherited PHP projects with no documentation or tests, followed by a prioritised plan of fixes and refactors.

  4. 04

    API Development

    REST APIs in PHP that expose your existing data to mobile apps, partners and new frontends without rewriting the whole system first.

  5. 05

    Symfony Development

    Enterprise-grade Symfony applications and components for teams that need long-term support releases, strict architectural structure and reusable components shared across several internal products.

  6. 06

    Security Hardening

    Fixes for SQL injection, XSS, insecure file uploads, weak password storage and outdated packages found in older PHP code.

  7. 07

    Hosting and Server Moves

    Migration from ageing shared or self-managed servers to containers or managed cloud hosting, with backups, SSL and monitoring set up.

Why teams pick Nexzem for PHP

The checks every engagement has to pass before we call it done.

.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md4/4 checked

  • - [x] Keep what works

    We modernise working systems step by step instead of pushing an expensive rewrite.

  • - [x] Safer code quickly

    Security fixes and supported PHP versions close the most serious risks early in the engagement.

  • - [x] Affordable to run

    PHP hosting is widely available, keeping infrastructure costs predictable.

  • - [x] Easy to staff

    Clean modern PHP is simple for future developers, in-house or ours, to pick up.

Modern PHP vs the PHP you remember

PHP's reputation was shaped by code written many years ago, often without frameworks, tests or consistent style. Modern PHP is a different language in practice. Recent versions added union types, enums, readonly properties, attributes, match expressions and a just-in-time compiler, along with large performance gains since the PHP 7 era.

The ecosystem matured too. Composer manages dependencies, PSR standards make libraries interoperable, Laravel and Symfony provide well-designed frameworks, and static analysis tools such as PHPStan and Psalm catch type errors before code runs. A PHP codebase built with these tools is as maintainable as one in any mainstream language.

The practical question is rarely whether PHP is good enough, but whether an existing application has been kept current. Many problems blamed on the language come from unsupported versions, missing tests and years of patches without refactoring. A careful assessment shows which problems are real and which are habits that can be fixed.

How we rescue and modernize legacy PHP

We start with an assessment: PHP and library versions, security exposure, test coverage, deployment process and which parts of the system change most often. Before changing behavior, we add characterization tests that capture what the system currently does, so upgrades can be verified rather than hoped for. This baseline also guides budgeting.

Upgrades move step by step through supported versions, using automated refactoring tools such as Rector to apply repetitive changes safely. Security issues such as SQL injection and missing output escaping are fixed first. Where a rewrite is justified, the strangler pattern replaces one module at a time with framework code, routing traffic gradually so the business never depends on a single risky cutover.

  • Inventory versions, dependencies and security risks.
  • Add tests around critical flows before refactoring.
  • Upgrade PHP versions in steps with automated refactoring.
  • Move to Composer autoloading and a framework structure.
  • Replace modules gradually instead of rewriting everything.

PHP security checklist

Most PHP security incidents trace back to a small set of mistakes that are easy to prevent with consistent habits and code review. Running a PHP version that no longer receives security fixes multiplies the risk, so keep versions within their official support window and plan upgrades before support ends.

Security also depends on the server. Keep the web server, PHP extensions and operating system patched, disable unused functions and directory listings, store configuration and secrets outside the web root, and log authentication failures so attacks are visible early instead of discovered after damage is done.

  • Use prepared statements through PDO or an ORM for every query.
  • Escape output by default with a templating engine.
  • Hash passwords with the built-in password functions.
  • Protect forms with CSRF tokens.
  • Validate file uploads by type, size and storage location.
  • Set secure, HTTP-only session cookies.
  • Update Composer dependencies and scan them for vulnerabilities.

How PHP projects run

$ git log --graph --oneline main..delivery

  1. b2a4511

    feat: code and server audit

    We review code, dependencies, PHP version, server setup and known pain points.

  2. db594ef

    feat: stabilise

    Backups, version control, error logging and critical security fixes applied first.

  3. 3ab5c39

    feat: upgrade or build

    PHP upgrades, refactors or new features delivered in tested increments.

  4. c5aa34a

    merge: deploy and maintain

    Automated deployments and a support plan for ongoing patches and improvements.

What teams build with PHP

  • Legacy CRM upgraded to PHP 8

    A company's custom CRM running on an outdated PHP version is upgraded step by step to PHP 8 with tests added around key workflows, removing security risks and speeding up pages without changing how staff work.

  • Symfony API for a mobile app

    A business with PHP expertise builds the backend for its new mobile app on Symfony, with a documented REST API, token authentication and background processing, reusing existing data and team skills.

  • Modernizing a school ERP

    A school management system written years ago in plain PHP is gradually restructured into a framework, with fee, attendance and exam modules rebuilt one at a time while the school keeps using the system daily.

  • Payment gateway in an older PHP site

    An established PHP website adds UPI, cards and wallets through a modern payment gateway integration with webhook handling and reconciliation, without disturbing the rest of the legacy codebase or its existing checkout flow.

  • Moving from shared hosting to the cloud

    A PHP application outgrowing shared hosting is containerized, moved to managed cloud infrastructure with automated backups, HTTPS and monitoring, and deployed through an automated pipeline instead of manual file uploads.

Where PHP sits in your stack

The tools we pair it with, layer by layer. Select a layer to see what it is responsible for.

Technologies often used with PHP

All 32 technologies

More in Backend

PHP development FAQs

Something else on your mind? Ask a consultant and get a reply within one business day.

Is PHP still a good choice in 2026?

Yes, for CMS-backed sites, business portals and teams with PHP experience. Modern PHP 8 with Laravel or Symfony is fast and well structured. For real-time or data-heavy products, Node.js or Python may suit better, and we will say so.

Should we rewrite our old PHP system?

Usually not all at once. A staged modernisation keeps the business running and spreads cost over time. A rewrite makes sense only when the code cannot be safely changed at all, which our audit will show.

What does PHP development cost?

Cost depends on whether we build new or modernise, codebase size and condition, test coverage, integrations and hosting changes. After a free consultation and code review we provide a fixed quote.

How long does a PHP 8 upgrade take?

Small sites may take a couple of weeks, while large applications with many dependencies take longer. We estimate after scanning the code for incompatibilities.

Can you maintain our PHP site monthly?

Yes. Maintenance plans cover updates, security patches, backups and small changes, and a dedicated PHP developer is available on a monthly basis for bigger roadmaps.

What is Rector and how does it help upgrades?

Rector is an open-source tool that automatically refactors PHP code using rules, such as upgrading syntax for newer PHP versions or framework releases. It applies repetitive changes across large codebases consistently, which makes version upgrades faster and less error-prone when combined with tests.

Can our PHP application move from shared hosting to the cloud?

Yes. We package the application, often in containers, set up managed databases, storage and backups, add a deployment pipeline and monitoring, and migrate data with minimal downtime. The move usually improves performance, security and the ability to scale.

We work with clients across the USA, UK, Australia, UAE, New Zealand and India.

Where we work

Tell us what you're building.

A solutions consultant replies within one business day with a recommended stack, a rough estimate and a suggested team.

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