PHP 9.0: The Future of Web Development - What's Coming, Rumors, and How to Prepare
Mark Vi
Tech UI/UX Expert
Today I want to share some exciting (and sometimes controversial) information I've gathered about PHP 9.0. As someone who's been following PHP's evolution closely, I find myself both curious and cautiously optimistic about what's brewing for the next major release. Let me walk you through everything we know so far, the juicy rumors circulating in the community, and how we can prepare for what's coming.
What We Know About PHP 9.0 So Far
Let's be honest here – PHP 9.0 is still very much a distant dream. There's no official release date, no active development branch, and frankly, we'll probably see PHP 8.5 and 8.6 before PHP 9.0 even enters serious consideration. But that doesn't mean we're flying blind!
The PHP community operates through RFCs (Request for Comments), and several breaking changes that couldn't make it into PHP 8.x versions are being earmarked for PHP 9.0. Think of it as PHP's "breaking changes wishlist" that's been accumulating over the years.
The Big Changes Coming to PHP 9.0
Stricter Increment and Decrement Operators
This one's going to ruffle some feathers! PHP's increment (++) and decrement (--) operators have always been a bit... quirky. Currently, you can do this:
<?php $foo = 'a9'; $foo++; echo $foo; // Outputs: 'b0' (Wait, what?!) $bar = false; $bar++; echo $bar; // Outputs: 1
In PHP 9.0, this unpredictable behavior is getting the boot. Instead, incrementing non-numeric strings will throw a TypeError, making PHP more consistent and predictable. For those who actually rely on the string increment feature (yes, some of us do!), there's a new str_increment() function coming:
<?php // PHP 9.0 way $str = 'a9'; $str = str_increment($str); echo $str; // 'b0'
Say Goodbye to Autovivification from False Values
Here's another PHP quirk that's been bugging developers for years:
<?php // Current PHP behavior $arr = false; $arr[] = 2; // Magically becomes [2]
This "autovivification" from false values is getting axed in PHP 9.0. You'll get a proper error instead:
<?php // PHP 9.0 $arr = false; $arr[] = 2; // Error: Cannot use a scalar value as an array
This change aligns PHP with how it already handles other scalar values like true or 0, eliminating yet another source of unexpected behavior.
Enhanced Error Handling with unserialize()
PHP 9.0 is upgrading unserialize() error handling from warnings to proper exceptions:
<?php
// PHP 8.3 and earlier
unserialize("invalid_data"); // Warning: unserialize(): Error at offset 0
// PHP 9.0
try {
unserialize("invalid_data");
} catch (UnserializationFailedException $e) {
// Handle the error properly
echo "Unserialization failed: " . $e->getMessage();
}
Cleaner String Interpolation
PHP currently supports multiple ways to embed variables in strings, which can be confusing:
<?php
$name = "John";
// These all work in PHP 8.x
echo "Hello $name"; // ✅ Keeping this
echo "Hello {$name}"; // ✅ Keeping this
echo "Hello ${name}"; // ❌ Removing in PHP 9
echo "Hello {${getName()}}"; // ❌ Removing in PHP 9
PHP 9.0 will streamline this by removing the more complex ${var} and ${expr} syntaxes, keeping only the cleaner options.
Death of Dynamic Properties
This one's been a long time coming. Currently, PHP silently creates properties when you try to assign to non-existent ones:
<?php
class User {
public $name;
}
$user = new User();
$user->name = "Alice"; // ✅ Declared property
$user->age = 25; // 🤔 Creates dynamic property silently
// PHP 9.0 will throw an Error for the second line
// unless the class uses #[AllowDynamicProperties]
Community Rumors and Wishlist Features
Now, let's dive into the fun part – the rumors and wishlist features that developers are buzzing about!
Async/Await Support
This is probably the most requested feature in the PHP community right now. While there's no official confirmation, many developers are hoping PHP 9.0 will finally introduce native async/await syntax:
<?php
// Wishful thinking for PHP 9.0
async function fetchUserData($userId): Promise {
$userData = await httpClient->get("/api/users/{$userId}");
$userPosts = await httpClient->get("/api/users/{$userId}/posts");
return [
'user' => $userData,
'posts' => $userPosts
];
}
Currently, we rely on libraries like ReactPHP for async functionality, but native support would be a game-changer for PHP's ecosystem.
True Generics Support
Another hot topic in the community is proper generics support at the class level:
<?php
// What developers are hoping for
class Collection<T> {
private array $items = [];
public function add(T $item): void {
$this->items[] = $item;
}
public function get(int $index): T {
return $this->items[$index];
}
}
$stringCollection = new Collection<string>();
$stringCollection->add("hello"); // ✅
$stringCollection->add(123); // ❌ Type error
While we have some generic-like features in type annotations and static analysis tools, true runtime generics would be revolutionary for PHP.
Performance Improvements
The community is also expecting further JIT compiler optimizations and overall performance improvements. PHP has been on a fantastic performance trajectory since PHP 7, and PHP 9.0 could continue this trend.
Function Signature Cleanups
PHP 9.0 aims to clean up overloaded function signatures. For example, array_keys() currently has multiple signatures:
<?php // Current PHP array_keys($array); // Get all keys array_keys($array, $search_value); // Get keys for specific value // PHP 9.0 proposal array_keys($array); // Get all keys array_keys_filter($array, $search_value); // Separate function for filtering
This makes the API more explicit and easier to understand.
The Laravel Community and PHP 9.0: What It Means for Us
As someone who's been part of the Laravel developer community for years, I can't help but get excited (and maybe a little anxious) about what PHP 9.0 might bring to our beloved framework ecosystem. Let me share my thoughts on how PHP 9.0 could impact Laravel and what I personally wish for as a Laravel developer.
Laravel's PHP Evolution History
Laravel has always been at the forefront of adopting new PHP features. Looking at the framework's history:
- Laravel 9 required PHP 8.0 minimum, embracing features like union types and attributes
- Laravel 10 bumped the requirement to PHP 8.1+, leveraging readonly properties and enums
- Laravel 11 continues this trend with even more modern PHP features
This pattern tells us that whenever PHP 9.0 arrives, Laravel will likely be one of the first major frameworks to fully embrace its new capabilities.
What PHP 9.0 Could Mean for Laravel Applications
The breaking changes coming in PHP 9.0 will definitely affect Laravel applications, but probably not as dramatically as you might think. Here's what I anticipate:
Stricter Error Handling Benefits
PHP 9.0's move toward throwing exceptions instead of warnings will actually align perfectly with Laravel's philosophy of fail-fast development:
<?php
// Current PHP behavior that might hide bugs
$user = false;
$user['name'] = 'John'; // Silently creates array
// PHP 9.0 in Laravel - cleaner, more predictable
try {
$user = User::find($id) ?? throw new ModelNotFoundException();
$user->update(['name' => 'John']);
} catch (ModelNotFoundException $e) {
// Handle missing user properly
}
Enhanced Type Safety
Laravel already encourages modern PHP practices, and PHP 9.0's stricter typing will make Laravel applications even more robust:
<?php
// Laravel models will benefit from stricter typing
class User extends Model
{
// PHP 9.0's enhanced type system will make this even safer
public function posts(): HasMany
{
return $this->hasMany(Post::class);
}
// Stricter increment operators will prevent weird edge cases
public function incrementLoginCount(): void
{
$this->increment('login_count'); // Safe, predictable behavior
}
}
What I Personally Wish for in PHP 9.0 as a Laravel Developer
Being part of the Laravel community, here are the features I'm genuinely hoping PHP 9.0 will bring:
Native Async/Await Support
This is my number one wishlist item! Currently, Laravel handles async operations through queues and jobs, which works great but can feel clunky for simple async operations:
<?php
// What I dream of in PHP 9.0 + Laravel
class NotificationController extends Controller
{
public async function sendWelcomeNotifications(User $user): Promise
{
// Multiple async operations without queue complexity
$emailResult = await $this->emailService->sendWelcome($user);
$smsResult = await $this->smsService->sendWelcome($user);
$slackResult = await $this->slackService->notifyTeam($user);
return [
'email' => $emailResult,
'sms' => $smsResult,
'slack' => $slackResult
];
}
}
This would be a game-changer for Laravel applications, especially for:
- API integrations where we're waiting for multiple external services
- Real-time features like chat applications and live updates
- Data processing where we need to handle multiple concurrent operations
True Generics for Collections and Eloquent
Laravel's collections are amazing, but imagine if they had true generic support:
<?php
// Wishful thinking for PHP 9.0
class UserController extends Controller
{
public function index(): Collection<User>
{
return User::where('active', true)
->get()
->map(fn(User $user): UserResource => new UserResource($user));
}
// Type-safe relationships
public function posts(User $user): Collection<Post>
{
return $user->posts()->get();
}
}
This would make Laravel applications so much more type-safe and give us better IDE support.
Enhanced Performance for Eloquent ORM
With PHP 9.0's expected JIT improvements, I'm hoping Laravel's Eloquent ORM will become even faster. Currently, we sometimes have to choose between Eloquent's beautiful syntax and raw query performance:
<?php
// Hope PHP 9.0 makes this as fast as raw SQL
$users = User::with('posts.comments.author')
->whereHas('orders', function($query) {
$query->where('total', '>', 1000);
})
->get();
Potential Challenges for Laravel Developers
While I'm optimistic, there are some challenges we'll need to prepare for:
Breaking Changes in Applications
The dynamic property restrictions might affect some Laravel patterns:
<?php
// This pattern might break in PHP 9.0
class DynamicModel extends Model
{
public function __construct(array $attributes = [])
{
parent::__construct($attributes);
// This might throw an error in PHP 9.0
foreach ($attributes as $key => $value) {
$this->{$key} = $value; // Dynamic property assignment
}
}
}
Migration Complexity
Laravel applications will need careful testing when PHP 9.0 arrives. The good news is that Laravel Shift and similar tools will probably make this migration smoother.
The Laravel Ecosystem Advantage
Here's what I love about being in the Laravel community - we're incredibly well-prepared for changes like this:
- Laravel Shift will likely provide automated upgrade paths
- Comprehensive testing tools like Pest and PHPUnit help catch breaking changes
- Strong community support means solutions will be shared quickly
- Taylor and the team are excellent at smoothing migration paths
What Laravel Features Could Benefit Most
I'm particularly excited about how PHP 9.0 could enhance:
Blade Templates
Stricter typing could make Blade components even more reliable:
<?php
// Imagine type-safe Blade components in PHP 9.0
class UserCard extends Component
{
public function __construct(
public User $user,
public bool $showEmail = false
) {}
// PHP 9.0's enhanced typing would make this bulletproof
public function render(): View
{
return view('components.user-card');
}
}
Artisan Commands
Enhanced error handling would make Artisan commands more robust:
<?php
class DataImportCommand extends Command
{
public function handle(): int
{
try {
// PHP 9.0's stricter error handling would catch edge cases
$data = $this->parseImportFile();
$this->processData($data);
return self::SUCCESS;
} catch (UnserializationFailedException $e) {
// New exception types in PHP 9.0
$this->error("Data parsing failed: " . $e->getMessage());
return self::FAILURE;
}
}
}
My Hope for the Laravel Community
As we wait for PHP 9.0, I hope our community continues to:
- Embrace modern PHP practices now, making the eventual transition smoother
- Contribute to discussions about what features would benefit Laravel most
- Share migration experiences when the time comes
- Maintain the collaborative spirit that makes Laravel so special
The future of PHP and Laravel looks incredibly bright. While change can be challenging, the Laravel community has always been amazing at adapting and thriving through major transitions.
I can't wait to see what innovative solutions emerge when PHP 9.0's power meets Laravel's elegant design philosophy! 🚀
How to Install and Test PHP 9.0?
Here's the reality check: you can't!
To this day, no work has been started on PHP 9.0, so you won't even be able to pull the latest code and compile it yourself. We're still in the planning and RFC discussion phase.
However, here's what you can do to stay ahead of the curve:
Stay Updated with PHP 8.x
Make sure you're running the latest PHP 8.x versions and paying attention to deprecation warnings:
# Check your PHP version php -v # Run your code with all error reporting enabled php -d error_reporting=E_ALL your_script.php
Follow PHP RFCs
The best way to stay informed is to follow PHP RFCs at wiki.php.net/rfc. This is where all the magic happens and where PHP's future gets decided.
Join the Community
- Follow PHP internals mailing lists
- Join PHP communities on Reddit, Discord, and Twitter
- Attend PHP conferences and meetups
How to Prepare for PHP 9.0
Fix Those Deprecation Warnings
Start addressing deprecation warnings in your codebase now. Run your applications with E_ALL error reporting enabled:
<?php
// Add this to your development environment
error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', 1);
Refactor Problematic Code Patterns
Start moving away from patterns that will break in PHP 9.0:
<?php
// Instead of relying on dynamic properties
class User {
public function __construct(
public string $name,
public int $age
) {}
}
// Instead of complex string interpolation
$message = "Hello {$user->name}"; // ✅ Good
$message = "Hello ${user->name}"; // ❌ Will break in PHP 9
Embrace Modern PHP Features
Start using features introduced in recent PHP versions:
- Property promotion (PHP 8.0)
- Match expressions (PHP 8.0)
- Readonly properties (PHP 8.1)
- Enums (PHP 8.1)
The Developer Impact
As a developer who's been through several major PHP upgrades, I can tell you that PHP 9.0's focus on consistency and predictability is actually exciting. Yes, there will be breaking changes, but they're the kind that make the language better in the long run.
The removal of edge cases and unpredictable behaviors will make PHP easier to learn for newcomers and less bug-prone for all of us. Sure, we'll need to update some code, but the trade-off for a cleaner, more consistent language is worth it.
What's Next?
While we wait for PHP 9.0, PHP 8.5 is scheduled for November 2025, and it's already shaping up to be an interesting release with features like closures in constant expressions and improved error reporting.
My advice? Don't wait for PHP 9.0 to start writing better code. Start following best practices now, fix those deprecation warnings, and embrace the modern PHP ecosystem. When PHP 9.0 does arrive (probably in 2027 or 2028, if I had to guess), you'll be ready.
Wrapping Up
PHP 9.0 represents an exciting evolution of our beloved language. While we're still in the early planning stages, the direction is clear: a more consistent, predictable, and modern PHP that eliminates historical quirks while potentially introducing game-changing features like async/await and generics.
The key is to stay engaged with the community, keep your codebase modern, and be ready to adapt when the time comes. After all, that's what being a developer is all about – continuous learning and evolution.
What are you most excited about in PHP 9.0? Are there any features you're hoping to see that I didn't mention? Let me know in the comments – I love discussing the future of PHP with fellow developers!
Keep coding, keep learning, and remember – the best way to predict PHP's future is to help shape it by participating in the community and RFC discussions!
Mark Vi
Tech UI/UX Expert with over 15 years of experience