What makes PHP so widely used?
The demand for "Php dev." positions seems to surpass the number of vacancies listed on job search websites compared to other programming languages like Java. However, according to this review on dou.ua/, PHP does not hold the top position in terms of popularity.
So, why is it that PHP programmers seem to be less sought after?

There are several reasons why PHP is still widely used despite not being as popular as some other programming languages. First, PHP has a low barrier to entry, making it easy for beginners to learn and start building web applications. It has a simple syntax and a vast amount of online resources and documentation available.

Second, PHP has a large community of developers who have built many frameworks, libraries, and tools to simplify web development. These resources make it easier and faster to build robust and scalable web applications using PHP.

Third, PHP has been around for a long time, which means there is a lot of legacy code written in PHP. Many businesses and organizations still rely on PHP for their existing projects and are looking for PHP developers to maintain and improve their applications.

Lastly, PHP is often used in conjunction with popular content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. These CMS platforms power a significant portion of the web, creating a steady demand for PHP developers who can customize and extend these systems.

Although PHP might not be the most popular language overall, its wide usage, low barrier to entry, strong community, and connection to popular CMS platforms contribute to the ongoing demand for PHP developers.

Its irreplaceability in the past has led to this outcome.

PHP emerged at the right time and place, when there was no competition.
I myself was occupied with a useful utility for parsing text similar to awk, but it wasn't enough for building complete applications. Consequently, Perl as a web development tool faded away within a couple of years. Python and Ruby were still unknown, and Microsoft's alternative was even worse. Java was incompatible with servers at that time. Thus, PHP became the only option and occupied the entire niche, making the acronym LAMP synonymous with web development.

Since then, other technologies have gradually eroded PHP's market share. However, PHP still remains popular due to its extensive ecosystem and accumulated mass. It will continue to thrive for a long time because it constantly evolves. Although most users still rely on the same PHP that gained popularity last century (since they struggle with more advanced programming concepts), modern PHP provides cutting-edge development tools for those who are well-versed in programming.

PHP is like a snowball, gradually growing larger as it rolls. However, the issue is that it's currently rolling downhill and has nearly reached its critical mass, where it will begin to disintegrate.

Many people believe that PHP will remain dominant for several more years, but I dare to make a different prediction. PHP will be swiftly displaced from the market, leaving you little time to react. Within 2-3 years, it will lose over half of its influence. It may not seem fast to you, but it's exceptionally rapid from my perspective.

Technology is advancing so rapidly that reflecting on where we were just three years ago can be surprising. Angular and Node.js had yet to emerge, but today it feels like they have been around for a decade. The perception of time has become quite challenging in the present.

Javascript, too, is comparable to a snowball, but it's being pushed uphill at the moment. Honestly, by June of next year, the descending PHP mass and ascending Javascript mass will intersect. This means that while PHP will still hold a weighier influence, the ascent will be in favor of Javascript.

I believe that PHP's widespread use can be attributed to its versatility, ease of use, and extensive community support. PHP is a server-side scripting language that is designed for web development, making it an ideal choice for creating dynamic web pages and applications. Its simplicity and flexibility allow for quick development and deployment of web projects, which is highly appealing to businesses and developers alike.

One of the key factors contributing to PHP's popularity is its open-source nature, which has led to a large and active community of developers continually enhancing the language with new features and improvements. This means that there is a wealth of resources, libraries, and frameworks available for PHP, making it easier for developers to create complex and feature-rich web applications.

Additionally, PHP integrates well with various databases, such as MySQL, and is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS. This cross-platform compatibility ensures that PHP can be used in a wide range of environments, further increasing its appeal and adoption.

However, despite its popularity and widespread adoption, PHP has faced criticism for its inconsistent syntax and certain security vulnerabilities in the past. This may have led to some companies and organizations being cautious in their adoption of PHP or seeking alternative programming languages for their web development needs.

There has been a shift towards newer languages and frameworks such as Node.js, Python, and Ruby on Rails for web development, which may have contributed to the perception that PHP programmers are less sought after compared to developers proficient in other languages.
While PHP continues to be widely used and remains a fundamental language for web development, the rise of alternative languages and frameworks, as well as lingering concerns about PHP's syntax and security, may have influenced the apparent discrepancy in demand for PHP developers compared to vacancies listed on job search websites. Nonetheless, PHP's adaptability, extensive community support, and history of powering countless websites and applications ensure that it remains a relevant and in-demand skill in the web development industry.

I want to add one more thing, PHP is widely used for commercial purpose as well. You can find billions of ready-made software/plugins based on PHP.

1. You can easily encrypt your PHP program.
2. Active development of PHP.
3. PHP is Available by default with many popular control panels.