What is PHP written in?
The PHP runtime is written in C.
PHP is a scripting language focused on web development, first released in 1995.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime | C (since 1995) | PHP Zend Engine written in C |
Runtime model
The PHP runtime, written in C, manages the execution of PHP programs. Runtime-based languages rely on a host process to interpret or compile code at runtime rather than compiling entirely ahead-of-time to native machine code. This means running PHP programs requires the runtime to be present on the target system.
The choice of C for the runtime gives PHP access to native performance, established platform abstractions, and existing ecosystem libraries.
Explore in the Graph
See PHP's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
Open Interactive Graph →Or view the PHP language page for the complete record.