Installing PHP 7.4 on Ubuntu 20.04 is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few simple steps. In this article, we will go over the process of installing PHP 7.4 on Ubuntu 20.04, as well as some code examples to demonstrate the new features and capabilities of this version of PHP.
Before we begin, it is important to note that PHP 7.4 requires Ubuntu 20.04 or later to run. If you are running an older version of Ubuntu, you will need to upgrade before proceeding.
Step 1: Update and Upgrade Ubuntu
The first step in installing PHP 7.4 on Ubuntu 20.04 is to update and upgrade your system. This can be done by running the following commands:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
Step 2: Add the PPA (Personal Package Archive)
The next step is to add the PPA for PHP 7.4. This can be done by running the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php
Step 3: Update and Upgrade Again
After adding the PPA, you will need to update and upgrade your system again. This can be done by running the following commands:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
Step 4: Install PHP 7.4
Now that the PPA has been added and your system has been updated and upgraded, you can proceed to install PHP 7.4. This can be done by running the following command:
sudo apt-get install php7.4
Step 5: Check the Version of PHP
After the installation of PHP 7.4, you can check the version of PHP to make sure it has been installed correctly. This can be done by running the following command:
php -v
This will output the version of PHP that is currently installed on your system.
Code Examples
The following are some code examples that demonstrate the new features and capabilities of PHP 7.4:
- Arrow Functions
PHP 7.4 introduces support for arrow functions, also known as "short closures." These are a shorthand way of defining anonymous functions. The following is an example of an arrow function:
$sum = fn($a, $b) => $a + $b;
echo $sum(1, 2); // Outputs 3
- Typed Properties
PHP 7.4 also introduces support for typed properties. This allows you to specify the type of a class property when it is declared. The following is an example of a typed property:
class MyClass {
public int $myNumber;
}
$obj = new MyClass;
$obj->myNumber = 5;
echo $obj->myNumber; // Outputs 5
- Null Coalescing Assignment Operator
The null coalescing assignment operator is a shorthand way of assigning a value to a variable only if it is currently null. The following is an example of the null coalescing assignment operator:
$myVar = null;
$myVar ??= "Hello";
echo $myVar; // Outputs "Hello"
In conclusion, Installing PHP 7.4 on Ubuntu 20.04 is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few simple steps. With the new features and capabilities of this version of
PHP 7.4, developers can take advantage of new language features such as arrow functions, typed properties, and the null coalescing assignment operator to write more concise and expressive code.
In addition to these new features, PHP 7.4 also includes performance improvements and bug fixes. One of the most notable performance improvements is the Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation feature. JIT is a technique for improving the performance of interpreted languages by compiling some of the code at runtime. This can result in significant performance gains for certain types of code, such as machine learning and scientific computing.
Another important feature of PHP 7.4 is the improved support for modern encryption algorithms. This includes the addition of Argon2i and Argon2id as password hashing algorithms, as well as support for the ChaCha20 and Poly1305 encryption algorithms. These improvements help to ensure that PHP applications are more secure and resistant to attacks.
It's also worth mentioning that PHP 7.4 is the last minor version of PHP 7 series which means that it will receive security updates for 2 years and bug fixes for 3 years.
Once PHP 7.4 is installed, you can use the phpinfo() function to see the details of your installation and check the configuration settings. Additionally, you can use various tools like Xdebug to optimize and troubleshoot your PHP code.
In summary, installing PHP 7.4 on Ubuntu 20.04 is a simple process and provides developers with a number of new features and capabilities, including arrow functions, typed properties, and improved encryption support. Along with the performance improvements, these features make PHP 7.4 an excellent choice for building modern web applications.
Popular questions
- How can I update and upgrade my system before installing PHP 7.4 on Ubuntu 20.04?
To update and upgrade your system before installing PHP 7.4 on Ubuntu 20.04, you can run the following commands:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
- How can I add the PPA for PHP 7.4 on Ubuntu 20.04?
To add the PPA for PHP 7.4 on Ubuntu 20.04, you can run the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php
- How can I install PHP 7.4 on Ubuntu 20.04?
To install PHP 7.4 on Ubuntu 20.04, you can run the following command:
sudo apt-get install php7.4
- How can I check the version of PHP that is currently installed on my system?
To check the version of PHP that is currently installed on your system, you can run the following command:
php -v
- Can you give an example of how to use the null coalescing assignment operator in PHP 7.4?
Yes, the null coalescing assignment operator is a shorthand way of assigning a value to a variable only if it is currently null. The following is an example of the null coalescing assignment operator:
$myVar = null;
$myVar ??= "Hello";
echo $myVar; // Outputs "Hello"
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