PHP in TYPO3 – Glossary

TYPO3 PHP

PHP is a popular programming language used to create dynamic websites and TYPO3, a powerful content management system (CMS), is based on it. This glossary entry explains what TYPO3 PHP is, which PHP version you need and how PHP helps in creating and managing websites. Updated: 27 October 2026.

What is PHP?

PHP stands for "Hypertext Preprocessor". It is an open source scripting language that is widely used in web development. PHP is server-side, meaning that it runs on the server where your website is hosted and generates HTML, which is then sent to the user's browser. This allows websites to be dynamic, interactive and customizable based on user input.

How TYPO3 uses PHP

TYPO3 is written in PHP, which means that all of its core functions, extensions and custom features are powered by this language. Here's how PHP works within TYPO3:

Core Functions: The heart of TYPO3 is developed with PHP. It controls everything from managing content to controlling user access. The PHP code at the TYPO3 core makes it a flexible and powerful CMS.
Extensions: TYPO3 has an extensive library of extensions, many of which are written in PHP. These extensions add additional functionality to your website, such as contact forms, galleries or SEO tools. Developers use PHP to create these extensions, allowing TYPO3 to be customized to almost any need.
Custom development: If you need something specific that is not available in the TYPO3 extensions, you can create custom solutions using PHP. This makes TYPO3 an excellent choice for websites that require unique features.

Advantages of using TYPO3 PHP

Flexibility: Because TYPO3 is based on PHP, it is incredibly flexible. You can create custom features, customize existing ones, and integrate TYPO3 with other systems.
Open Source: TYPO3, like PHP, is open source. This means that you can adapt the code to your needs without having to worry about license fees. You also benefit from a large developer community that contributes to the improvement of TYPO3.
Scalability: Whether you're running a small business website or a large enterprise platform, TYPO3 can adapt to your needs. PHP's efficiency plays a major role in handling high traffic and large amounts of data.
Security: PHP has built-in security features, and the TYPO3 community regularly updates the CMS to close security gaps. This helps to protect your website from threats. The PHP version itself must be up to date too, otherwise known vulnerabilities stay open.

Which PHP version does TYPO3 need?

Each TYPO3 version runs only on certain PHP versions. The table shows the minimum version and our recommendation:

TYPO3 version	Minimum PHP	Recommendation (27 Oct 2026)
TYPO3 v14 LTS	8.2	PHP 8.4 or 8.5, patched
TYPO3 v13 LTS	8.2	PHP 8.3 or 8.4, patched
TYPO3 v12 (ELTS)	8.1	Move to PHP 8.2 or 8.3

You can find all versions with their support status in the entry PHP Version in TYPO3.

Keep PHP up to date: PHP2Shell

On 21 October 2026 the PHP project closed two critical vulnerabilities (CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, known as PHP2Shell). PHP 8.5.12, 8.4.27, 8.3.36 and 8.2.35 or newer are safe. Restart all PHP workers after the update. Read more in our article PHP2Shell: affected versions, updates and protection. Check your version right here:

PHP2Shell check: Is your PHP version affected?

Learn TYPO3 PHP

If you want to get started with TYPO3 PHP, here are some steps you can take:

Learn PHP basics: Start by understanding the basics of PHP. There are many online resources, tutorials, and courses that can help you learn PHP from scratch.
Read the TYPO3 documentation: TYPO3 has extensive documentation that explains how the CMS works, including how to use PHP to create custom extensions and customize the core.
Join the community: The TYPO3 community is very active and supportive. You can join forums, attend meetups and participate in discussions to learn from experienced developers.
Experiment: The best way to learn is through trial and error. Try creating simple TYPO3 extensions or modifying existing ones. This hands-on experience will help you understand how TYPO3 and PHP work together.

Conclusion

TYPO3 PHP is at the heart of what makes TYPO3 a powerful and flexible content management system. Anyone who understands PHP can tailor TYPO3 to their own needs. Whether you're building a simple website or a complex web application, the right PHP knowledge and a current, patched PHP version will help you get the most out of this stable platform.

Is your PHP version outdated or an upgrade due? Our TYPO3 Upgrade Service and TYPO3 Support & Maintenance take care of it for you.

In short: TYPO3 PHP keeps websites dynamic.