As of today, December 13, 2023, the latest stable version of PHP is 8.2.6. It was released on May 9, 2023.
However, it’s important to note that there are two other relevant versions to consider:
- PHP 8.4: This is the active development branch and the current target for new features and major changes. It is scheduled for general availability in 2024.
- PHP 8.3: This is the upcoming stable version, bringing features like typed class constants, Granular DateTime Exceptions, and fallback values for PHP INI environment variable syntax. It is expected to be released in early 2024.
Therefore, the best version for you to use depends on your specific needs and priorities:
- If you need the latest features and are comfortable with potential bugs, PHP 8.4 might be a good choice.
- If you need a stable and well-tested version, PHP 8.2.6 is the recommended option.
- If you can wait a few months, PHP 8.3 might be worth considering for its new features.