PHP Extensions for WordPress. What PHP Extensions to Enable?

Here’s the thing: every WordPress website needs PHP extensions. While some of them come enabled by default, others—though highly recommended—don’t. And honestly, it makes sense—your server can’t magically guess which extensions your site is going to need.

We’ve been there too—wondering which PHP extensions are required for WordPress. And with dozens of extensions and various PHP versions to navigate, it can feel like a maze.

More so, we couldn’t find any reliable, one-stop resource on this topic floating around the internet. I mean, seriously, there are official WordPress recommendations and technical info about PHP extensions, but where’s the hands-on testing and real-world experience?

So we ~~packed away the surfboards~~ rolled up our sleeves, did some testing, and dug into the research on PHP extensions needed for WordPress. As Hercules once said: “I am the hero you need”. 💪😏

In this article, you’ll find out which PHP extensions to enable to make your WordPress site hit as hard as prime Mike Tyson. 🥊

Before we begin, here’s a simple chart to show how PHP extensions and WordPress work hand in hand:

We’ll dive deeper into what PHP extensions are and why they’re needed for WordPress site.

Then, we’ll take a look at the official WordPress guidelines for must-have PHP extensions.

The last but not least – a special dessert awaits you. We’ll show you our own PHP dashboard with the PHP extensions we’ve used and recommend for different PHP versions.

And just so you know, we’re managing over 50 WordPress sites here at Web Aloha – everything from simple one-pagers to multilingual WooCommerce stores. So we’re not just talking the talk – we’re ~~walking the walk~~ actively use this knowledge on our own sites.

Let’s explore the connection between PHP extensions and WordPress – a partnership that keeps your site running smoothly.

What are PHP Extensions and why WordPress needs them?

PHP extensions are like little power-ups for your server. They plug into PHP (the language WordPress runs on) and add all kinds of extra features.

WordPress is built to handle lots of tasks, from displaying content to processing images or running plugins. But it doesn’t do all of this on its own. PHP and it’s extensions take care of the heavy lifting.

Some extensions handle plugins or themes, others focus on security, and a bunch help your WordPress site do the things like:

Image handling: Extensions like GD Library or Imagick make it possible to resize, crop, and optimize images for your site.

Secure connections: OpenSSL ensures secure communication, like encrypting data for HTTPS.

Database interactions: Extensions like mysqli or PDO_MYSQL manage all the back-and-forth between WordPress and your database.

Without the right PHP extensions, your site might not perform at its best—think slower speeds, missing features, or even errors. And according to Think with Google, the likelihood of a user bouncing increases by 32% as page load time rises from just 1 second to 3 seconds. You don’t want a slow website. 😏

Bottom line: PHP extensions make your WordPress site faster, safer, and fully equipped with all the tools it needs to thrive in the digital jungle.

PHP Extensions Required by WordPress

The official WordPress server environment guidelines are pretty clear—some PHP extensions are essential to keep your site grooving. Let’s see which of them you need to keep enabled to make sure your WordPress site powers through like an Ironman.

Must-have PHP Extensions for WordPress

json: Handles JSON data, critical for working with the REST API.
mysqli or mysqlnd: Manages communication between WordPress and MySQL databases.

Highly Recommended PHP Extensions:

curl: Handles remote requests, allowing WordPress to connect with external servers.
dom: Assists with validating text widgets and configuring certain servers like IIS7+.
exif: Reads image metadata, enhancing how media is managed.
fileinfo: Identifies file types for uploads, ensuring proper handling and security.
hash: Generates unique hashes, supporting data security and verification.
imagick: Powers advanced image processing, making media management more efficient.
mbstring: Enables handling of multi-byte strings, ensuring support for non-ASCII characters and international text.
openssl: Secures data transmission, vital for HTTPS connections.
pdo_mysql: Provides a consistent way to interact with databases, improving database communication.
xml: Processes XML, allowing WordPress to handle XML data smoothly.
zip: Supports creating and extracting compressed files, useful for installing themes and plugins.

Which PHP Extensions to Enable for WordPress

As we mentioned, Web Aloha manages WordPress sites of all shapes and sizes. Below, you’ll find the PHP extensions setup we’ve been using over the past few years. And if they work seamlessly across all our clients’ sites, they’re bound to work for you too.

Note: each PHP version comes with its own set of extensions. And since the lastest PHP 8.4 is fully compatible with WordPress, it’s what we’re running on our sites right now.

But we’ll go beyond the latest PHP version. So even if you’re sticking with an older PHP for now – we’ve got your back!

PHP 8.4 Extensions for WordPress

Wanna thrive in the digital jungle? You’ve gotta keep your claws sharp and your brain up-to-date. PHP 8.4 is the newest, sharpest, and smartest version around. That’s why we recommend all WordPress site owners upgrade and start taking full advantage of what PHP 8.4 has to offer.

By the way, we’ve done the research and extensive testing on PHP 8.4 and WordPress compatibility. Long story short—they go together perfectly, like cold coconut water and a hot day. 💪😎🥥

So if you’re one of those “smart guys next door” planning to upgrade to the latest PHP version—congrats! We’re already rocking PHP 8.4 on a few dozens of WordPress websites. Here’s our handpicked list of recommended PHP extensions for this version:

If you’re using Memcache for object caching on your website, enable it instead of Redis. However, if you’re not using any object caching at all, keep both Redis and Memcache PHP extensions disabled.

PHP 8.3 Extensions for WordPress

Not ready for the newest version of PHP? No worries—PHP 8.3 is still a solid choice. While it might not be the absolute best option anymore, it’s more stable and packed with great features. Plus, it’s actively updated and supported until late 2025.

We’ve used PHP 8.3 across our WordPress sites for a whole year, and it served us well. Here’s our recommended PHP 8.3 extensions setup for WordPress:

PHP 8.2 Extensions for WordPress

PHP 8.2 is no longer actively updated, but it still receives important security patches from the official developers. That said, we’re all about staying ahead, so we recommend moving your WordPress site to a newer PHP version.

But hey, if upgrading isn’t on the table just yet, below is the list of our recommended PHP extensions for 8.2 version:

PHP 8.1 Extensions for WordPress

We don’t recommend using any PHP version older than 8.1. Why? Well, this is the oldest version still receiving security patches—and even that only lasts until late 2025.

If you can’t use at least PHP 8.1, you might want to talk to a professional developer. Seriously, get in touch, and let’s make your WordPress site great again.

Here’s the list of PHP extensions we used on our sites while running PHP 8.1:

Why not just Enable all PHP extensions?

We’ve had this smart question too. 😎

And while enabling all PHP extensions might seem like a clever shortcut, it can actually lead to issues:

Performance Impact: Each active extension consumes resources. Enabling unnecessary extensions can slow down your server, affecting your WordPress site’s speed and responsiveness.

Security Risks: Unused extensions can introduce vulnerabilities. Keeping only the necessary extensions active minimizes potential security threats.

Server Issues: Some extensions may not play well together, leading to compatibility issues or unexpected behavior on your WordPress site.

I mean, you wouldn’t use a kuvalda to hammer in a bunch of nails, right? It’s all about using just the right tool for the job, not the whole toolbox.

The takeaway? Only enable the extensions your site actually needs. This approach ensures optimal performance, security, and a more stable server environment.

Summary: Some PHP Extensions are Needed for WordPress

Now you know what PHP extensions are, why WordPress needs them, and which ones you should enable to keep your site flowing.

Plus we gave you a behind-the-scenes look at our PHP dashboard, showing the extensions we use on WordPress sites that we manage.

Remember, enabling unnecessary extensions is a no-no, so stick to what is needed. Also, keep your PHP version updated for the best website performance. Let’s ride a wave of progress together!

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