The PHP 7 and 7.1 releases have introduced quite a few changes. Some of these changes transform the language beyond what PHP once was. While still pertaining the dynamic typing system, function parameters and return types can now be strictly defined. This changes the way we look and work with functions. Among function-related changes, there are several others targeting improvements over a decade old PHP 5. The ecosystem, as a whole, will take some time to catch up. For developers with experience in PHP 5, these changes are not merely technical in nature; they require change of mindset in order to successfully apply what is now possible.
Moving forward, we will look into the current state of PHP standards, who defines them, what they describe, and how can we benefit from embracing them.
