Here are some exciting new features in PHP 8.5 that you shouldn't miss.
This November, PHP 8.5 is set to bring a host of powerful additions designed to make PHP development cleaner, smarter, and more efficient. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just getting started, these features promise to simplify debugging, enhance performance, and align with modern development practices. Let's explore the 5 most exciting features arriving with PHP 8.5!
1. The Pipe Operator (|>) — Cleaner Function Chaining
Arguably the flashiest new feature is the introduction of the pipe operator (|>). Inspired by functional programming, this operator allows the output of one function to be passed directly as the input to the next. This results in more readable and maintainable code — especially when chaining transformations or processing data in steps.
The pipe operator doesn't introduce any new capabilities per se but gives your code a linear and much more readable structure. Say goodbye to deeply nested function calls!
2. Better Fatal Error Messages with Full Stack Traces
We’ve all been there — your app hits a fatal error, and you're left staring at just a file name and line number. Not very helpful. PHP 8.5 enhances fatal errors by including a detailed stack trace. This powerful improvement can radically cut down on debugging time and makes error logs way more insightful.
In PHP 8.5, this will no longer just print the error message. Instead, it gives you the full stack trace so you can diagnose exactly how your app got there.
3. Retrieve First & Last Array Values Easily
For years, PHP developers have written custom logic just to retrieve the first or last value of an array. PHP 8.5 delivers array_first() and array_last() functions for exactly this purpose. It works for both indexed and associative arrays and safely handles empty arrays by returning null.
These functions add clarity and reduce potential bugs from edge cases that often crop up when accessing the extremities of arrays.
4. New curl_multi_get_handles Function Makes Multi Curl Easier
This one’s for teams working on APIs or parallel HTTP requests. Previously, there was no built-in way to fetch all handles added to a CurlMultiHandle group. PHP 8.5 introduces curl_multi_get_handles(), solving the problem elegantly.
No more maintaining your own list of handles in WeakMaps — just call a function and get them instantly. Scripting multi-curl just got more elegant.
5. Know Your PHP Build Time with PHP_BUILD_DATE
PHP already offered various constants like PHP_VERSION and PHP_VERSION_ID, but the build date has always been a hassle. Previously, if you needed the build timestamp of the running PHP binary, you’d have to parse the output from phpinfo().
Whether you’re troubleshooting inconsistencies across environments or just need a quick way to verify builds, PHP_BUILD_DATE makes it easier than ever.
Conclusion
PHP 8.5 brings enhancements that aren’t just technical footnotes — they’re practical improvements that will impact your daily development workflow. From more expressive code to better error visibility, these are features you’ll want to use right away. At LAY7 Cloud, we’re already preparing support for PHP 8.5 once it's officially released. Ready to take your web apps to the next level?
Stay ahead, stay hosted — with LAY7 Cloud.