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PHP and MySQL Tutorials:
Complete Guide on Deprecated PHP Functions for Enhancing your PHP Development Projects.
reading time
Reading Time:
00:07 Minutes
implement time
Implement Time:
00:20 Minutes

Introduction to Deprecated PHP Functions

As PHP evolves, certain functions become outdated and are eventually deprecated. This means they are no longer recommended for use because they may be removed in future versions, lack security, or have better alternatives. Developers must be aware of deprecated functions to maintain code compatibility and security while optimizing performance.

Using deprecated functions can lead to warnings in error logs, making debugging difficult. Moreover, if a function is removed in a later PHP version, it can break your application. In this guide, we will explore common deprecated PHP functions, their alternatives, and practical code examples to help you transition smoothly.

List of Deprecated PHP Functions and Their Alternatives (With Code Examples)

1. mysql_* Functions (Deprecated in PHP 5.5, Removed in PHP 7.0)

The mysql_* functions were replaced by mysqli_* and PDO because of better security, improved performance, and support for prepared statements.

Alternative

Use mysqli or PDO for database interactions.

Deprecated Example:
PHP
$connection = mysql_connect("localhost", "root", "password");
mysql_select_db("database", $connection);
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM users");
while ($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result)) {
	echo $row["username"];
}
mysql_close($connection);
Updated Code Using mysqli:
PHP
$connection = mysqli_connect("localhost", "root", "password", "database");
$result = mysqli_query($connection, "SELECT * FROM users");
while ($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result)) {
	echo $row["username"];
}
mysqli_close($connection);
Updated Code Using PDO:
PHP
$pdo = new PDO("mysql:host=localhost;dbname=database", "root", "password");
$statement = $pdo->query("SELECT * FROM users");
while ($row = $statement->fetch(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC)) {
	echo $row["username"];
}

2. split() (Deprecated in PHP 5.3, Removed in PHP 7.0)

The split() function used POSIX regular expressions, which were slower. preg_split() is a more powerful alternative.

Deprecated Example:
PHP
$string = "one,two,three";
$parts = split(",", $string);
print_r($parts);
Updated Code Using explode():
PHP
$string = "one,two,three";
$parts = explode(",", $string);
print_r($parts);
Updated Code Using preg_split() (for regex-based splitting):
PHP
$string = "one,two,three";
$parts = preg_split("/[,.]/", $string);
print_r($parts);

3. ereg() and ereg_replace() (Deprecated in PHP 5.3, Removed in PHP 7.0)

These functions used POSIX regex, which lacked Unicode support. preg_match() and preg_replace() are faster and support UTF-8.

Deprecated Example:
PHP
if (ereg("^[a-z]+$", "hello")) {
	echo "Valid";
}
Updated Code Using preg_match():
PHP
if (preg_match("/^[a-z]+$/", "hello")) {
	echo "Valid";
}

4. create_function() (Deprecated in PHP 7.2, Removed in PHP 8.0)

It uses eval(), making it unsafe and less efficient. Anonymous functions (closures) are the recommended alternative.

Deprecated Example:
PHP
$func = create_function('$a, $b', 'return $a + $b;');
echo $func(5, 10);
Updated Code Using Anonymous Functions:
PHP
$func = function($a, $b) {
	return $a + $b;
};
echo $func(5, 10);

5. each() (Deprecated in PHP 7.2, Removed in PHP 8.0)

It was slow and outdated. Modern loops using foreach provide better performance and readability.

Deprecated Example:
PHP
$array = ["one" => 1, "two" => 2];
while (list($key, $value) = each($array)) {
	echo "$key => $value";
}
Updated Code Using foreach():
PHP
$array = ["one" => 1, "two" => 2];
foreach ($array as $key => $value) {
	echo "$key => $value";
}

6. parse_str() Without Second Argument (Deprecated in PHP 7.2, Removed in PHP 8.0)

Previously, parse_str() populated variables in the global scope, which could cause security vulnerabilities. Now, it must use an explicit array.

Deprecated Example:
PHP
parse_str("name=John&age=30");
echo $name; // Works but is unsafe
Updated Code Using an Explicit Array:
PHP
parse_str("name=John&age=30", $data);
echo $data["name"];

7. get_magic_quotes_gpc() and get_magic_quotes_runtime() (Deprecated in PHP 5.3, Removed in PHP 7.0)

Magic quotes automatically escaped input, which was problematic and insecure. Use addslashes() or htmlspecialchars() explicitly instead.

Deprecated Example:
PHP
if (get_magic_quotes_gpc()) {
	$data = stripslashes($_POST["input"]);
}
Updated Code Using htmlspecialchars():
PHP
$data = htmlspecialchars($_POST["input"], ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8');

Conclusion: Keeping Your PHP Code Modern and Secure

Keeping up with PHP’s latest changes is essential for building secure and efficient web applications. Deprecated functions are phased out for valid reasons, often due to security vulnerabilities, performance concerns, or better alternatives. By adapting to modern PHP functions, you ensure long-term code maintainability, better security, and improved performance.

To stay updated:

  • Regularly check the PHP manual.
  • Keep your PHP version updated.
  • Refactor old code to use recommended alternatives.

By following these best practices, you can future-proof your PHP web development projects and avoid deprecated function issues.

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