No matter what tool or technology you use for developing a website, it is not prudent to overlook the Google algorithm updates. The search engine and internet technology giant unveils various web-related updates from time to time. Given the fact a majority of internet users rely on Google services and search, no website owner or web developer can ignore Google updates. Recently, the company rolled out the much-awaited ‘page experience’ update after a delay. This has prompted the site owners and developers to tweak their websites to meet the requirements.
What is the update all about?
For a section of website owners, the Google page experience update will lead to revamping of their design and content strategy. It will affect the Google ranking of the websites. The update will roll out in 2 phases- as per the information. The first covers Core web vitals-which are basically real-world and user-centric metrics sets. They are made for letting Google prioritize websites better to suit user needs. The second is focused on ‘Field Data.’ It will pull field data from Android and Chrome users, unlike the past tradition of data collection using bots.
The AMP framework of Google is also going to be discarded. Through this framework, developers could make a second version of websites created by them to enable quick loading. Google is resorting to fast content delivery without using AMP.
So, Google is now going to focus on how users experience website content. It will count three major aspects:
- First Input Delay-How long the website’s server takes to respond to the request made by a browser.
- Cumulative layout shift- How much the page jumps around as the various elements are loaded?
- Largest Content Paint-How long the biggest content takes to load.
Who will face the heat?
The web development experts think brands using SaaS web development platforms such as Shopify, Squarespace, Wix will be impacted the most by this update. These websites suffer from an issue known as ‘code bloat.’ They feature complicated content which is enticing but unoptimized, leading to enhanced load time and draining of resources. Google will now prefer sites with well-optimized dynamic content.
So, what’s the solution?
As the Google page experience update kicks in, web developers and site owners should do what is needed to make their sites suitable for it. Revamping the entire site can be painstaking, so switching to a platform that makes it easier to adhere to new Google updates is prudent. PHP is a safe choice. This Open-Source scripting language has been a major player in web development for decades. Switching to a PHP-based framework or CMS will make it easier to make your site adhere to new Google policies. Custom PHP development services can be useful.
Why PHP is an apt website development platform after the rollout of Google experience update
PHP has been in the web development landscape for a pretty long time, and it has evolved a lot as well. Nowadays, you can find so many PHP-based CMS and frameworks for developing stunning, functional websites. Its core strengths make the platform a suitable choice for web development post rollout of the page experience update. You should hire a veteran PHP development company to get the best experience in this regard.
- Simple and uncomplicated coding- A lot of web developers prefer PHP for its clean and simple coding structure. This makes it easy for the new developers as well. Now that Google is keen on preferring sites with clean and well-optimized codes, using PHP makes more sense. It is also useful when the development team comprises both seasoned and new developers.
- Fast load time- PHP-based websites are known for their speed. It needs less time for connecting to the databases compared to other programming languages. So, the users experience quick site rendering. The new Google update focuses on on-site load time, and so using PHP is beneficial. Besides, the average web user is never fond of sites that take forever to load.
- Wide compatibility- PHP runs on almost all popular operating systems, including Linux, MacOS and of course, Windows. Web applications based on PHP run on most web browsers as well. Besides, PHP supports major web servers like Apache, Microsoft IIS. So, you should choose PHP for developing and testing your website with ease before the Google page experience update is completed.
- Easy to maintain- It may so happen that you have to edit codes in your website to make it more suited for the upcoming page experience update. When your website is made in PHP, editing and changing codes become easier. Developers proficient in PHP need a little time for code modification or developing new codes. This eases site maintenance to an extent.
- Reliable community support- Given the fact PHP has been in the web development realm for decades; there is a thriving online community. So, it is easier for developers to seek help on any topic related to PHP development. There are plenty of online PHP communities and groups. The web resources on PHP can be useful for developers working with the platform. This can be handy if you want to make your PHP website Google update compatible. The official documentation is also huge.
- Security- Google has always been stringent on internet usage security. The new update focuses on a secure web experience for the users. PHP is known as one of the safe and secure web development platforms. The newest iteration of PHP, in fact, is better than the predecessors in this regard. When you use a PHP based platform like WP, it is possible to use security-focused plug-ins and extensions.
- Cost-effective solution- In the pandemic situation, all brands are trying to cut down costs. If you have been thinking of developing a site or revamping your site –opting for PHP is prudent. Since it is Open-Source, you should be able to find PHP outsourcing companies offering low-rate packages. In fact, you can also hire a freelance PHP developer to keep development costs on the low side.
- Speedy development- Like some brand owners, you may want to develop or revamp your website before the page experience update rollout is completed. PHP web development takes less time, typically. You can hire a reputed PHP app development company and get your site ready within a couple of months or even earlier.
Summing it up
PHP is a trusted and popular contender in the web development realm, and a majority of websites are made using the platform or its derivatives. It scores owing to factors like simplicity of coding, fast development cycle, security, low development cost and multi-platform compatibility. Now that Google has set focus on making websites more suited for end-users, choosing PHP makes absolute sense. With PHP, making fast-loading and optimized websites is simple.