PHP 5.5 provides major performance improvements through the use of an opcode cache and precompiled bytecode. It introduces several new features including the finally keyword, generators, array and string dereferencing, and a new password hashing API. The password hashing API provides a simple interface for securely storing passwords hashed with bcrypt. Overall, PHP 5.5 focuses on performance, memory usage, and new language features.

1. PHP 5.5
Whats New!!
Presented By : Naseer Ahmad

2. Performance and Memory
Performance by 10-30%
Memory by 50%
●
●
precompiled script bytecode in shared memory
reduction in loading and parsing of scripts on every request
HOW???
!! Zend Optimizer & opcode cache !!
Available in PECL for PHP versions 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4

4. New Features
● Finally keyword.
● foreach supporting lists now.
<?php
$array = [
[1, 2],
[3, 4],
];
foreach ($array as list($a, $b)) {
echo "A: $a; B: $bn";
}
?>

5. New Features
● empty() supports arbitrary expression.
● Class name resolution via ::class
<?php
namespace NameSpace;
class ClassName {}
echo ClassName::class; //NameSpaceClassName
?>

6. New Features(Array & String Direct Referencing)
<?php
echo 'Array dereferencing: ';
echo [1, 2, 3][0];
Print : Array dereferencing : 1
echo "n";
echo 'String dereferencing: ';
echo 'PHP'[0];
echo "n";
?>
Print : String dereferencing: P

7. New Features(Generators)
●
●
●
●
Routine to control the iteration of a loop
Sequence of values in loop
Values on demand
In simple words, put foreach over a function
:)

8. New Features(Generators)
Fine for normal usage
What if we want to abstract it?

9. Generators

10. New Features(Generators)
Simpler, lesser code

11. New Features(Password Hashing Api)
> Php 5.5
Relying on
● custom hash methods
● somewhat confusing crypt() method
Php 5.5
Hashing api, wrapper around crypt()
No external libraries,no additional installation
PASSWORD_BCRYPT hashing algorithm, 60 characters hash.
Salt and Cost options.

12. <?php
$timeTarget = 0.2;
$cost = 9;
do {
$cost++;
$start = microtime(true);
password_hash("test", PASSWORD_BCRYPT, ["cost" => $cost]);
$end = microtime(true);
} while (($end - $start) < $timeTarget);
echo "Appropriate Cost Found: " . $cost; //Appropriate Cost Found: 11
?>

13. New Features(Password Hashing Api)
● password_get_info — Returns information about the
given hash
● password_hash — Creates a password hash
● password_needs_rehash — Checks if the given hash
matches the given options
● password_verify — Verifies that a password matches a
hash

14. New Features(Password Hashing Api)
<?php
$hash = password_hash(‘MyPassword’, PASSWORD_DEFAULT);
if(password_verify(‘MyPassword’, $hash)){
echo “Password is valid!!”;
}
else{ echo “invalid password.”}
?>

15. References
http://be1.php.net/migration55.new-features
http://www.sitepoint.com/generators-in-php/
http://geekmonkey.org/articles/39-php-5-5-generators
http://blog.ircmaxell.com/2012/07/what-generators-can-do-for-you.html
http://blog.asmallorange.com/2013/08/php-roadmap-performance/
http://php.net/manual/en/function.password-hash.php
http://uk1.php.net/manual/en/book.opcache.php
https://support.cloud.engineyard.com/entries/26902267-PHP-Performance-IEverything-You-Need-to-Know-About-OpCode-Caches