❌ PHP Removed Extensions & SAPIs – Obsolete Features You Should No Longer Use

Discover which PHP extensions, functions, and SAPIs have been officially removed from modern PHP versions, and learn how to replace them for better performance and compatibility.

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🧲 Introduction – What Does “Removed” Mean in PHP?

When a PHP extension or SAPI (Server API) is removed, it means that it has been completely deleted from PHP’s core and is no longer available or usable, even with warnings. Unlike deprecated features, removed ones will cause fatal errors if referenced.

🎯 In this guide, you’ll learn:

• The difference between deprecated and removed features
• Which PHP extensions and SAPIs have been removed
• Why these features were removed
• What alternatives to use moving forward

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❌ What Are Removed PHP Features?

• Extensions – Libraries that extended PHP functionality (e.g., mysql, mcrypt)
• SAPIs (Server APIs) – Interfaces between PHP and web servers (e.g., mod_php, ISAPI)
• Once removed, they cannot be restored without using older PHP versions

📌 Using removed functions/extensions will result in:

Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function...

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🔌 Removed Extensions by PHP Version

🔄 PHP 7.0

Removed Extension	Replacement
mysql	mysqli or PDO
ereg, ereg_replace	preg_match, preg_replace
mssql	sqlsrv (Windows), PDO
sybase_ct	PDO with dblib driver
dl() (in multithreaded SAPIs)	Not supported

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🔄 PHP 7.1–7.3

Removed Feature	Reason/Alternative
aspell	Outdated; use enchant
recode	Replace with iconv or mbstring
xmlrpc (as of 8.0)	Deprecated in 8.0, removed later

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🔄 PHP 8.0+

Removed Extension	Alternative
xmlrpc	Use third-party composer packages
create_function()	Use anonymous functions
each()	Use foreach

📌 Always refer to PHP changelogs before upgrading versions

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🌐 Removed SAPIs (Server APIs)

❌ Removed SAPIs

SAPI	Description	Status
apache1handler	Apache 1.x support	Removed
isapi	Microsoft IIS ISAPI	Removed
pi3web	Pi3Web SAPI	Removed
roxen	Experimental web server SAPI	Removed
cgi (legacy)	Replaced by FastCGI/PHP-FPM	Removed

📌 Today, FastCGI (via PHP-FPM) is the most used and recommended SAPI

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📋 Common Legacy Features Removed

Feature/Function	Removed In	Use Instead
mysql_connect()	PHP 7.0	mysqli_connect() or PDO
split()	PHP 7.0	explode() or preg_split()
call_user_method()	PHP 5.4	call_user_func()
set_magic_quotes_runtime()	PHP 5.4	Manual escaping or PDO

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🔧 How to Migrate Safely

• ✅ Use tools like PHPCompatibility (with PHP_CodeSniffer) to scan your codebase
• ✅ Check phpinfo() or extension_loaded() to see what’s available
• ✅ Search the PHP manual and migration guides before updating
• ✅ Test on staging before deploying updated code
• ✅ Avoid using abandoned extensions in new projects

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📌 Summary – Recap & Next Steps

PHP has evolved rapidly, removing outdated and insecure components in favor of faster, modern alternatives. Understanding what’s no longer supported helps you write compatible, secure, and upgradable code.

🔍 Key Takeaways:

• Removed features cannot be used in modern PHP versions
• Replace mysql with mysqli or PDO
• Use preg_* functions instead of ereg_*
• Use PHP-FPM instead of legacy SAPIs like ISAPI or Apache 1
• Scan your codebase for removed features before upgrading PHP

⚙️ Real-World Use Cases:
Migrating legacy CMS systems, upgrading shared hosting environments, framework version upgrades

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

❓ Can I re-enable removed PHP extensions manually?
❌ No. Once removed, they cannot be recompiled unless you use an older PHP version.

❓ Is the mysql_* extension supported in PHP 8?
❌ No. It was removed in PHP 7. Use mysqli or PDO.

❓ What is the replacement for xmlrpc?
✅ Use a third-party library like php-xmlrpc.

❓ Can I use Apache with PHP today?
✅ Yes, but use mod_proxy_fcgi with PHP-FPM instead of legacy mod_php.

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