From 0b8d49352fd402cca90156d33e617b433ac67e40 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <johnbillion@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2025 15:45:09 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 01/14] Bump the minimum supported version of PHP to 7.4.

---
 .version-support-php.json      | 2 --
 composer.json                  | 2 +-
 phpcompat.xml.dist             | 4 ++--
 src/readme.html                | 2 +-
 src/wp-admin/includes/misc.php | 4 ++--
 src/wp-includes/version.php    | 2 +-
 6 files changed, 7 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)

diff --git a/.version-support-php.json b/.version-support-php.json
index b2298e7177fff..38cad5db44851 100644
--- a/.version-support-php.json
+++ b/.version-support-php.json
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 {
 	"6-9": [
-		"7.2",
-		"7.3",
 		"7.4",
 		"8.0",
 		"8.1",
diff --git a/composer.json b/composer.json
index c07f9361d88f2..fdbb439e339f9 100644
--- a/composer.json
+++ b/composer.json
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 	"require": {
 		"ext-hash": "*",
 		"ext-json": "*",
-		"php": ">=7.2.24"
+		"php": ">=7.4"
 	},
 	"suggest": {
 		"ext-dom": "*"
diff --git a/phpcompat.xml.dist b/phpcompat.xml.dist
index d06b8e2a993dd..72a3900f42535 100644
--- a/phpcompat.xml.dist
+++ b/phpcompat.xml.dist
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@
 
 	<rule ref="PHPCompatibilityWP"/>
 
-	<!-- WordPress Core currently supports PHP 7.2+. -->
-	<config name="testVersion" value="7.2-"/>
+	<!-- WordPress Core currently supports PHP 7.4+. -->
+	<config name="testVersion" value="7.4-"/>
 
 	<!--
 	#############################################################################
diff --git a/src/readme.html b/src/readme.html
index b70648eaecdbe..4b0849c88efd2 100644
--- a/src/readme.html
+++ b/src/readme.html
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ <h2>Migrating from other systems</h2>
 
 <h2>System Requirements</h2>
 <ul>
-	<li><a href="https://www.php.net/">PHP</a> version <strong>7.2.24</strong> or greater.</li>
+	<li><a href="https://www.php.net/">PHP</a> version <strong>7.4</strong> or greater.</li>
 	<li><a href="https://www.mysql.com/">MySQL</a> version <strong>5.5.5</strong> or greater.</li>
 </ul>
 
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/misc.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/misc.php
index f42c247fb24c1..2d48b0273bfd2 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/misc.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/misc.php
@@ -1624,8 +1624,8 @@ function wp_check_php_version() {
 
 	$response['is_lower_than_future_minimum'] = false;
 
-	// The minimum supported PHP version will be updated to 7.4 in the future. Check if the current version is lower.
-	if ( version_compare( $version, '7.4', '<' ) ) {
+	// The minimum supported PHP version will be updated to 8.0 in the future. Check if the current version is lower.
+	if ( version_compare( $version, '8.0', '<' ) ) {
 		$response['is_lower_than_future_minimum'] = true;
 
 		// Force showing of warnings.
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/version.php b/src/wp-includes/version.php
index 3b435186928c7..d82d220f12668 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $required_php_version
  */
-$required_php_version = '7.2.24';
+$required_php_version = '7.4';
 
 /**
  * Holds the names of required PHP extensions.

From 74088d9efbebc682e648ff9030066a35be490779 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <johnbillion@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2025 15:46:44 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 02/14] Remove compat functions.

---
 src/wp-includes/compat.php                   |  69 -----------
 tests/phpunit/tests/compat/arrayKeyFirst.php |  68 -----------
 tests/phpunit/tests/compat/arrayKeyLast.php  |  77 ------------
 tests/phpunit/tests/compat/isCountable.php   | 117 -------------------
 4 files changed, 331 deletions(-)
 delete mode 100644 tests/phpunit/tests/compat/arrayKeyFirst.php
 delete mode 100644 tests/phpunit/tests/compat/arrayKeyLast.php
 delete mode 100644 tests/phpunit/tests/compat/isCountable.php

diff --git a/src/wp-includes/compat.php b/src/wp-includes/compat.php
index f0bdf079742f1..96d09c5ffa9e5 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/compat.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/compat.php
@@ -278,75 +278,6 @@ function _mb_strlen( $str, $encoding = null ) {
 	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/sodium_compat/autoload.php';
 }
 
-if ( ! function_exists( 'is_countable' ) ) {
-	/**
-	 * Polyfill for is_countable() function added in PHP 7.3.
-	 *
-	 * Verify that the content of a variable is an array or an object
-	 * implementing the Countable interface.
-	 *
-	 * @since 4.9.6
-	 *
-	 * @param mixed $value The value to check.
-	 * @return bool True if `$value` is countable, false otherwise.
-	 */
-	function is_countable( $value ) {
-		return ( is_array( $value )
-			|| $value instanceof Countable
-			|| $value instanceof SimpleXMLElement
-			|| $value instanceof ResourceBundle
-		);
-	}
-}
-
-if ( ! function_exists( 'array_key_first' ) ) {
-	/**
-	 * Polyfill for array_key_first() function added in PHP 7.3.
-	 *
-	 * Get the first key of the given array without affecting
-	 * the internal array pointer.
-	 *
-	 * @since 5.9.0
-	 *
-	 * @param array $array An array.
-	 * @return string|int|null The first key of array if the array
-	 *                         is not empty; `null` otherwise.
-	 */
-	function array_key_first( array $array ) { // phpcs:ignore Universal.NamingConventions.NoReservedKeywordParameterNames.arrayFound
-		if ( empty( $array ) ) {
-			return null;
-		}
-
-		foreach ( $array as $key => $value ) {
-			return $key;
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-if ( ! function_exists( 'array_key_last' ) ) {
-	/**
-	 * Polyfill for `array_key_last()` function added in PHP 7.3.
-	 *
-	 * Get the last key of the given array without affecting the
-	 * internal array pointer.
-	 *
-	 * @since 5.9.0
-	 *
-	 * @param array $array An array.
-	 * @return string|int|null The last key of array if the array
-	 *.                        is not empty; `null` otherwise.
-	 */
-	function array_key_last( array $array ) { // phpcs:ignore Universal.NamingConventions.NoReservedKeywordParameterNames.arrayFound
-		if ( empty( $array ) ) {
-			return null;
-		}
-
-		end( $array );
-
-		return key( $array );
-	}
-}
-
 if ( ! function_exists( 'array_is_list' ) ) {
 	/**
 	 * Polyfill for `array_is_list()` function added in PHP 8.1.
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/tests/compat/arrayKeyFirst.php b/tests/phpunit/tests/compat/arrayKeyFirst.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 28db82e363a6a..0000000000000
--- a/tests/phpunit/tests/compat/arrayKeyFirst.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,68 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-/**
- * @group compat
- *
- * @covers ::array_key_first
- */
-class Tests_Compat_arrayKeyFirst extends WP_UnitTestCase {
-
-	/**
-	 * Test that array_key_first() is always available (either from PHP or WP).
-	 * @ticket 45055
-	 */
-	public function test_array_key_first_availability() {
-		$this->assertTrue( function_exists( 'array_key_first' ) );
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * @dataProvider data_array_key_first
-	 *
-	 * @ticket 45055
-	 *
-	 * @param bool $expected The value of the key extracted to extracted from given array.
-	 * @param array $arr     The array to get first key from.
-	 */
-	public function test_array_key_first( $expected, $arr ) {
-		$this->assertSame( $expected, array_key_first( $arr ) );
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Data provider.
-	 *
-	 * @return array[]
-	 */
-	public function data_array_key_first() {
-		return array(
-			'string key'  => array(
-				'expected' => 'key1',
-				'arr'      => array(
-					'key1' => 'val1',
-					'key2' => 'val2',
-				),
-			),
-			'int key'     => array(
-				'expected' => 99,
-				'arr'      => array(
-					99 => 'val1',
-					1  => 'val2',
-				),
-			),
-			'no key'      => array(
-				'expected' => 0,
-				'arr'      => array( 'val1', 'val2' ),
-			),
-			'multi array' => array(
-				'expected' => 99,
-				'arr'      => array(
-					99 => array( 22 => 'val1' ),
-					1  => 'val2',
-				),
-			),
-			'empty array' => array(
-				'expected' => null,
-				'arr'      => array(),
-			),
-		);
-	}
-}
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/tests/compat/arrayKeyLast.php b/tests/phpunit/tests/compat/arrayKeyLast.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 819e850f13769..0000000000000
--- a/tests/phpunit/tests/compat/arrayKeyLast.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,77 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-/**
- * @group compat
- *
- * @covers ::array_key_last
- */
-class Tests_Compat_ArrayKeyLast extends WP_UnitTestCase {
-
-	/**
-	 * Test that array_key_last() is always available (either from PHP or WP).
-	 *
-	 * @ticket 45055
-	 */
-	public function test_array_key_last_availability() {
-		$this->assertTrue( function_exists( 'array_key_last' ) );
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * @dataProvider data_array_key_last
-	 *
-	 * @ticket 45055
-	 *
-	 * @param bool  $expected The value of the key extracted to extracted from given array.
-	 * @param array $arr      The array to get last key from.
-	 */
-	public function test_array_key_last( $expected, $arr ) {
-		$this->assertSame( $expected, array_key_last( $arr ) );
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Data provider for test_array_key_last().
-	 *
-	 * @return array
-	 */
-	public function data_array_key_last() {
-		return array(
-			'string key'  => array(
-				'expected' => 'key2',
-				'arr'      => array(
-					'key1' => 'val1',
-					'key2' => 'val2',
-				),
-			),
-			'int key'     => array(
-				'expected' => 1,
-				'arr'      => array(
-					99 => 'val1',
-					1  => 'val2',
-				),
-			),
-			'no key'      => array(
-				'expected' => 1,
-				'arr'      => array( 'val1', 'val2' ),
-			),
-			'multi array' => array(
-				'expected' => 1,
-				'arr'      => array(
-					99 => array( 22 => 'val1' ),
-					1  => 'val2',
-				),
-			),
-			'mixed keys'  => array(
-				'expected' => 1,
-				'arr'      => array(
-					'val1',
-					'key2' => 'val2',
-					'val3',
-				),
-			),
-			'empty array' => array(
-				'expected' => null,
-				'arr'      => array(),
-			),
-		);
-	}
-}
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/tests/compat/isCountable.php b/tests/phpunit/tests/compat/isCountable.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 66bf3c8c6c09f..0000000000000
--- a/tests/phpunit/tests/compat/isCountable.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,117 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-/**
- * @group compat
- *
- * @covers ::is_countable
- */
-class Tests_Compat_isCountable extends WP_UnitTestCase {
-
-	/**
-	 * Test that is_countable() is always available (either from PHP or WP).
-	 *
-	 * @ticket 43583
-	 */
-	public function test_is_countable_availability() {
-		$this->assertTrue( function_exists( 'is_countable' ) );
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Test is_countable() polyfill.
-	 *
-	 * @ticket 43583
-	 *
-	 * @dataProvider data_is_countable_functionality
-	 *
-	 * @param mixed $variable     Variable to check.
-	 * @param bool  $is_countable The expected return value of PHP 7.3 is_countable() function.
-	 */
-	public function test_is_countable_functionality( $variable, $is_countable ) {
-		$this->assertSame( $is_countable, is_countable( $variable ) );
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Data provider for test_is_countable_functionality().
-	 *
-	 * @ticket 43583
-	 *
-	 * @return array {
-	 *     @type array {
-	 *         @type mixed $variable     Variable to check.
-	 *         @type bool  $is_countable The expected return value of PHP 7.3 is_countable() function.
-	 *     }
-	 * }
-	 */
-	public function data_is_countable_functionality() {
-		return array(
-			'boolean true'                     => array(
-				'variable'     => true,
-				'is_countable' => false,
-			),
-			'plain stdClass object'            => array(
-				'variable'     => new stdClass(),
-				'is_countable' => false,
-			),
-			'Array iterator object'            => array(
-				'variable'     => new ArrayIteratorFakeForIsCountable(),
-				'is_countable' => true,
-			),
-			'Countable object'                 => array(
-				'variable'     => new CountableFakeForIsCountable(),
-				'is_countable' => true,
-			),
-			'integer 16'                       => array(
-				'variable'     => 16,
-				'is_countable' => false,
-			),
-			'null'                             => array(
-				'variable'     => null,
-				'is_countable' => false,
-			),
-			'non-empty array, 3 items'         => array(
-				'variable'     => array( 1, 2, 3 ),
-				'is_countable' => true,
-			),
-			'non-empty array, 1 item via cast' => array(
-				'variable'     => (array) 1,
-				'is_countable' => true,
-			),
-			'array cast to object'             => array(
-				'variable'     => (object) array( 'foo', 'bar', 'baz' ),
-				'is_countable' => false,
-			),
-		);
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Test is_countable() polyfill for ResourceBundle.
-	 *
-	 * @ticket 43583
-	 *
-	 * @requires extension intl
-	 */
-	public function test_is_countable_ResourceBundle() {
-		$this->assertTrue( is_countable( new ResourceBundle( 'en', null ) ) );
-	}
-
-	/**
-	 * Test is_countable() polyfill for SimpleXMLElement.
-	 *
-	 * @ticket 43583
-	 *
-	 * @requires extension simplexml
-	 */
-	public function test_is_countable_SimpleXMLElement() {
-		$this->assertTrue( is_countable( new SimpleXMLElement( '<xml><tag>1</tag><tag>2</tag></xml>' ) ) );
-	}
-}
-
-class ArrayIteratorFakeForIsCountable extends ArrayIterator {
-}
-
-class CountableFakeForIsCountable implements Countable {
-	#[ReturnTypeWillChange]
-	public function count() {
-		return 16;
-	}
-}

From 9f72abf1cac36ed227095c6a7799e19c58f0c68a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <johnbillion@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2025 15:47:23 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 03/14] Remove some 7.2 and 7.3 handling.

---
 src/wp-includes/pluggable.php                  | 14 +++++---------
 tests/phpunit/includes/abstract-testcase.php   | 14 +++-----------
 tests/phpunit/tests/admin/wpMediaListTable.php |  2 +-
 3 files changed, 9 insertions(+), 21 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/wp-includes/pluggable.php b/src/wp-includes/pluggable.php
index 1dbac5e1d707c..e0e77b48810ff 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/pluggable.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/pluggable.php
@@ -2676,11 +2676,9 @@ function wp_hash_password(
 		 * - `PASSWORD_ARGON2ID`
 		 * - `PASSWORD_DEFAULT`
 		 *
-		 * The values of the algorithm constants are strings in PHP 7.4+ and integers in PHP 7.3 and earlier.
-		 *
 		 * @since 6.8.0
 		 *
-		 * @param string|int $algorithm The hashing algorithm. Default is the value of the `PASSWORD_BCRYPT` constant.
+		 * @param string $algorithm The hashing algorithm. Default is the value of the `PASSWORD_BCRYPT` constant.
 		 */
 		$algorithm = apply_filters( 'wp_hash_password_algorithm', PASSWORD_BCRYPT );
 
@@ -2690,14 +2688,12 @@ function wp_hash_password(
 		 * The default hashing algorithm is bcrypt, but this can be changed via the {@see 'wp_hash_password_algorithm'}
 		 * filter. You must ensure that the options are appropriate for the algorithm in use.
 		 *
-		 * The values of the algorithm constants are strings in PHP 7.4+ and integers in PHP 7.3 and earlier.
-		 *
 		 * @since 6.8.0
 		 *
-		 * @param array      $options   Array of options to pass to the password hashing functions.
-		 *                              By default this is an empty array which means the default
-		 *                              options will be used.
-		 * @param string|int $algorithm The hashing algorithm in use.
+		 * @param array  $options   Array of options to pass to the password hashing functions.
+		 *                          By default this is an empty array which means the default
+		 *                          options will be used.
+		 * @param string $algorithm The hashing algorithm in use.
 		 */
 		$options = apply_filters( 'wp_hash_password_options', array(), $algorithm );
 
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/includes/abstract-testcase.php b/tests/phpunit/includes/abstract-testcase.php
index 29ce8d8b530bf..dad1382934d0e 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/includes/abstract-testcase.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/includes/abstract-testcase.php
@@ -142,10 +142,10 @@ public function set_up() {
 	/**
 	 * Sets the bcrypt cost option for password hashing during tests.
 	 *
-	 * @param array      $options   The options for password hashing.
-	 * @param string|int $algorithm The algorithm to use for hashing. This is a string in PHP 7.4+ and an integer in PHP 7.3 and earlier.
+	 * @param array  $options   The options for password hashing.
+	 * @param string $algorithm The algorithm to use for hashing.
 	 */
-	public function wp_hash_password_options( array $options, $algorithm ): array {
+	public function wp_hash_password_options( array $options, string $algorithm ): array {
 		if ( PASSWORD_BCRYPT === $algorithm ) {
 			$options['cost'] = 5;
 		}
@@ -1593,14 +1593,6 @@ public function scandir( $dir ) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		/*
-		 * Compatibility check for PHP < 7.4, where array_merge() expects at least one array.
-		 * See: https://3v4l.org/BIQMA
-		 */
-		if ( array() === $matched_dirs ) {
-			return array();
-		}
-
 		return array_merge( ...$matched_dirs );
 	}
 
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/tests/admin/wpMediaListTable.php b/tests/phpunit/tests/admin/wpMediaListTable.php
index aae2f3862ae76..5c0a7352c5898 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/tests/admin/wpMediaListTable.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/tests/admin/wpMediaListTable.php
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ public function tear_down() {
 	 * does not result in a PHP warning.
 	 *
 	 * The warning that we should not see:
-	 * PHP <= 7.4: `Invalid argument supplied for foreach()`.
+	 * PHP 7.4: `Invalid argument supplied for foreach()`.
 	 * PHP 8.0 and higher: `Warning: foreach() argument must be of type array|object, bool given`.
 	 *
 	 * Note: This does not test the actual functioning of the WP_Media_List_Table::prepare_items() method.

From 9c51d32871785b96af18dabf091d5be8bddaba34 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <johnbillion@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2025 15:48:40 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 04/14] Remove 7.2 and 7.3 from testing and the local
 development environment.

---
 .github/workflows/install-testing.yml         | 12 +----
 .../workflows/local-docker-environment.yml    |  5 ---
 .github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml           | 13 ++----
 .../workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml    |  2 +-
 .github/workflows/upgrade-develop-testing.yml | 14 ++----
 .github/workflows/upgrade-testing.yml         | 44 +++----------------
 docker-compose.yml                            |  3 --
 tools/local-env/mysql-old-php.conf            | 20 ---------
 tools/local-env/old-php-mysql-84.override.yml |  5 ---
 tools/local-env/scripts/install.js            |  3 --
 tools/local-env/scripts/start.js              |  3 --
 tools/local-env/scripts/utils.js              | 37 ----------------
 12 files changed, 14 insertions(+), 147 deletions(-)
 delete mode 100644 tools/local-env/mysql-old-php.conf
 delete mode 100644 tools/local-env/old-php-mysql-84.override.yml

diff --git a/.github/workflows/install-testing.yml b/.github/workflows/install-testing.yml
index 6d6caf246a347..4e220e7f1e6ce 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/install-testing.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/install-testing.yml
@@ -85,20 +85,10 @@ jobs:
           - db-version: '5.0'
           - db-version: '5.1'
           - db-version: '5.5'
-          # The PHP <= 7.3/MySQL 8.4 jobs currently fail due to mysql_native_password being disabled by default. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
-          - php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '8.4'
-          - php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '8.4'
           # Only test the latest innovation release.
           - db-version: '9.0'
           - db-version: '9.1'
           - db-version: '9.2'
-          # MySQL 9.0+ will not work on PHP 7.2 & 7.3. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
-          - php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '9.3'
-          - php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '9.3'
 
     services:
       database:
@@ -113,7 +103,7 @@ jobs:
           -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD="root"
           -e MYSQL_DATABASE="test_db"
           --entrypoint sh ${{ matrix.db-type }}:${{ matrix.db-version }}
-          -c "exec docker-entrypoint.sh mysqld${{ matrix.db-type == 'mysql' && contains( fromJSON('["7.2", "7.3"]'), matrix.php ) && ' --default-authentication-plugin=mysql_native_password' || '' }}"
+          -c "exec docker-entrypoint.sh mysqld"
 
     steps:
       - name: Set up PHP ${{ matrix.php }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml b/.github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml
index d8312015f621c..16d637c59ab54 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml
@@ -99,11 +99,6 @@ jobs:
           - db-version: '9.0'
           - db-version: '9.1'
           - db-version: '9.2'
-          # MySQL 9.0+ will not work on PHP 7.2 & 7.3. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
-          - php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '9.3'
-          - php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '9.3'
 
     with:
       os: ${{ matrix.os }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml
index d266b40fb249b..3bbf5de34c353 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [ ubuntu-24.04 ]
-        php: [ '7.2', '7.3', '7.4', '8.0', '8.1', '8.2', '8.3', '8.4' ]
+        php: [ '7.4', '8.0', '8.1', '8.2', '8.3', '8.4' ]
         db-type: [ 'mysql' ]
         db-version: [ '5.7', '8.0', '8.4' ]
         tests-domain: [ 'example.org' ]
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [ ubuntu-24.04 ]
-        php: [ '7.2', '7.3', '7.4', '8.0', '8.1', '8.2', '8.3', '8.4' ]
+        php: [ '7.4', '8.0', '8.1', '8.2', '8.3', '8.4' ]
         db-type: [ 'mariadb' ]
         db-version: [ '5.5', '10.3', '10.4', '10.5', '10.6', '10.11', '11.4', '11.8' ]
         multisite: [ false, true ]
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [ ubuntu-24.04 ]
-        php: [ '7.2', '7.3', '7.4', '8.0', '8.1', '8.2', '8.3', '8.4' ]
+        php: [ '7.4', '8.0', '8.1', '8.2', '8.3', '8.4' ]
         db-type: [ 'mysql', 'mariadb' ]
         db-version: [ '9.3', '11.7' ]
         multisite: [ false, true ]
@@ -203,11 +203,6 @@ jobs:
         db-innovation: [ true ]
 
         exclude:
-          # MySQL 9.0+ will not work on PHP <= 7.3 because mysql_native_password was removed. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
-          - php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '9.3'
-          - php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '9.3'
           # Exclude version combinations that don't exist.
           - db-type: 'mariadb'
             db-version: '9.3'
@@ -239,7 +234,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        php: [ '7.2', '7.4', '8.0', '8.4' ]
+        php: [ '7.4', '8.0', '8.4' ]
         db-type: [ 'mysql' ]
         db-version: [ '8.4' ]
         phpunit-test-groups: [ 'html-api-html5lib-tests' ]
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml
index 50c51246a9a0c..03bac07db505d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ jobs:
           -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD="root"
           -e MYSQL_DATABASE="test_db"
           --entrypoint sh ${{ inputs.db-type }}:${{ inputs.db-version }}
-          -c "exec docker-entrypoint.sh mysqld${{ inputs.db-type == 'mysql' && contains( fromJSON('["7.2", "7.3"]'), inputs.php ) && ' --default-authentication-plugin=mysql_native_password' || '' }}"
+          -c "exec docker-entrypoint.sh mysqld"
 
     steps:
       - name: Set up PHP ${{ inputs.php }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/upgrade-develop-testing.yml b/.github/workflows/upgrade-develop-testing.yml
index b24fd5fea220d..aa576893ae941 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upgrade-develop-testing.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upgrade-develop-testing.yml
@@ -60,20 +60,12 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [ 'ubuntu-24.04' ]
-        php: [ '7.2', '8.4' ]
+        php: [ '7.4', '8.4' ]
         db-type: [ 'mysql' ]
         db-version: [ '5.7', '8.4' ]
-        # WordPress 4.9 is the oldest version that supports PHP 7.2.
-        wp: [ '4.9', '6.6', '6.7', '6.8' ]
+        # WordPress 5.3 is the oldest version that supports PHP 7.4.
+        wp: [ '5.3', '6.6', '6.7', '6.8' ]
         multisite: [ false, true ]
-
-        exclude:
-          # The PHP <= 7.3/MySQL 8.4 jobs currently fail due to mysql_native_password being disabled by default. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
-          - php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '8.4'
-          # WordPress 4.9 does not support PHP 8.4.
-          - php: '8.4'
-            wp: '4.9'
     with:
       os: ${{ matrix.os }}
       php: ${{ matrix.php }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/upgrade-testing.yml b/.github/workflows/upgrade-testing.yml
index 9694433b57a44..2dbcb912bcd20 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upgrade-testing.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upgrade-testing.yml
@@ -63,23 +63,11 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [ 'ubuntu-24.04' ]
-        php: [ '7.2', '7.3', '7.4', '8.0', '8.1', '8.2', '8.3', '8.4' ]
+        php: [ '7.4', '8.0', '8.1', '8.2', '8.3', '8.4' ]
         db-type: [ 'mysql' ]
         db-version: [ '5.7', '8.0', '8.4', '9.3' ]
         wp: [ '6.7', '6.8' ]
         multisite: [ false, true ]
-
-        exclude:
-          # The PHP <= 7.3/MySQL 8.4 jobs currently fail due to mysql_native_password being disabled by default. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
-          - php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '8.4'
-          - php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '8.4'
-          # MySQL 9.0+ will not work on PHP 7.2 & 7.3. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
-          - php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '9.3'
-          - php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '9.3'
     with:
       os: ${{ matrix.os }}
       php: ${{ matrix.php }}
@@ -98,16 +86,11 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [ 'ubuntu-24.04' ]
-        php: [ '7.2', '7.4', '8.0', '8.4' ]
+        php: [ '7.4', '8.0', '8.4' ]
         db-type: [ 'mysql' ]
         db-version: [ '5.7', '8.4' ]
         wp: [ '6.0', '6.3', '6.4', '6.5' ]
         multisite: [ false, true ]
-
-        exclude:
-          # The PHP <= 7.3/MySQL 8.4 jobs currently fail due to mysql_native_password being disabled by default. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
-          - php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '8.4'
     with:
       os: ${{ matrix.os }}
       php: ${{ matrix.php }}
@@ -117,7 +100,7 @@ jobs:
       new-version: ${{ inputs.new-version && inputs.new-version || 'latest' }}
       multisite: ${{ matrix.multisite }}
 
-  # Tests 5.x releases where the WordPress database version changed on the oldest and newest supported versions of PHP 7.
+  # Tests 5.x releases where the WordPress database version changed on the only supported version of PHP 7.
   upgrade-tests-wp-5x-php-7x-mysql:
     name: ${{ matrix.wp }} to ${{ inputs.new-version && inputs.new-version || 'latest' }}
     uses: ./.github/workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml
@@ -126,16 +109,11 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [ 'ubuntu-24.04' ]
-        php: [ '7.2', '7.4' ]
+        php: [ '7.4' ]
         db-type: [ 'mysql' ]
         db-version: [ '5.7', '8.4' ]
         wp: [ '5.0', '5.1', '5.3', '5.4', '5.5', '5.6', '5.9' ]
         multisite: [ false, true ]
-
-        exclude:
-          # The PHP <= 7.3/MySQL 8.4 jobs currently fail due to mysql_native_password being disabled by default. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
-          - php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '8.4'
     with:
       os: ${{ matrix.os }}
       php: ${{ matrix.php }}
@@ -186,23 +164,11 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [ 'ubuntu-24.04' ]
-        php: [ '7.2', '7.3', '7.4' ]
+        php: [ '7.4' ]
         db-type: [ 'mysql' ]
         db-version: [ '5.7', '8.0', '8.4', '9.3' ]
         wp: [ '4.7' ]
         multisite: [ false, true ]
-
-        exclude:
-          # The PHP <= 7.3/MySQL 8.4 jobs currently fail due to mysql_native_password being disabled by default. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
-          - php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '8.4'
-          - php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '8.4'
-          # MySQL 9.0+ will not work on PHP 7.2 & 7.3. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
-          - php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '9.3'
-          - php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '9.3'
     with:
       os: ${{ matrix.os }}
       php: ${{ matrix.php }}
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 863cbd2ea9b1b..f25b8bbb48255 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -79,9 +79,6 @@ services:
       - ./tools/local-env/mysql-init.sql:/docker-entrypoint-initdb.d/mysql-init.sql
       - mysql:/var/lib/mysql
 
-    # For compatibility with PHP versions that don't support the caching_sha2_password auth plugin used in MySQL 8.0.
-    command: ${LOCAL_DB_AUTH_OPTION-}
-
     healthcheck:
       test: [
         'CMD-SHELL',
diff --git a/tools/local-env/mysql-old-php.conf b/tools/local-env/mysql-old-php.conf
deleted file mode 100644
index ae1cb9b72a7f5..0000000000000
--- a/tools/local-env/mysql-old-php.conf
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-##
-# The local Docker environment will try to use the database software's default authentication plugin whenever possible.
-#
-# One exception to this is using PHP 7.2 & 7.3 in combination with MySQL >= 8.0. These versions of PHP lack support for
-# MySQL's caching_sha2_password plugin, which was made the new default in MySQL 8.0.
-#
-# Until MySQL 8.4, this could easily be changed using the --default-authentication-plugin with the old value of
-# mysql_native_password.
-#
-# In MySQL 8.4, the  --default-authentication-plugin option was removed in favor of --authentication-policy and
-# mysql_native_password was disabled by default.
-#
-# When mounted to the database container in the local Docker environment, this file turns the old authentication plugin
-# back on so that PHP 7.2 & 7.3 can be used in combination with MySQL 8.4.
-#
-# MySQL 9.0 will remove mysql_native_password.
-##
-
-[mysqld]
-mysql-native-password=ON
diff --git a/tools/local-env/old-php-mysql-84.override.yml b/tools/local-env/old-php-mysql-84.override.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 3eca65f3c1c0e..0000000000000
--- a/tools/local-env/old-php-mysql-84.override.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-services:
-
-  mysql:
-    volumes:
-      - ./tools/local-env/mysql-old-php.conf:/etc/mysql/conf.d/config-file.cnf
diff --git a/tools/local-env/scripts/install.js b/tools/local-env/scripts/install.js
index 19a0f46e08680..5addae3ab943a 100644
--- a/tools/local-env/scripts/install.js
+++ b/tools/local-env/scripts/install.js
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@ const local_env_utils = require( './utils' );
 
 dotenvExpand.expand( dotenv.config() );
 
-// Determine if a non-default database authentication plugin needs to be used.
-local_env_utils.determine_auth_option();
-
 // Create wp-config.php.
 wp_cli( `config create --dbname=wordpress_develop --dbuser=root --dbpass=password --dbhost=mysql --force --config-file="wp-config.php"` );
 
diff --git a/tools/local-env/scripts/start.js b/tools/local-env/scripts/start.js
index b0389b2fb0a7f..66559d4c10b85 100644
--- a/tools/local-env/scripts/start.js
+++ b/tools/local-env/scripts/start.js
@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@ dotenvExpand.expand( dotenv.config() );
 
 const composeFiles = local_env_utils.get_compose_files();
 
-// Determine if a non-default database authentication plugin needs to be used.
-local_env_utils.determine_auth_option();
-
 // Check if the Docker service is running.
 try {
 	execSync( 'docker info' );
diff --git a/tools/local-env/scripts/utils.js b/tools/local-env/scripts/utils.js
index 3f3e601db2287..51f02e32a1d2d 100644
--- a/tools/local-env/scripts/utils.js
+++ b/tools/local-env/scripts/utils.js
@@ -10,9 +10,6 @@ const local_env_utils = {
 	 *
 	 * By default, only the standard docker-compose.yml file will be used.
 	 *
-	 * When PHP 7.2 or 7.3 is used in combination with MySQL 8.4, an override file will also be returned to ensure
-	 * that the mysql_native_password plugin authentication plugin is on and available for use.
-	 *
 	 * @return {string[]} Compose files.
 	 */
 	get_compose_files: function() {
@@ -22,41 +19,7 @@ const local_env_utils = {
 			composeFiles.push( 'docker-compose.override.yml' );
 		}
 
-		if ( process.env.LOCAL_DB_TYPE !== 'mysql' ) {
-			return composeFiles;
-		}
-
-		if ( process.env.LOCAL_PHP !== '7.2-fpm' && process.env.LOCAL_PHP !== '7.3-fpm' ) {
-			return composeFiles;
-		}
-
-		// PHP 7.2/7.3 in combination with MySQL 8.4 requires additional configuration to function properly.
-		if ( process.env.LOCAL_DB_VERSION === '8.4' ) {
-			composeFiles.push( 'tools/local-env/old-php-mysql-84.override.yml' );
-		}
-
 		return composeFiles;
-	},
-
-	/**
-	 * Determines the option to pass for proper authentication plugin configuration given the specified PHP version,
-	 * database type, and database version.
-	 */
-	determine_auth_option: function() {
-		if ( process.env.LOCAL_DB_TYPE !== 'mysql' ) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		if ( process.env.LOCAL_PHP !== '7.2-fpm' && process.env.LOCAL_PHP !== '7.3-fpm' ) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		// MySQL 8.4 removed --default-authentication-plugin in favor of --authentication-policy.
-		if ( process.env.LOCAL_DB_VERSION === '8.4' ) {
-			process.env.LOCAL_DB_AUTH_OPTION = '--authentication-policy=mysql_native_password';
-		} else {
-			process.env.LOCAL_DB_AUTH_OPTION = '--default-authentication-plugin=mysql_native_password';
-		}
 	}
 };
 

From d5a6ce0574e0dbcd0aea4ad2a3e963eae699c647 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <johnbillion@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2025 16:27:25 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 05/14] Docs.

---
 src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-site-health.php | 1 +
 src/wp-includes/compat.php                     | 2 +-
 2 files changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-site-health.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-site-health.php
index b7847d5e310a8..3673199d854ca 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-site-health.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-site-health.php
@@ -941,6 +941,7 @@ public function get_test_php_extensions() {
 				'function' => 'mysqli_connect',
 				'required' => false,
 			),
+			// Sodium was introduced in PHP 7.2, but the extension may not be enabled.
 			'libsodium' => array(
 				'constant'            => 'SODIUM_LIBRARY_VERSION',
 				'required'            => false,
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/compat.php b/src/wp-includes/compat.php
index 96d09c5ffa9e5..3f5f1cbd6ece3 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/compat.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/compat.php
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ function _mb_strlen( $str, $encoding = null ) {
 	return --$count;
 }
 
-// sodium_crypto_box() was introduced in PHP 7.2.
+// sodium_crypto_box() was introduced with Sodium in PHP 7.2, but the extension may not be enabled.
 if ( ! function_exists( 'sodium_crypto_box' ) ) {
 	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/sodium_compat/autoload.php';
 }

From 03baf87a04fe8ccb3a0796fd2e3d0081a346f744 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <johnbillion@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2025 22:56:42 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 06/14] Revert these changes because install-testing.yml needs
 to remain compatible with older branches.

---
 .github/workflows/install-testing.yml | 12 +++++++++++-
 1 file changed, 11 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/.github/workflows/install-testing.yml b/.github/workflows/install-testing.yml
index 4e220e7f1e6ce..6d6caf246a347 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/install-testing.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/install-testing.yml
@@ -85,10 +85,20 @@ jobs:
           - db-version: '5.0'
           - db-version: '5.1'
           - db-version: '5.5'
+          # The PHP <= 7.3/MySQL 8.4 jobs currently fail due to mysql_native_password being disabled by default. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
+          - php: '7.2'
+            db-version: '8.4'
+          - php: '7.3'
+            db-version: '8.4'
           # Only test the latest innovation release.
           - db-version: '9.0'
           - db-version: '9.1'
           - db-version: '9.2'
+          # MySQL 9.0+ will not work on PHP 7.2 & 7.3. See https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/61218.
+          - php: '7.2'
+            db-version: '9.3'
+          - php: '7.3'
+            db-version: '9.3'
 
     services:
       database:
@@ -103,7 +113,7 @@ jobs:
           -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD="root"
           -e MYSQL_DATABASE="test_db"
           --entrypoint sh ${{ matrix.db-type }}:${{ matrix.db-version }}
-          -c "exec docker-entrypoint.sh mysqld"
+          -c "exec docker-entrypoint.sh mysqld${{ matrix.db-type == 'mysql' && contains( fromJSON('["7.2", "7.3"]'), matrix.php ) && ' --default-authentication-plugin=mysql_native_password' || '' }}"
 
     steps:
       - name: Set up PHP ${{ matrix.php }}

From 77ffa5738a43ea3a2bfe80d32194a3479ffe6385 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <johnbillion@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2025 23:00:12 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 07/14] Let's see if we can remove this too.

---
 .github/workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml | 2 --
 1 file changed, 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml
index 03bac07db505d..ae907c0d9af4a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml
@@ -74,8 +74,6 @@ jobs:
           --health-retries="5"
           -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD="root"
           -e MYSQL_DATABASE="test_db"
-          --entrypoint sh ${{ inputs.db-type }}:${{ inputs.db-version }}
-          -c "exec docker-entrypoint.sh mysqld"
 
     steps:
       - name: Set up PHP ${{ inputs.php }}

From 8a0172fa26a070c9a9eb30b9755129fadef77134 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <johnbillion@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2025 10:55:58 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 08/14] Docs.

---
 .github/workflows/install-testing.yml | 3 +++
 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+)

diff --git a/.github/workflows/install-testing.yml b/.github/workflows/install-testing.yml
index 6d6caf246a347..1b46021135c36 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/install-testing.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/install-testing.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 # Confirms that installing WordPress using WP-CLI works successfully.
 #
 # This workflow is not meant to test wordpress-develop checkouts, but rather tagged versions officially available on WordPress.org.
+#
+# This workflow is triggered for all WordPress versions that are currently receiving security updates. It therefore needs to
+# retain support for older PHP and database versions.
 name: Installation Tests
 
 on:

From edc4ed12eeb372d96960c873d958399662266970 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <johnbillion@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2025 17:21:42 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 09/14] Apply suggestions from code review

Co-authored-by: Aaron Jorbin <aaronjorbin@users.noreply.github.com>
---
 src/wp-admin/includes/misc.php | 2 +-
 src/wp-includes/pluggable.php  | 2 ++
 2 files changed, 3 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/misc.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/misc.php
index 2d48b0273bfd2..5c580da4dc52c 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/misc.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/misc.php
@@ -1624,7 +1624,7 @@ function wp_check_php_version() {
 
 	$response['is_lower_than_future_minimum'] = false;
 
-	// The minimum supported PHP version will be updated to 8.0 in the future. Check if the current version is lower.
+	// The minimum supported PHP version will be updated to at least 8.0 in the future. Check if the current version is lower.
 	if ( version_compare( $version, '8.0', '<' ) ) {
 		$response['is_lower_than_future_minimum'] = true;
 
diff --git a/src/wp-includes/pluggable.php b/src/wp-includes/pluggable.php
index e0e77b48810ff..2d9f6f6e80692 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/pluggable.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/pluggable.php
@@ -2677,6 +2677,7 @@ function wp_hash_password(
 		 * - `PASSWORD_DEFAULT`
 		 *
 		 * @since 6.8.0
+		 * @since 6.9.0 The paramater passed will always be a string.
 		 *
 		 * @param string $algorithm The hashing algorithm. Default is the value of the `PASSWORD_BCRYPT` constant.
 		 */
@@ -2689,6 +2690,7 @@ function wp_hash_password(
 		 * filter. You must ensure that the options are appropriate for the algorithm in use.
 		 *
 		 * @since 6.8.0
+		 * @since 6.9 $algorithm will always be a string rather than sometimes being an integer.
 		 *
 		 * @param array  $options   Array of options to pass to the password hashing functions.
 		 *                          By default this is an empty array which means the default

From bec6c6fc01dbb9a72d76d589160e5edebf3c5e79 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <johnbillion@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2025 17:27:14 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 10/14] Tidying up.

---
 src/wp-includes/pluggable.php | 4 ++--
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/wp-includes/pluggable.php b/src/wp-includes/pluggable.php
index 2d9f6f6e80692..4015c427df59c 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/pluggable.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/pluggable.php
@@ -2677,7 +2677,7 @@ function wp_hash_password(
 		 * - `PASSWORD_DEFAULT`
 		 *
 		 * @since 6.8.0
-		 * @since 6.9.0 The paramater passed will always be a string.
+		 * @since 6.9.0 The `$algorithm` parameter is now always a string.
 		 *
 		 * @param string $algorithm The hashing algorithm. Default is the value of the `PASSWORD_BCRYPT` constant.
 		 */
@@ -2690,7 +2690,7 @@ function wp_hash_password(
 		 * filter. You must ensure that the options are appropriate for the algorithm in use.
 		 *
 		 * @since 6.8.0
-		 * @since 6.9 $algorithm will always be a string rather than sometimes being an integer.
+		 * @since 6.9.0 The `$algorithm` parameter is now always a string.
 		 *
 		 * @param array  $options   Array of options to pass to the password hashing functions.
 		 *                          By default this is an empty array which means the default

From 4d2e02792583652bf889a84e8518594d442c932e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <john@johnblackbourn.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2025 17:31:39 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 11/14] Update the PHP support matrix.

---
 .version-support-php.json | 11 +++++++++++
 1 file changed, 11 insertions(+)

diff --git a/.version-support-php.json b/.version-support-php.json
index 658fcc790e1b8..5374052d2383c 100644
--- a/.version-support-php.json
+++ b/.version-support-php.json
@@ -1,5 +1,16 @@
 {
+	"7-0": [
+		"7.4",
+		"8.0",
+		"8.1",
+		"8.2",
+		"8.3",
+		"8.4",
+		"8.5"
+	],
 	"6-9": [
+		"7.2",
+		"7.3",
 		"7.4",
 		"8.0",
 		"8.1",

From b55f2ff03f4502022f9ad86f004302c2891a12ee Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <john@johnblackbourn.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2025 17:41:03 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 12/14] Revert an accidental deletion.

---
 .github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml | 3 +++
 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+)

diff --git a/.github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml b/.github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml
index c567aebe979ec..461403ae4f453 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ jobs:
           - db-version: '9.1'
           - db-version: '9.2'
           - db-version: '9.3'
+          # No PHP 8.5 + Memcached support yet.
+          - php: '8.5'
+            memcached: true
 
     with:
       os: ${{ matrix.os }}

From 1aa1239c6a5f31fdd9109ba7fc76e96beb28bb41 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <john@johnblackbourn.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2025 17:42:41 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 13/14] Boop.

---
 .github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml | 42 -----------------------------
 1 file changed, 42 deletions(-)

diff --git a/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml
index 7c70e44495a6a..24ce4b28a91f9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml
@@ -219,48 +219,6 @@ jobs:
           # Trim the matrix on Pull Requests to reduce the number of concurrent jobs.
           # Each PHP version is tested against one version of MariaDB.
           # Each MariaDB version is tested at least once.
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '10.3'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '10.4'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '10.5'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '10.6'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '10.11'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '11.4'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.2'
-            db-version: '11.8'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '5.5'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '10.4'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '10.5'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '10.6'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '10.11'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '11.4'
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.3'
-            db-version: '11.8'
           - event: pull_request
             php: '7.4'
             db-version: '5.5'

From 9a245a84339acc62a67f612a288c09c87e382a68 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: John Blackbourn <john@johnblackbourn.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2025 17:56:45 +0100
Subject: [PATCH 14/14] More updates.

---
 .github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml | 16 +---------------
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 15 deletions(-)

diff --git a/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml
index 24ce4b28a91f9..2b904936791d3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml
@@ -83,18 +83,6 @@ jobs:
         exclude:
             # Trim the matrix on Pull Requests to reduce the number of concurrent jobs.
             # Each PHP version is tested againgst one version of MySQL.
-            - event: pull_request
-              php: '7.2'
-              db-version: '8.0'
-            - event: pull_request
-              php: '7.2'
-              db-version: '8.4'
-            - event: pull_request
-              php: '7.3'
-              db-version: '5.7'
-            - event: pull_request
-              php: '7.3'
-              db-version: '8.4'
             - event: pull_request
               php: '7.4'
               db-version: '5.7'
@@ -428,8 +416,6 @@ jobs:
           - db-type: 'mysql'
             db-version: '12.0'
           # On Pull requests, only test each innovation release once.
-          - event: pull_request
-            php: '7.3'
           - event: pull_request
             php: '7.4'
           - event: pull_request
@@ -503,7 +489,7 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        php: [ '7.2', '8.4' ]
+        php: [ '7.4', '8.4' ]
         db-version: [ '8.4', '11.8' ]
         db-type: [ 'mysql', 'mariadb' ]
         multisite: [ false ]