Magento Version: Attaining Ecommerce Success Since 15 Years

Magento is a renowned and formidable ecommerce platform that has been around for over ten years and has lived up to its reputation and popularity among web developers. Magento, which first released in 2008, has undergone a steady stream of updates and improvements since then, propelling it to the forefront of ecommerce platforms around the world. In this article, we’ll take a look back at the many different Magento versions that have been released throughout the years and its history.

History of Magento

Magento is a free and open-source online store management system that has been around since 2008. The software company Varien out of Los Angeles, California, created the system. Since its initial release in March 2008, Magento has become widely used by online retailers all around the world. Founders of Magento are Roy Rubin and Yoav Kutner.

Over the subsequent years, Magento underwent steady development and refinement. Improved product management, enhanced SEO capabilities, and new payment and delivery options are just some of the new features and enhancements introduced in Magento 1.4, which was released in 2010. In 2011, Magento 1.5 was released with a slew of enhancements, including better performance and scalability, support for multiple stores, and tighter security.

2015 saw the debut of Magento 2.0. An entirely new framework and a plethora of other enhancements and changes were introduced with this major platform update. Important enhancements include a more streamlined checkout process, improved speed and scalability, and responsive design support.

Magento has improved and developed further since version 2.0 was released. Over the years, Magento has released a number of updated versions of its e-commerce platform with the goal of simplifying store management and expanding product availability for merchants. According to creative minds, October 2022 statistics accounted for over 167,000 active Magento 1 eCommerce sites and about 100,000 Magento 2 eCommerce sites. This summarizes to approximately 0.9% of all e – commerce websites.

Various Magento Versions Released Since its Inception 

1. Magento 1.0: It was released in March 2008 and was the initial version of the Magento e-commerce platform. In its design, flexibility, scalability, and power were prioritized.
2. Magento 1.1: The next version of Magento 1.1 was launched in July 2008. There were a number of improvements and bug fixes in this edition.
3. Magento 1.2: Version 1.2 of Magento was launched in the winter of 2008. The ability to make personalized product configurations, enhanced search capabilities, and support for downloaded products are just a few of the new features introduced in this release.
4. Magento 1.3: The release of Magento 1.3 was in February 2009. Improved performance, additional payment options, and a fresh application programming interface were just some of the changes included in this release.
5. Magento 1.4: In February of 2010, Magento version 1.4 was made available. Enhancements to product import/export, tag support, and enhanced performance are just a few of the new features introduced in this release.
6. Magento 1.5: In February 2011, Magento 1.5 was first made obtainable to the general public. With this update, the platform materialized a number of improvements, including more advanced search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities, enhanced performance, and additional support in linguistics and currencies.
7. Magento 1.6: In August 2011, Magento 1.6 was first made accessible to users. Diverse brand-new features, including improved caching and indexing capabilities, improved security, and support for Google Analytics, were fortified in this version.
8. Magento 1.7: This update, which was made available in April 2012, reinforced a number of new features, including support for PayPal Express Checkout, improved indexing efficiency, and the capacity to create unique product properties.
9. Magento 1.8: In September 2013, the Magento 1.8 release was first made accessible to the general populace. In addition to other improvements, this version offered whiz features, such as support for PHP 5.4, responsive design themes, and improved tax calculation.
10. Magento 1.9: In May 2014, the public was given access to Magento’s final version of 1. A slew of new features and improvements were added in this version, such as enhanced security, quicker performance, and compatibility with the most recent releases of PHP and MySQL. 
11. Magento 2.0: In November 2015, the most recent Magento version became accessible. This platform update was significant because it brought in a new architecture, improved performance, and a more user-friendly interface.
12. Magento 2.1: Released in June 2016, Magento 2.1 added a fabulous slew of new features, like brilliant search functionality, ingenious checkout capabilities, and additional support for Elasticsearch.
13. Magento 2.2: Released in September 2017, Magento 2.2 included a profusion of advanced features, such as flawless performance, support for Braintree payments, and refined product bundling capabilities.
14. Magento 2.3: The latest version of Magento, version 2.3, was released in December 2018. This version introduced a ream of new features, such as augmented performance and security, a new multi-source inventory feature, and support for PHP 7.2. 
15. Magento 2.3.1: Released in March 2019, Magento 2.3.1 included a great deal of exceptional features and enhancements. For instance, support for Google reCAPTCHA v3, improved indexing, and enhanced GraphQL coverage.
16. Magento 2.3.2: Magento 2.3.2 version was released in June 2019 and conveniently offered some aesthetic features and improvements, like a new page builder tool, enhancements to the checkout process, and support for Elasticsearch 6.x.
17. Magento 2.3.3: Released in October 2019, Magento 2.3.3 popularized a pot of inventive security features and enhancements, like support for two-factor authentication, improved security, and performance enhancements.
18. Magento 2.3.4: Released in January 2020, Magento 2.3.4 added more full-proof security features and enhancements than the previous versions, like support for PHP 7.4 and improvements to the checkout process.
19. Magento 2.3.5: Magento 2.3.5, which was released in April 2020, has various new features and changes, namely support for two-factor authentication for the Magento Admin, improved productivity, and updates to the PayPal payment module.
20. Magento 2.3.6: Magento 2.3.6, which was released in August 2020, had various new features and enhancements, notably support for PHP 7.4, enhanced security, and changes to the bundled extensions.
21. Magento 2.4.0: Magento 2.4.0 was a major platform upgrade released in July 2020, providing various new features and changes, namely support for Elasticsearch 7.6.x, a new media gallery, and improvements to the checkout process.
22. Magento 2.4.1: Magento 2.4.1 was released in November 2020 and contained various new features and additions, including support for Adobe Stock integration, revisions to the Braintree payment module, and improvements to the storefront and Admin user interfaces.
23. Magento 2.4.2: Magento 2.4.2, released in March 2021, featured various updates and enhancements, including support for PHP 8.0, upgrades to the inventory management module, and modifications to the storefront and Admin user interfaces.
24. Magento 2.4.3: Magento 2.4.3, which was released in July 2021, contained emerging technological features and updates, including support for the Google Shopping advertisements channel, changes to the GraphQL API, and improvements to the storefront and Admin user panels.
25. Magento 2.4.4: Released in October 2021, Magento 2.4.4 introduced several new features and improvements, such as support for Elasticsearch 7.14.x, updates to the Braintree payment module and enhancements to the storefront and Admin user interfaces. 
26. Magento Open Source 2.4.5: Released on August 09, 2022. This is the Magento 2 version that offered better platform quality, GraphQL caching performance, payment methods, and accessibility. Moreover, this version includes updates to integrated Google modules and brought over 290 quality fixes.
27. Magento Open Source 2.4.6: Released on March 14, 2023, this is known to be the greatest Magento version. This latest version includes enhancements with the support of PHP 8.2 and 8.1 and over 300+ quality fixes. Its release came with a new Magento Community Prioritization process to vote on the issues on core code publicly. Redis, Elasticsearch, and MariaDb also got upgraded to new versions with backward compatibility. Also, this includes eight security fixes and platform security improvements.

Reasons to Upgrade to the Latest Magento Version

• Enhanced security: Each new Magento version has better security features and upgrades to help safeguard your online store from potential security attacks. Keeping up to date with the newest version can help ensure that your business is safe against security flaws discovered and fixed by Magento’s developers.
• Bug corrections and performance enhancements: With each new version, Magento’s engineers address bugs and performance concerns found in prior versions. These enhancements can help your online store run more smoothly and give a better client experience.
• New features and functionality: With each new release, Magento’s developers bring new features and functionality to the platform. By upgrading to the current version, you can make use of these new features to improve the functionality, marketing possibilities, and overall user experience of your online store.
• Support: As new versions of Magento are released, previous versions reach the end of their life cycle and are no longer supported by Magento’s developers. You may ensure that you have access to the most recent support resources, such as bug patches, security updates, and technical help, by upgrading to the most recent version.
• Compatibility: As new technologies emerge, previous versions of Magento may no longer work. Updating to the most recent Magento version will assist in ensuring that your online store is compatible with the most recent technologies, such as mobile devices and newer web browsers.

Conclusion 

Magento is now one of the world’s most profound e-commerce platforms. It is utilized by enterprises of all sizes and genres, from small startups to major multinational corporations. It has proved to be of immense assistance in the global expansion of the ecommerce ecosystem. Magento is a brilliant privilege for anyone wishing to develop an online store and boost their ecommerce sales because of its robust features, flexibility, and scalability.

FAQs

How frequently are new Magento versions released?

Magento updates are usually published every few months. The specific release timing, however, will rely on Magento’s development objectives and timeframes.

Can I upgrade from an earlier Magento version to a newer version?

Yes, you can upgrade from an earlier Magento version to a newer version. Yet, the update procedure might be complicated and may necessitate technical knowledge. To ensure a smooth update process, it is advised that you collaborate with a Magento developer or agency.

What happens when an older version of Magento is no longer supported?

When an older version of Magento hits the end of its life cycle, its developers no longer maintain it. This means you’ll no longer get security updates or bug patches for that version. To ensure that your online store is secure and up to date, you should upgrade to a supported version of Magento.

Are there any charges related to upgrading to a new Magento version?

Depending on the complexity of the upgrade and the level of technical skill necessary, there may be expenses connected with upgrading to a new version of Magento. Working with a Magento developer or agency to receive an estimate of the costs involved in upgrading to a new version is suggested.

Can I still use previous Magento versions?

While using previous versions of Magento is technically possible, it is not encouraged. Magento’s developers no longer support older versions, which may be vulnerable to security concerns. It is advised that you upgrade to a newer version of Magento to ensure that your online store is secure and up to date.

How can I know which version of Magento I’m using?

Go into your Magento admin panel and navigate to the “System” tab to see which version of Magento you’re using. You may see the version number by clicking on “Magento Version” from there.