ionCube Ltd

ionCube Ltd produces tools that protect software written in PHP from being read, altered or run on unlicensed machines. It introduced them in 2002, building on earlier work on the PHP Accelerator project. The tools compile code to bytecode before encoding it, which removes the readable source.

What ionCube Ltd offers

• PHP Encoder — encrypts and obfuscates PHP code, with dynamic keys and bytecode protection.
• Licensing — restricts use by IP address, domain or MAC address, with an online licence manager.
• Online Encoder — a service where scripts are uploaded and an encoded version is returned.
• Loader — the runtime component that lets encoded files run on a server.
• Automation support — command-line options for all platforms, a graphical tool on Windows and macOS, and CI/CD integration.

Who it works with

Developers and software vendors who distribute PHP products. The encoder works with popular frameworks such as Laravel and CodeIgniter.

Key facts

• Founded: 2002
• Platforms: PHP 5, 7 and 8 supported
• Latest release shown: PHP Encoder 15