PHP-Nuke is a web-based automated news publishing and content management system based on PHP and MySQL. The system is fully controlled using a web-based user interface. PHP-Nuke was originally a fork of the Thatware news portal system.

PHP-Nuke version 8.1 has been released. Preferences administration system has been totaly re-written and reorganized, added BB2Nuke forums 2.0.21, added AutoTheme GPL edition, several security fixes, added more variables check on few modules, fixed several bugs in Topics module, added referers in abridge or unabridge modes, added function to let administrators decide if the users can change the theme or not and many more.

The system is released as free software under the GNU General Public License. Until version 7.5, the latest version of the software was freely downloadable from the PHP-Nuke website; version 7.5 is the first version for which a US$10 download charge is made. This is permitted under the GNU GPL (providing the source code is included), but the purchaser of the software has the right to freely distribute the source code of the product. This charge only applies to the latest version of PHP-Nuke; previous versions are available free of charge. Version 8.1 is being distributed for US$12 as the PHP-Nuke site is no longer owned by Francisco Burzi, the original developer of the engine.