PHP Vs. JavaScript: The Better Option For Your Dream Web Project?
Haven’t you decided yet on which programming language to use for your next web development project? Not sure if it should be PHP or JavaScript? After reading this blog, you’ll know exactly which language best fits your needs and why! Keep reading to discover how each option stacks up against the other.
JavaScript and PHP are both general-purpose scripting languages that are used in web development. JavaScript is client-side, whereas PHP is a server-side scripting language. The two languages can work together or independently, and they can accomplish a lot.
Now, let’s find out which programming language is the best fit for your next web development project.
Brief Overview
JavaScript
JavaScript is a lightweight, high-level, interpreted, or just-in-time-compiled dynamic programming language. JavaScript was created in 1995 by Brendan Eich and is popular for its curly-bracket syntax, first-class functions, and prototype-based object orientation.
According to Statista, 69 percent of developers globally utilized JavaScript in the last 12 months, with a further 5% planning to do so. According to the research, as of late 2019, it is the most used programming language in the world.
PHP
PHP is an open-source backend programming language. The language was invented by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994 and has subsequently garnered worldwide popularity.
PHP was used by 30% of developers in the last 12 months. Facebook, Wikipedia, and, of course, WordPress is among the most popular websites using PHP.
JavaScript vs. PHP: Know the Differences
PHP and JavaScript are arguably two of the most popular web development languages in use today. But they each have different strengths and weaknesses, so here’s a one-on-one comparison of both the technologies that help give you a quick overview of both before you decide which language is the most appropriate for your project.
Let’s take a look at what each language brings to the table.
#1 JavaScript vs. PHP: Performance
An event-driven, single-threaded, non-blocking I/O model defines JavaScript. Event looping and node clustering are used to create this model.
PHP, on the other hand, has a multi-threaded execution architecture with blocking I/O. PHP, unlike JavaScript, is a synchronous language. PHP is much slower than JavaScript because the second line of code cannot be performed until the first has been completed.
While PHP is undoubtedly slower than JavaScript, some say that it is more stable. However, this benefit is debatable and not ultimately proven. Both PHP and Javascript’s stability and reliability are open to interpretation. However, the latter wins due to its superior speed.
Winner: JavaScript
#2 PHP vs. JavaScript: Usage for Web Development
W3tech.com published a report demonstrating the historical trend in the percentage of websites that use the selected technologies.
According to the graph, PHP is used as the server-side programming language by 79% of all websites, whereas JavaScript is used by only 0.7%. Similarly, PHP is used by 77.4% of all websites ranked in the top 1,000,000.
When it comes to client-side scripting languages for websites, however, JavaScript outperforms the others. According to W3techs.com’s technology overview, JavaScript is the most popular client-side language, with 95.2% of all websites using it.
Winner: PHP
#3 JavaScript vs. PHP: Ease of Coding
PHP is a more user-friendly programming language. This is due to PHP’s over 1000 built-in functions, which can create specific tasks. The list of operations is easily accessible on the internet.
You can even make your command-giving functions. And if you need any help, you can always hire PHP developers who are well-versed with the technology.
JavaScript can be a little tricky as it offers additional capabilities such as event queues, HTTP requests, grammar, operators, and more. JavaScript is also asynchronous, unlike other languages.
Winner: PHP
#4 PHP vs. Javascript: Extensibility
HTML, XML, and Ajax can all be combined with JavaScript. There are many fantastic JavaScript frameworks, and it’s impossible to keep track of them all because new ones come out quite often. Vue, Angular, and React are the most popular frontend JS technologies.
PHP can only be combined with HTML. The availability of CMSs such as WordPress or Drupal is probably PHP’s most significant advantage. Both these technologies have the potential to simplify and potentially reduce the cost of web development considerably.
PHP may be extended using any LAMP stack technology, as well as server solutions like MySQL or PostgreSQL.
Both PEAR and Composer are PHP package managers. Composer is a PHP dependency management tool, and PEAR is an open-source PHP code library with a hierarchical design.
Overall, JavaScript has more extensibility options for Javascript development companies; thus, it wins the point.
Winner: JavaScript
#5 PHP vs. JavaScript: Simplicity
The ease with which PHP and JavaScript can be learned and used is a significant difference. Due to its complexity, advanced functionality, use of an event queue, and violation of certain norms supported by other programming languages.
PHP is more powerful because of its more extensive library, but it is also easier to use. PHP has a function for every operation you can think of. PHP is used by many major websites, like Facebook, due to its ease of usage.
Winner: PHP
#6 PHP vs. JavaScript: Universality
JavaScript, like PHP, is cross-platform. Both PHP and JavaScript are generally designed for web application development, but they may also be used to create mobile apps.
JavaScript is a full-stack development language and this gives it an edge over PHP. Most JS and PHP comparisons emphasize that JavaScript is merely an interface, and however, this is simply incorrect. Without using any other technologies other than JavaScript, you may create a complete web or mobile application.
PHP is only an internal development language. A PHP developer must know four separate syntax systems, not to mention HTML and CSS, to construct a web application using this technological stack.
Switching between languages is inconvenient and wasteful, and it complicates the learning process.
JavaScript can be used on both the front and backend, but PHP is solely for server-side code. The significant advantage of JavaScript programming is that it is full-stack development.
Winner: JavaScript
#7 PHP vs. JavaScript: Community
The main reasons why companies enjoy working with JavaScript are its universality, popularity, and extensibility. JavaScript is used by Uber, NASA, Netflix, LinkedIn, Instagram, eBay, Netflix, and more.
The majority of JS frameworks are open source; however, JavaScript is not. With almost a 20% share of pull requests on GitHub, JavaScript is the most popular language.
The most popular advantages of PHP are its vast community, open-source nature, and ease of deployment. Facebook, Lyft, Wikipedia, Slack, Tumblr, and 9 GAG are just a few firms that use PHP.
Because PHP code is open source, it is more flexible and customizable. PHP is only in the eighth rank on GitHub, with only 5% of pull requests.
Both PHP and JavaScript score a point since they have substantial support communities and large IT companies use them.
Winner: It’s a tie
Here is a Quick Summary of Javascript vs PHP:
Bottom Lines
Both PHP and Javascript are well-known programming languages, each with its pros and cons. There are many advantages of using either PHP or JavaScript, and one is not better than another with both languages having their place in development projects.
That said, if you’re creating a web project that has lots of traffic and constant updates, then consider using JavaScript as your programming language of choice. However, if your site isn’t receiving millions of visitors per day, it could be best to go with PHP.
Still, if you are confused between both technologies, it would be better to get in touch with a top software consulting company (you can drop a query or contact me to know more). They will provide you with the right technology stack and can cater to all your requirements.
Good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. When to choose PHP and Javascript?
Choose PHP as your programming language:
- If you’re planning to build a blog or an e-commerce website
- If you’re already using LAMP technology.
- PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Oracle, Sybase, and other database servers.
Choose JavaScript when your project includes:
- Angular.js, React.js, Backbone.js, Ember.js, and more front-end technologies
- SPAs (Dynamic Single Page Applications)
- MongoDB, Express.js, Node.js, and other server technologies
- Solution stacks such as MEAN (Express js, Angular js, MongoDB, etc.)
Q2. Is PHP more secure than JavaScript?
As PHP code is not visible in the browser, it is more secure than Javascript. Javascript code is insecure and vulnerable to security threats. Using Security Analyzer tools and following best development practices such as SSL/HTTPS, you may secure your Javascript code.
Q3. Is it possible to use JavaScript with PHP?
The answer is yes. Web forms are a good example of where it’s useful to check user input before saving it to a database.
JavaScript can be used for client-side validation, such as ensuring that an email is formatted correctly. After that, you can use PHP to perform server-side validation, such as verifying that the email exists in your database.
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