PHP Vs Python – Which one is the best for web development? This is the most common debate in today’s software development arena. As both PHP & Python are the two most popular server-side languages, deciding between Python and PHP for web development isn’t that easy. Although 70% of the web development is performed using PHP, Python has also gained immense popularity in the past few decades. After the recent development, developers are now choosing Python web development to create top-notch apps.
This never-ending debate between these two programming languages has left people wondering, “PHP vs Python: Which One to Choose?” If you are also sailing in the same boat and couldn’t finalize a scripting language for your web app, this blog is for you. It will guide you to the comparison, features, and applications of Python vs PHP. So, let’s get started…
What Is PHP?
PHP, also known as Hypertext Processor, discovered in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf, is one of the most preferred programming languages used to develop web apps. It is an open-source serve scripting language that is best suited for developing engaging and attractive website pages. PHP can be freely used as an open-source programming language without any purchased license.
So, if you are searching for a programming language that is free and open-source, PHP web development is the right answer for you.
Features of PHP
The major features of PHP include –
Open-Source: PHP is free and open-source, which means anyone can use it for free to accomplish PHP web development goals.
Simple to Use: PHP is very easy and simple to code with. This is why most web developers prefer to use this language for web development.
Cross-Platform Compatible: PHP codes can be run on all operating systems, including Windows and Mac OS. Also, PHP is compatible with multiple servers such as Apache, IIS, and more.
Real-Time Monitoring: While using PHP-based web apps, one can get access to the recent logging details of users. In addition, you can also gather CPU & memory data.
Efficient & Fast Performance: PHP can result in better and efficient performance than other scripting languages such as ASP.net, JSP, and more.
Applications of PHP
PHP isn’t only restricted to server-side scripting. In today’s time, it has grown to incorporate a command-line interface and is useful for client-side GUI applications as well. The following is the list of applications of PHP.
- GUI-based applications
- E-commerce applications
- Image processing & graphic design
- Data representation
- Web pages & web-based applications
What Is Python?
Python, discovered in 1991 by Guido van Rossum, is one of the finest and high-level programming languages. Its built-in data structures make it a popular choice for mobile app development. Developers can leverage Python for web development using Django, Flask, and Web2Py frameworks. The simple syntax and fewer jargon rules make it easier to implement Python for web development.
Features of Python
The major features of Python include –
- Open-Source: Python is free to use, and users can easily download it from its official website.
- Simple to Code: Although Python is quite difficult, it is easier to learn and code than other programming languages like C++ and Java.
- Portable: Python codes are portable, so you can easily run them on other operating systems like Mac, Linux, or UNIX without changing the code
- Standard Library: Python has a standard library set, so you need not write code from scratch. You can utilize the already available codes for apps.
- Extensible: Python is designed to be extensible with multiple modules, making it easier to add programmable interfaces into existing applications.
Applications of Python
Besides web and software development, Python is now used for machine learning, data analytics, etc. Find out the amazing applications of Python programming below.
- Data visualization
- Desktop GUI creation
- Software development & prototyping
- Game development
- Data analytics & web development
Read More: Why CakePHP is The Best Framework For Web Development in 2022?
PHP vs Python: A Detailed Comparison
While deciding between Python vs PHP for web development, you need to consider some major aspects. So, here is a list of the major aspects to make a detailed comparison between PHP & Python.
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Security
The security vulnerability is one of the most crucial aspects that go in tandem with web development. So, Python is the preferred choice among web developers when it comes to security.
On the other hand, PHP is less reliable due to its frightful history of security. Although some of the security issues have been resolved, Python wins the race in terms of the security aspect.
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Performance
Website speed is a crucial factor in determining performance. As Python has a Just-in-time compiler, it performs faster than the other programming languages.
On the other hand, PHP is a little slower than Python. But, the recent release of PHP’s latest version has improved the speed while making it two times faster than the rest of the applications.
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Scalability
Python framework applications offer high ML & AI capabilities in terms of scalability, which results in high scalability.
PHP also supports powerful frameworks like Symfony and Laravel, but Python has an upper edge over PHP when it comes to scalability.
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Speed
In today’s fast-paced world, everyone wants to speed up their digital transformation, and this is why choosing the right programming language matters. Python comes up with a set of excellent modules and third-party libraries that result in faster project completion.
On the other side, PHP comes with its own set of tools, including frameworks and libraries, which helps keep better performance and ensures faster speed of web apps.
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Web Frameworks
Both PHP & Python offers well-structured and powerful web development frameworks. Python-based web frameworks are fast, highly scalable, and easy to use.
Python, still a popular language with a strong framework, isn’t as popular as PHP. Big organizations always go for PHP-based web frameworks as it makes the development easy and offers large community support.
PHP vs Python: Which One to Choose In 2022?
Both PHP & Python has their own set of advantages. Where PHP has been used for decades for web development, Python is marking its footprints slowly. So, the answer to the ongoing debate of Python vs PHP for web development depends on the business needs and requirements.
Organizations planning to implement ML codes or require Unicode support can go for Python web development. On the other hand, if you need web development or a server-side scripting-based project, opt for PHP web development. Rest, you can hire dedicated developers from leading PHP web development organizations. The professionals can offer the best business solutions to you.
