According to Statista, it is fairly obvious that Python is leagues above PHP when it comes to being the most beloved programming language around the world by developers. The stellar difference in numbers between the former having 49.28% and the latter having 18.58% makes Python, the go-to choice for programmers in terms of popularity. However, what is the reason for such a disparity? And above all… what do these languages do that are different from each other?
PHP and Python both are considered as two sides of the same coin as they both account for seamless web development. Any new business or startup needs a website as well as a mobile app, both of which are connected to the backend. As a result, backend developers charge high due to their high demand but especially because they specialize in either of these languages which facilitates the development process.
It is clear that both these languages have been quite popular in the past few years and the developers’ opinions are divisive for them. So before we offer our verdict as to which language is better, let us understand from square one what these languages are and what differentiates them from each other.
What is PHP?
PHP or Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) is an open-source scripting language that is utilized widely for server-side programming and web development. PHP was never intentionally developed. It was created by Rasmus Lerdorf, a Danish software developer who wanted to build an easy common gateway interface through the C language. However, he ended up creating one of the best programming languages that would alter the shape of the internet and the world for years to come.
PHP was originally named ‘Personal Home Page’. The first PHP version was released in June 1995. Ever since then, multiple developments have been made for eventual PHP versions and as of the latest version we have PHP 8 which was released in November 2020. Advanced features such as the Zend Engine and JIT compiler were introduced that facilitated optimization and improvement of PHP code.
Features
Some of the criteria that make PHP so beloved amongst the developers’ community are as follows:
- Due to its open-source nature, anyone can install and utilize PHP to meet their web development goals. Due to such an initiative, developers all around the world can analyze code, update errors, and work on code php development and bug fixing.
- Simple and easy to use, which is why many developers prefer to pick this language as their primary preference. Its syntax is close to that of C including a well-organized and logical structure. Due to the simplicity of the syntax, it is much easier to get into PHP than any other scripting language.
- It also supports multiple databases that contain Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and others including database integration.
- PHP can run cross-platform implying that it is compatible to run across almost all operating systems including Unix, Windows, Linux, and Mac. PHP script also functions on all devices such as laptops, mobiles, computers, and tablets. It can also run multiple servers such as Apache, IIS, and others.
- Flexibility and embedding capabilities are limitless when it comes to PHP. This language is easily integrated with XML, JavaScript, HTML, and other languages.
- For error-spotting, PHP has introduced some predefined error reporting constants to create error alarms. These errors are exceptionally handled and fixed.
- PHP scripts represent better performance than multiple scripting languages ASP.NET, JSP, PERL, etc. The data loading and database connectivity are much quicker to allow database management, server administration, and mail functionality.
- There is real-time monitoring embedded into the PHP scripts. It offers recent logging information of the user. There is much access to memory usage and CPU data too.
- The speed and other features like data encapsulation and inheritance are a product of PHP’s object-oriented features.
PHP: Best Use Cases
Content Management Systems-
The versatility of PHP allows it to be the perfect fit for Content Management Systems (CMS). Some of its cases such as Joomla, WordPress, and Drupal do some heavy lifting when it comes to managing dynamic content, database integration, and user authentication.
This is due to PHP’s ability to communicate with databases efficiently which permits developers to seamlessly create, update, and manage content. It also incorporates server-side features that aid in allowing users to access and update content through web browsers making the tasks more convenient and user-friendly.
E-Commerce Websites
Building feature-rich online shopping platforms has always been fairly simple when they are done with PHP. The e-commerce industry has always been on the move to reinvent better ways of online shopping due to PHP’s integration capabilities with payment gateways, databases, and shopping carts to simplify safe and secure transactions.
Frameworks such as Magneto and WooCommerce manage e-commerce development by providing pre-designed modules for product catalog management, customer management, and order processing. PHP’s dynamic nature facilitates real-time inventory management and customized shopping experiences, improving user engagement and retention.
Social Media Platforms
PHP can handle gigantic heaps of user information on social media websites and platforms along with content management and data processing. Its support for session cookies and real-time data processing makes it easier to develop interactive and social media platforms. The rich media content handled by these platforms is due to the extensive libraries of PHP.
Enterprise Applications
PHP scalability allows management of complex business logic making it the perfect fit for building enterprise-level apps. In the corporate world, not only does it handle data but also permission and user roles that facilitate customer relationship management systems (CRM), inventory management software, and human resource portals. Frameworks such as Laravel and Symfony allow developers to build enterprise-level applications.
What is Python?
Python is a high-level object-oriented programming language that is also interpreted. It was established in 1991 by Guido Van Rossum, there are many versions and subversions of Python today. The latest versions such as Python 2 and 3 did excellent for the developers’ community and the most recent version is Python 3.9.2 updated on February 19, 2021.
The principles of Python’s design are focused mainly on code readability and utilize important indentations as well as dynamic semantics. It is typed dynamically and is built to support garbage collection along with different programming algorithms like structured, object-oriented, and functional.
Hence, programmers can code easily with much efficiency which helps in building small and large-scale projects. Python is also called the ‘Batteries Included’ programming language due to its rich list of standard libraries.
Features
Some of the features of one of the most popular development languages of the world are given below:
- Similar to its rival, Python is also an open-source programming language which implies that it is available on its official website for free download and use. It also consists of a publicly available source code which allows the user to alter it based on their needs.
- This language is cutting-edge and also much easier to learn than other high-level programming languages such as JavaScript, C, Java, C++, etc. It does not require you to remember the complete system architecture or manage memory.
- Not just that it is also developer-friendly and utilizes much simpler syntax with convenient English and Math. This is why developers love to code with Python as it is effortless to do so.
- Due to its object-oriented nature, it can enable concepts such as classes, object encapsulation, construct, destruct, and many other features.
- Python is extensible to multiple modules instead of its need to develop the entire functionality in its core. The modular nature of the language allows developers to add programmable interfaces to the existing apps. Python code can also be written and compiled in C/C++.
- Analogous to Java and C/C++, Python code is written and executed line-by-line one at a time which is much alike Java, C, and C++. As a result, code compilation is superfluous which makes debugging much easier, simpler, and time-saving.
- The portability factor of Python codes makes them more resourceful if required to run on different operating systems such as Windows, Unix, Linux, or Mac.
- Instead of at the start, the variable time is decided during the run time. This is why defining variable types is not necessary like int, char, long, double, etc. Due to this, lines of code are reduced and programming becomes much simpler.
- There is a rich group of modules and functions in its standard libraries which is why you do not have to write every code from scratch. The available codes can be used for applications such as regular expressions, CGI, unit testing, web browsers, image manipulation, and much more.
Python: Best Use Cases
- Amazon- One of the best use cases of machine learning and data science, Python is the most dominant language when it comes to developing machine learning models. Due to the algorithm, Amazon processes the data about your purchases and provides models similar to the ones that you bought before.
- Instagram- Due to Python’s scalability when it comes to web applications, it can manage loads of traffic and information which makes it the perfect suit for Instagram’s requirements. Similar to the one in Amazon, Instagram also makes use of an algorithm that would recommend similar content based on your choices.
- Uber- This app utilizes Python’s ability to calculate quickly to develop real-time price alterations. The criteria that it skims through consist of ride demand and driver supply, totals, and arrival time based on your destination and place of departure. Uber Eats also uses the same algorithm to perform complex calculations quickly to recommend add-ons to your order.
PHP vs Python: Performance and Speed
According to a report by UnBounce released in December 2018, a total of 79% of online shoppers face issues with site performance and speed. As a result, they stopped visiting the site and promised to never access it again. This implies that all the apps and websites must load in under three seconds for user engagement and retention.
Many factors influence the speed and performance of apps and websites. Some of these elements include hardware resources, storage space, hard disk access time, memory, code logic, data path width, and more. However, it is also important to consider what programming language is involved for the smooth functionality of such apps and websites.
| Aspect | PHP | Python |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Performance | PHP’s earlier versions such as PHP 5. x was slow. With the release of 7. x, PHP has shown significant enhancements in its speed and performance. The addition of Zend Engine 3.0 made the language 2x faster than usual. | The process of compiling code in Python is programmed for its swift executions. Even without caching systems, it can be quick. |
| Community Efforts | The PHP community has consistently worked on improving the speed and performance of the code. Due to their efforts, PHP 7. x portrays massive improvements. | No additional updates are required for a quicker compilation code. High-speed limitations compared to PHP. |
| Code Execution Speed | Due to the exceptional speed and performance of PHP-coded apps, high-traffic systems such as banking applications are developed through this. | Python by no means has a slow code compiler, however, it does not match the speed of PHP 7. x which disqualifies it as a potential choice for high-traffic scenarios. |
| Use Cases Impact | PHP is used in scenarios of high traffic such as banking systems which also need impeccable performance requirements. | Python can be preferred for performance-specific applications where speed is not a crucial element to consider. |
| Zend Engine 3.0 Impact | The Zend Engine 3.0 with PHP 7 exponentially enhanced speed, making PHP a preferred choice. | It does not nearly have an equivalent to Zend Engine 3.0 which impacts the overall speed compared to PHP. |
Hence, it is clear from the comparison above that PHP is the winner when it comes to speed and performance due to the improvements shown by the 7. x version.
PHP vs Python: Community Support
| Aspect | PHP | Python |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction Year | Introduced in 1995. | Introduced in 1991. |
| Continuous Improvement | PHP evolved continuously with new feature releases and issue resolutions. | Python also undergoes continuous evolution for robustness. |
| Current Version | PHP 7 is the latest version, known for speed and performance. | Python has various versions, with ongoing updates and enhancements. |
| Developer Community | Robust PHP community with a strong support system for professionals. | Python has a large and active developer community that keeps on solving issues incessantly. |
| Usage by Tech Giants | PHP is used as the main backend programming language by Facebook. | Google, Pinterest, Reddit, and Instagram use Python for development. |
| Industry Recognition | PHP is recognized for its strong features and extensive community support. | Python’s popularity is universal as major companies adopt it regularly. |
| Community Impact on Language | The PHP community contributes to language improvements and support. | Python’s community actively works on evolving the language. |
| Competition for Community | The PHP community offers substantial support and collaboration. | Python’s community is equally strong, contributing to its popularity. |
This section implies that both PHP and Python have a strong developers community which helps these languages to reinvent themselves frequently.
PHP vs Python: Scalability and Flexibility
| Aspect | PHP | Python |
|---|---|---|
| Scalability in Web Development | PHP is suitable for web development with frameworks such as Symfony and Laravel. | Python provides scalability in web development with Django and Flask. |
| Flexibility for Business Needs | It offers flexibility for business needs and can scale based on demands. | Python’s AI and ML capabilities also provide adaptive scalability to new trends. |
| Adaptability to Market Demands | PHP is less flexible in adapting to new trends and growing demands. | Python adapts better than PHP to market demands, particularly with AI and ML capabilities. |
| Library Support for Flexibility | PHP has strong library support but may lag in flexibility compared to Python. | Python excels in library support, enhancing its overall flexibility. |
| Industry Examples | Instagram uses Django (Python) for scalability, simplicity, and versatility. | PHP is widely used but may not be as prominent in highly scalable applications. |
| Conclusion | PHP gains an edge, especially in scalability and adaptability to new trends. | Python emerges as the preferred choice for scalable applications, as seen in Instagram’s use of Django. |
As a result, PHP emerges as the winner again when it comes to the scalability and flexibility requirements of a business.
PHP vs Python: Security Risks
| Aspect | PHP | Python |
|---|---|---|
| Cybersecurity Concerns | Cybersecurity is important in PHP. The risks involved are XSS, malware, phishing, and DDoS attacks. | Python acknowledges the evolving cybersecurity landscape and associated threats. |
| Cybersecurity Breaches Due to Errors | Varonis report: 74% of cybersecurity breaches in 2019 resulted from human error in PHP | Python understands the high impact of human errors leading to cybersecurity breaches and improves security measures. |
| Security Features | PHP has multiple security features to build secure applications. | Python is recognized as one of the most secure programming languages. |
| Government and Banking Adoption | PHP is used by government organizations and banking institutions for robust, secure applications. | Python’s security features make it a preferred choice for sensitive applications. |
It is safe to conclude that Python emerges as the clear winner in this aspect as it constantly refurbishes its security strategy.
Conclusion
From the above information and opinions, it is clear that Python is the more obvious choice for developers all around the world, however, this does not take anything away from PHP. Both these programming languages have stellar control over the structure of developing world-class applications and are in rather popular demand.
Regardless of their popularity, make sure to choose the one that is preferable to your business requirements and needs. Your project requirements and the goals of your company must be the primary criteria to differentiate the superior programming language for your web application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Why should you prefer Python over PHP?
Some of the reasons to pick Python over PHP include:
- High Performance
- Simple to understand syntax
- Flexibility and Scalability
- Security
2. Which language aligns better with the emerging technological trends?
When it comes to technological trends, Python is the most useful option to go for since it is utilized the most for AI and ML trends. The flexibility of the language makes it perfect for emerging technological advancements.
3. Which language is more beginner-friendly?
Python is more beginner-friendly since it includes simple and easy-to-learn syntax which facilitates programming for budding developers. Even though PHP is not very difficult either, it still requires a steeper learning curve than Python.
4. Can one integrate PHP and Python in the same project?
Yes, this can be done even if it is not that common of a practice. The reason for that is the complexity that arises by combining these two languages for a single project. As a result, to keep things simple and convenient, PHP and Python are mostly executed individually.
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