When choosing the most feature-rich interactive programming language, web development companies worldwide opt for languages such as PHP and Python, among others. The reason we have mentioned just two of many is a testament to their power and ease of learning capabilities aiding web developers in many ways others fail to do.
It does not mean that both PHP and Python are similar in nature and useability. While PHP was initially developed as a web language, Python was created as a general-purpose programming language. However, there is a debate among experts regarding the question: PHP vs. Python – which is the absolute best?
Like the comparison we did between Angular and React for mobile application development, the following is a comparison of PHP and Python in detail:
PHP
PHP is an open-source server-side scripting language that many devs use for dynamic web development. It is also a general-purpose language for many projects, including Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). The abbreviation PHP initially stood for Personal Homepage. But now, it is a recursive acronym for Hypertext Preprocessor.
PHP runs on the Zend engine, which is the most popular implementation. Other implementations, like parrot, HPVM (Hip Hop Virtual Machine), and Hip Hop, were created by Facebook. PHP is widely used by competitors such as Microsoft’s ASP. Non-technical users can quickly learn a few helpful tricks to make their web pages easier to manage and more functional.
Python
Python is a high-level object-oriented programming language having various features including strong functions for easy coding. It has built-in data structures, combined with dynamic typing & binding, which makes it an ideal choice for rapid application development.
Python is derived from many other languages, including ABC, Modula-3, C, C++, Algol-68, Smalltalk, Unix shell, and other scripting languages. Python offers modules and packages support, allowing system modularity and code reuse.
It is one of the fastest programming languages, requiring very few lines of code. It does not follow the traditional dot syntax, making it unique for use in iOS app development, next only to Swift. Its emphasis is on easy-learning, readability, and simplicity, which makes it an excellent choice for beginners. Plus, there are various coding platforms for learning this modern language, making it easy for newbies to grasp its basics.
PHP Vs Python: Which One is Better?
We have compared these languages on some parameters to understand better which is best among PHP vs. Python. So, let’s discuss-
Performance
Python was considered the fastest programming language a few years ago, but PHP version 7 has completely changed the picture. Today PHP is three times faster than Python and other languages. Now with PHP, developers can quickly process massive data in one go with high speed. The speed and scalability ultimately enhance the performance of PHP over Python. Here PHP wins.
Library Support
Python beats PHP in library support, as it comes with many libraries. Today many organizations are investing in Machine learning web applications, and Python incorporates a broad range of Machine learning libraries, including TensorFlow, Scikit, Learn, and more. As compared to Python, PHP does not have enough library support.
Therefore to build ML-backed web applications, Python is the superior choice for developers and organizations.
Community Support
Regarding community support, both languages share almost the same position. PHP has vast community support as one of the oldest and most popular server-side languages. 80% of the websites are on PHP, so it is clear how tremendous the PHP community is.
On the other hand, Python is also close to PHP; this language received a timeline right when Google started using it in its applications, like YouTube. After that, many other tech giants like Instagram and Uber have used this language for their backend.
Complexity
Both languages are object-oriented and are compatible with operating systems. But when it comes to ease of use, Python beats PHP. PHP has a rigid syntax, making this language complex and challenging to understand. The previous versions of PHP were a bit complicated.
Whereas Python has high readability, making it extremely simple to understand. The codes written in Python can be easily read and interpreted, which also helps in simplifying the debugging process.
Documentation
PHP comes with a complete documentation site that allows developers to put their comments on the documentation pages. The documents are written in elementary and plain language, which beginners and seasoned developers can easily understand. And the additional concepts make these documents more worthy as it elaborates the concepts with a unique conversational tone. But these comments sometimes turn into drawbacks because, on documentation sites, you have easily witnessed old comments on top, which can put any developer in great confusion.
Whereas with Python, there are no such issues, as it does not allow comments.
In Python, the documents are less conversational, making them difficult to read and understand. Here PHP wins over Python as developers can easily understand its documents.
Debugging
In debugging, Python and PHP get a tie, as Python’s PDB (Python Debugger) and PHP’s XDebug come with powerful debugging features, including stacks, breakpoints, path mapping, etc. These debuggers can be easily used; the only difference among them is their setup. You do not require any form in Python; you only need to push a “debug” button to check the Python codes.
If you require additional setup work in PHP, you can easily do it. So there are no such winners for debugging as both have powerful and excellent debuggers that keep your application secure and smooth functioning.
Syntax
Syntax-error-free programming is always a critical point that developers usually consider while picking up a language, and here Python wins over PHP. This is because Python provides ease to developers where they can code it without thinking of restrictions that fail the code during the build. Moreover, Python has a high readability score that also helps developers in the debugging process.
Whereas PHP has a complicated syntax that implies certain restrictions during the coding. Therefore developers go for Python for simple syntax programming.
Rendering
The considerable community support and easy documentation benefit the PHP in rendering. This server-side language follows the conclusive rendering approach, which outshines it over Python. On the other hand, Python finds difficulties in the rendering process as it is not as clear and straightforward as PHP; hence PHP is a perfect choice for rendering.
When to Choose PHP?
PHP is a popular server-side scripting language among developers. Here are some cases when you can select PHP:
- Less investment
- Developing blogs, web applications, and websites
- Working effectively on the server-side
When to Choose Python?
Python programming language has become more popular nowadays. Below are some cases when you should opt for Python:
- Building websites utilizing the Django framework
- Seeking deep data analytics
- Working in areas like robotics and data science
Conclusion
The PHP and Python languages are used for different purposes; PHP is mainly used in web development, whereas Python is a full-stack programming language utilized in engineering and science, and graphics. Both languages have their respective advantages and disadvantages according to usage. However, Python is flexible, while PHP is restricted in some way.
If you want to read more about programming languages, head over here.
