PHP Vs. JavaScript

Understanding the difference between different development languages is not just necessary but also crucial if you want to develop apps successful as an iOS or Android app development company.

Ambiguity on what a certain programming language is capable of can be disastrous for any app project you undertake. That’s exactly why you need to know more about these differences between different languages in detail.

Previously, we have compared Java vs. Kotlin, Angular vs. React among others and today we are going to do yet another comparison and that is of PHP vs Java Script.

There is a clear difference between JavaScript and PHP; JavaScript is a client-side scripting language. PHP is a server-side scripting language. However, this isn’t the case anymore. The advent of languages like React.js, Angular.js, and Node.js has enabled JavaScript for server-side scripting.

Both PHP and JavaScript are popular for web development, and these two languages combined can make dynamic websites. Let us now briefly discuss what JavaScript and PHP are along with their similarities.

What Is JavaScript?

JavaScript was released back in 1995 by Brendon Eich. Back in the day, JavaScript used to be only a front-end language, but with the advent of languages like Node.js, developers can use it as both front-end and back-end language. It is a subject-oriented and an interpreted scripting programming language. The source code can be read easily. JavaScript is better known as client-side script language used to make dynamic and interactive webpages. Since it is executed in the browsers, it is light-weight and allows quick response and less load on the server.

When we talk about Dynamic SPAs (Single Page Application), JavaScript could be a perfect choice for its creation. It is also an excellent choice for working together with front-end technologies like AngularJS and ReactJS.

According to Statista, 69% of the developers use JavaScript worldwide, and 5% plan to adopt it. Also, the reports show that it was the most popular programming language in 2019. However, there is a slight yet significant disadvantage of JavaScript. Even though its source code is relatively easier to read, it is not secure compared to PHP.

JavaScript Instances:

• Front-end technologies like JQuery, Ember JS, Angular JS, and React JS, etc.
• Server-side technologies such as Node.js, Express.js, MongoDB, etc.

What Is PHP?

PHP stands for the Hypertext Preprocessor. It is an open-source server-side scripting language developed by Rasmus Lerdorf back in 1994. The language, since the very beginning, has gained worldwide recognition for being a fundamental web technology. Majority of the developers today leverage PHP as it allows them to build dynamically executed webpages. PHP developers enjoy one of the most significant advantages because, with PHP’s rich features and precise functions, they can build data-driven sites with rich features. High-level interactive webpages like Login screens are also built through PHP.

According to Stats, nearly 79% of all the websites are built using PHP. Some of the most popular among these are the Social media giant Facebook and platforms like WordPress. The reason for this popularity is quite simple. When compared to JavaScript, PHP has got richer libraries and better security.

When working with CMS like WordPress and Drupal, or technologies like MariaDB and MySQL, PHP could be a great choice.

PHP Instances:

• CMS (Content Management System) like Drupal, Joomla, and WordPress, etc.
• Servers like MariaDB, SQL, Sybase, and Postgresql, etc.

Similarities Between JavaScript And PHP

Despite having so many differences between them, both PHP and JavaScript have quite some similarities as well. Both languages are open-sourced, object-oriented, and interpreted languages. Both of these languages offer memory management features, support frameworks, and always require HTTP to execute.

Before we dive into JavaScript vs. PHP, here is a table to help you understand the similarities between the two languages.

Keep these similarities aside; both languages work quite well when used together. Many websites use JavaScript and PHP together, with JavaScript for the front-end and PHP for the back-end. This combination is usually opted to make gaming websites offer reliable and secure platforms that can host various games.

Here is a head to head comparison of JavaScript and PHP.

Differences Between JavaScript And PHP

Apart from all the similarities, PHP and JavaScript both have their potential benefits depending upon how they are used. While JavaScript is a front-end development king and PHP is the ruler of server-side scripting, here are some differences between PHP and JavaScript.

Usage For Web Development

According to a study, nearly 79% of the developers use PHP as the server-side programming language for their website. Whereas the rate of developers who use JavaScript as the server-side programming language is just 0.70%. PHP is on a clear advantage here. The following graph shows the usage of PHP vs. JavaScript for websites as a server-side language.

PHP is an advantage when we talk about server-side. However, this is not the case when it comes to the client-side scripting language. Here, JavaScript beats every other language as nearly 95.2% of all sites use JavaScript as a client-side scripting language. Here is a graph showing the usage of JavaScript compared to others.

Depending upon the implementation, both of these languages lead in their areas. Rather than looking at the popularity, one should choose the language for their project based on the feature specifications they need.

Availability

When we talk about the differences between JavaScript and PHP, availability plays quite a role. Even though JavaScript is quite popular and light-weight, but it comes with a cost. Also, it is an open standard program maintained by Ecma International and W3C.

In contrast, PHP is an open-source programming language, and its source code is available to the public at no cost whatsoever. It is utterly free and readily available for any changes in its original design. PHP is at an advantage here.

Concurrency

By concurrency, we mean that a task couldn’t be completed unless all the threads and sub-threads have completed their processes. PHP uses a systematic approach to perform multiple tasks simultaneously via multi-threaded blocking.

In contrast, JavaScript’s approach aims to achieve a non-blocking input/output execution via a single-threaded functional script, ensuring that all the process runs concurrently.

If we compare both languages in concurrency, PHP works faster, but JavaScript focuses on accuracy.

Extensibility

JavaScript can easily be combined with HTML, Ajax, and XML. JavaScript frameworks come out so often that you can’t exactly tell the number of its frameworks. Two of the most popular JavaScript front-end technologies are React and Angular. When we talk about the server-side framework, Node.js is quite popular.

In comparison, PHP can only be combined with HTML. The most significant advantage of extensibility that PHP enjoys is CMS’s availability, like WordPress and Drupal. WordPress is being used widely for making business websites. On the other hand, such CMSs also make web development relatively easier and cheaper as well.

If we talk about which language offers more extensibility, JavaScript takes the lead.

Learning Curve

The learning curve is one of the most significant differences between JavaScript and PHP. PHP is much simpler to learn than JavaScript. The PHP peculiarities, such as the return values, are easier to learn and understand. You can also easily set up a server on PHP by creating a .php file and writing a few codes enclosed with <?php?>. You can then enter the URL into the browser. The bigger library of PHP also makes it robust and easier to use. PHP powers many popular websites such as the social media giant Facebook.

In contrast, JavaScript, due to its complexity, is difficult to learn. One of the most significant factors that make it harder to learn is that some of its event queues and violations of rules are supported by other programming languages.

Comparing both languages, PHP has a simpler-to-learn and use nature than JavaScript.

PHP And JavaScript Comments

To make a script easier to understand, programmers add readable explanations called comments. Here is a table that shows a list down of comments supported by JavaScript and PHP.

PHP And JavaScript Variables

Variables of JavaScript and PHP are vital to consider if you’re learning or programming in both languages. Variables in the PHP are considered as local unless they’re declared as global. In contrast, to declare a local variable, one has to use the keyword “var”. The variable will be declared as global otherwise.

The following table compares the variables of both JavaScript and PHP.

JavaScript and PHP Variables

JavaScript Variables

PHP Variables

Another factor to consider when comparing JavaScript and PHP is the Boolean variables. PHP will accept the keyword “True” in both uppercase and lowercase. However, there’s a slight difference when it comes to JavaScript. It will only recognize a keyword when it is entirely lowercase. Here’s an example.

JavaScript And PHP Boolean Variables

Even though both languages are case sensitive, but the PHP is not case sensitive when dealing with class or function declaration. JavaScript is quite case sensitive in these cases too. Objects And ArraysObjects and arrays in JavaScript are interchangeable as it freely allows switching syntaxes of objects and arrays, while PHP will treat them as entirely different units with different syntaxes. The following table shows the difference between objects and arrays of both languages. Objects and Arrays of JavaScript And PHP

When To Use JavaScript and PHPIf you’re confused about which language to choose for your project, these points will make your decision much more comfortable. Choose JavaScript When

• Building real-time applications that provide services like messaging and streaming.
• Building a project with a massive data load.
• Building a SPA (Single Page Application).

Choose PHP When

• You are already using some LAMP technologies.
• Building an Ecommerce or Blog website.

ConclusionIn this comparison of JavaScript and PHP, you can quickly judge that PHP has the upper hand.  However, it is recommended to choose the right language, depending on which one fits your needs the best. You can also combine PHP and JavaScript to enjoy both the potential benefits that these languages offer and build a world-class project.

Even though both languages are case sensitive, but the PHP is not case sensitive when dealing with class or function declaration. JavaScript is quite case sensitive in these cases too.

Objects And Arrays

Objects and arrays in JavaScript are interchangeable as it freely allows switching syntaxes of objects and arrays, while PHP will treat them as entirely different units with different syntaxes. The following table shows some more differences between JavaScript and PHP:

When To Use JavaScript and PHP

If you’re confused about which language to choose for your project, these points will make your decision much more comfortable.

Choose JavaScript When

• Building real-time applications which provide services like messaging and streaming.
• Building a project with a massive data load.
• Building a SPA (Single Page Application).

Choose PHP When

• You are already using some LAMP technologies.
• Building an Ecommerce or Blog website.

Conclusion

In this comparison of JavaScript and PHP, you can quickly judge that PHP has the upper hand.  However, it is recommended to choose the right language, depending on which one fits your needs the best. You can also combine PHP and JavaScript to enjoy both the potential benefits that these languages offer and build a world-class project.