Which programming language is right for you?

PHP and Python help companies build various digital products.Choosing the right one depends on your needs, your Application development platformand the security, flexibility or versatility you desire.

This article will help you compare PHP vs Python in multiple scenarios so that you can confidently choose the programming language that best suits your purposes.

Let’s explore how they differ.

PHP vs. Python: a brief comparison

Before we dive into our analysis, here is a brief description of each issue.

Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP)

PHP It is a server-side programming language that has developed many updates and features over the years to meet the needs of a large community of web developers. Today’s PHP is fast, secure, and efficient. Its just-in-time (JIT) compilation feature speeds up code execution.

PHP is the first choice for web developers who want to build websites. It integrates with other web technologies, databases, front-end technologies, and content management systems to deliver beautiful and easy-to-navigate web applications.

Python

Python is a simple and easy-to-understand programming language, and its community provides a variety of tools and libraries. You can use it to build websites, assist machine learning (ML) models, or automate tasks and processes.It has similar tools flaskpyramid or Django This makes web development easy for programmers.

Like Pandas or Scikit-learn, its library focuses on data science and machine learning Applications. In terms of versatility and user interface, Python ranks high.

Similarities between PHP and Python

PHP and Python are not polar opposites. As you consider these two options, you may be interested in some similarities.

• Free: Python and PHP are open source. You can use, share and change them without paying.
• Cross-platform: They work on different operating systems.
• Active communities: Programmers are active in the community and participate in discussions. If you get stuck, they’re always ready to assist.
• Direct code execution: Both Python and PHP code can be run line by line without compiling first.
• flexibility. PHP and Python are high-level languages ​​that are easy to write and understand. You can use concatenation and dynamic typing to make coding easier. Dynamic typing means that the interpreter assigns types to all variables at runtime.

PHP vs. Python: a detailed comparison

There is some overlap between PHP and Python, but their differences help developers choose the right language for a specific use case.

Learn more about PHP

Rasmus Lerdorf is a Danish-Canadian programmer who introduced PHP in 1994. At the time, it stood for “Personal Home Page,” an open source programming language. Today, anyone can download PHP for free, and if you know C, it’s fairly easy to learn.

PHP works with any computer and integrates with other Web technologies such as Extensible Markup Language (XML), JavaScript or Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).You can easily connect them to Oracle database and query using the following command database management system or other options.

Developers prefer PHP because it is faster compared to Active Server Pages web technology (ASP.NET), Java Server Pages (JSP), or Practical Extraction and Reporting Language (PERL).

Why should developers use PHP?

Developers create dynamic, interactive websites and web applications. These websites react to user actions.almost 76.5% of websitesincluding major companies such as Zoom, Facebook, and Microsoft, all use PHP.

Hypertext preprocessors not only help with website development, but also allow developers to create RESTful application programming interfaces (APIs) and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) web services, through which different software can communicate with each other over the Internet. communication.

PHP features

Following are some of the salient features of PHP programming language.

• Object-oriented programming: With PHP5 and above, you can use features such as data hiding and inheritance to simplify creating complex and reusable web code.
• Performance: PHP provides fast performance because it operates in its memory space and connects to the database smoothly.
• Open source: Free for everyone!
• case sensitive: PHP is picky about case when it comes to variables and specific keywords.
• Platform independent: PHP works with any operating system or database.

Learn more about Python

Created by Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum, Python first came out in 1991 and has become a favorite among programmers and large technology companies. Python makes building websites easier Architectural Examples include Django, Flask and Web2Py.

Python helps data scientists analyze large amounts of data using libraries. It solves problems through numerous tools and a strong community to provide help when needed. Python is a language that people from all over the world have helped improve.

Python is free to use and easier to learn than other languages ​​like C++ or Java.When coding in Python, you can write code in Windows operating system Then move it to another system, such as Mac or Linux. It works the same way in other operating systems as it does in the operating system where the code is written.

The code runs line by line, making it easy to identify and fix problems. You can mix Python and C++ code and compile it to get the results you want.

Why should developers use Python?

Developers love using Python because of its flexibility and ease of use. It uses Django and Flask so developers can build web applications faster with less code. They also find it easier to sort, process, and visualize the material using Python libraries.

superior AI In terms of machine learning, Python provides function libraries such as TensorFlow and Kera, which provide ready-to-use artificial intelligence and machine learning tools. It does a great job of automating tasks using scripts to save time. It has a Pygame library for gaming use cases, allowing programmers to create interesting 2D games while handling visuals, sounds, and mechanics well. Finally, this programming language supports the creation of desktop applications for multiple operating systems using the PyQT and wxPython frameworks.

Python features

Following are some of the notable features of Python.

• Easy to learn: It’s very easy to get started, making it a favorite among beginners. The syntax is very simple.
• Free and open source: There is no cost to download Python. You can get it from Python’s official website. It provides advanced data types and supports dynamic type checking.
• Translation language: With Python, you don’t need to compile your program code into machine instructions. It comes with an interactive development environment to help you.
• Dynamic type: You don’t have to declare variable types in Python. When you execute your code, the language determines the type of variables, making your life easier.

Comparing PHP and Python based on different priorities

Let’s compare PHP and Python based on a programmer’s daily needs to help you come to a final conclusion.

• Safety: Python’s Django framework has built-in security features. Its safety advantages make it suitable for sensitive applications.

• Performance: PHP 7 introduced speed improvements, so using Zend Engine 3.0 is even faster. With these adjustments, it surpasses Python.

• Versatility: Developers view Python as a more general-purpose language because it supports applications across different technology areas, including machine learning and artificial intelligence.

• Scalability: Django for Python helps build scalable applications, just like it did for Instagram. Python is more adaptable to the needs of business expansion.

• Speed ​​to market: Both Python and PHP provide tools such as Django and Laravel to quickly create web applications. They are also good at developing web applications quickly.

• Web framework options: Both PHP and Python provide powerful web framework options.

• Easy to install: Compared to Python, PHP is easier to install across different operating systems and is more user-friendly.

• Community support: Both programming languages ​​have strong and active communities ready to help and share knowledge.

• Environmental management: Python is better than PHP because it provides efficient environment management virtual environment.

• document: Compared to PHP, Python’s documentation is more organized and less confusing.

• debug: PHP and Python have equally effective debuggers: XDebug and Python Debugger (PDB).

make the right choice

In the previous section, PHP was three points ahead of Python. However, this doesn’t mean you should choose Python. They are both solid choices for developing websites and apps.

your The choice depends on your job, experience and expertise. When experienced programmers want to build a simple website, they can choose PHP or Python.

But if you are a beginner, starting with Python is a better option as it is easier to learn. From there, you can explore PHP and other languages ​​to improve your skills. Furthermore, if you aspire to work with artificial intelligence, machine learning, or big data, then choosing Python is a wise move.

Learn more about Different application programming languages Develop your next product stack.