Key Points
- Python is an object-oriented programming language meant for general-purpose programming. PHP is a procedure-oriented programming language meant to be used for developing web pages and web-based applications.
- Both languages are used for web development.
- Both languages are among the easiest programming languages to learn.
- Python is made to be as easy to read like plain English.
- PHP has held a position as a standard web developer language for longer than Python.
- Python is better for scaling to a larger operation.
- Python provides better cybersecurity features.
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) and Python are both programming languages which are designed to be easy to use and easy to read. PHP is a web-based procedure-oriented programming language used for web development and backend development. However, Python is a general-purpose language which has become widely used for general applications in web and software development. It in now one of the most popular languages in the world and is used for a variety of different subjects and applications.
In this article we’ll fully explain all of the similarities and key differences between the two. We’ll also explain which one is better and what they can be used for.
What is Python?
Python is an interpreted mid-level object-oriented programming language created by Guido van Rossum for Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica in the Netherlands. It was designed to be as easy to read as plain English.
Since its creation, Python has evolved to become widely used for general applications in web development, software development, and backend system scripting. It has compatibility with nearly every system as a portable language that can be executed on various platforms using the same interface.
It is one of the most popular languages used across the board by scripters in nearly every industry from scientific research and mathematics to backend web development. It is completely open-source and can be used for a wide variety of applications.
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What is PHP?
Hypertext Preprocessor, or PHP, is a widely used open-source procedure-oriented scripting language made specifically for web development. It was created in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf. It can generate dynamic page content as well as create, open, write, read, delete, and close server files. It is a very database-friendly language and has built-in functionality to add, delete, or modify data in a database.
Like Python, PHP is considered one of the easiest scripting languages to learn. However, it can only be used for web development due to its heavy reliance on hypertext.
Similarities Between Them
Python and PHP only have a few similarities. As one is an object-oriented language and the other is a procedure-oriented language, there are more differences than similarities. However, they are both heavily used for backend web development.
How They Are Used
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Python is a favorite for mathematicians and scientists who like to run algorithms and physics programs for lab testing and work. It has also become dominant in web development, machine learning, desktop GUI creation, software development, rapid prototyping, video game design, and enterprise-level applications.
PHP is used primarily for the creation of web-based applications and web pages. It has also been used to create GUI-based apps, form data representation, create flash elements, and build e-commerce applications.
Python vs. PHP: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Python | PHP | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is: | Interpreted object-oriented programming language | Web-based procedure-oriented programming language |
| Primary use: | Coding applications | Programming for web development and application backends |
| Conceived: | 1991 | 1994 |
| Initial release: | 1991 | 1994 |
| Influential developers: | Guido van Rossum | Rasmus Lerdorf |
| Open format?: | Yes | Yes |
| Technologies influenced: | Programming languages, software applications | Websites, programming languages |
Python vs. PHP: Key Differences
• Framework: Python has access to fewer frameworks than PHP.
• Syntax: Python is clear and concise while PHP uses a wide range of naming conventions that can lead to a clumpy mess.
• Key Features: Python features dynamic typing, rapid development, and easy-to-read code. PHP is open-source with easy deployment and continual improvements.
• Language type: Python is an object-oriented programming language intended to be used for general-purpose programming. PHP is a web development language only.
• Used In: Python is the most widely used programming language in the world for general purposes but even more so in AI, data science, and within the scientific community. PHP is considered to be the premier language for web development.
• Maintenance: Between the two, Python is much easier to debug and correct than PHP.
• Popularity: Python is the most popular programming language in use. When it comes to web development, PHP has been a long-standing crowd favorite. More recently, PHP has lost steam due to stack overflow.
• Speed: Both languages are considered to be close to the same speed when executing or deploying. However, Python has better error detection which speeds up the debugging process and in turn, wins in overall development speed.
Pros and Cons of Python
As Python is a much more versatile programming language, the list of pros and cons was adapted to compare directly to PHP for web applications.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to read and maintain | Heavy memory usage |
| Easy to learn | No multi-core or multi-thread support |
| Portable language | Poor mobile development support |
| Numerous prebuilt libraries | Database access limitations |
| Internal memory management | Slow execution speed |
| Dynamic language | |
| Interactive shell | |
| Supports GUI |
Pros and Cons of PHP
When weighing the pros and cons between PHP and Python, it’s important to remember that PHP can only operate in web applications. With that in mind, you can get a better grasp of when it’s better to use PHP or Python.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Multi-platform support (Windows, Unix, Linux, and macOS) | Poor structure, hard to read and maintain |
| High server compatibility | Doesn’t scale well for content-focused web applications |
| Open-source | Features can cause performance drops |
| Efficient database management | Only works for web applications |
| Easy to learn | Debugging can be difficult as errors are hard to find |
| Wide database support (Oracle, SQL) | Insecure |
| Access logging | |
| Predefined error reporting |
Python vs. PHP: Which Is Better?
Before the 2020s, PHP was an easy pick for a better web development language. In the 2020s, Python has made gallops and leaps forward. As PHP suffers from faults in stack overflow and content scaling, Python is slowly being fine-tuned to take over.
It has already taken the lead for general purpose applications over Java, C, and C++. That’s not to say that it will replace PHP. As it stands, PHP is still better for server-side script and web development. However, learning Python can lead to a wider variety of opportunities than just web development applications.
If you’re stuck in the decision between learning the two, I would recommend going with Python. While many have claimed that both are easy to learn, Python is still simpler than PHP. It is also a more future-proof decision. As network technology continues to advance, the technical capabilities of web applications will change.
