PHP vs. Python: 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 platform, and the kind of security, flexibility, or versatility you expect.

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

Let's explore how they differ. 

PHP vs. Python: a brief comparison

Before we get too deep into our breakdown, below are brief descriptions of each.

Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP)

PHP is a server-side programming language that has evolved with many updates and features over the years to cater to a large community of web developers. Present-day PHP is fast, safe, and efficient. Its just-in-time (JIT) compilation feature has expedited running code. 

PHP is a go-to option for web developers who want to create websites. It integrates with other web technologies, databases, front-end technologies, and content management systems to deliver fancy, yet easy-to-navigate, web apps. 

Python

Python is a simple-to-understand programming language with several tools and libraries available to its community. You can use it to create websites, aid machine learning (ML) models, or automate tasks and processes. It has tools like Flask, Pyramid, or Django that make web development easy for programmers.

Like Pandas or Scikit-learn, its libraries concentrate on data science and machine learning applications. Python tops the charts when it co mes to versatility and user interface. 

Similarities between PHP and Python

It’s not like PHP and Python are poles apart. A few similarities might interest you as you consider the two options. 

• 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 their communities and engage in discussion. They’re ready to help if you get stuck.
• Direct code-running: The code for both Python and PHP can run line-by-line without needing to be compiled first.
• Flexibility. PHP and Python are high-level languages that are easy to write and understand. You can use chaining and dynamic typing to make coding even simpler. Dynamic typing means an interpreter assigns a type to all variables during runtime.

PHP vs. Python: a detailed comparison

There’s some overlap between PHP and Python, but their differences help developers choose the right language for specific use cases.

Understanding PHP in detail

Rasmus Lerdorf, a Danish-Canadian programmer, introduced PHP in 1994. Back then, it stood for “personal home page,” an open-source programming language. To this day, anyone can download PHP for free, and it’s pretty easy to learn if you know C language. 

PHP works with any computer and integrates with other web tech like extensible markup language (XML), JavaScript, or hypertext markup language (HTML). You can easily connect them to the Oracle database and make queries using MYSQL or other options. 

Developers prefer PHP over active server pages network-enabled technologies (ASP.NET), Java server pages (JSP), or practical extraction and reporting Language (PERL) because it’s faster. 

Why do developers use PHP?

Developers create dynamic, interactive websites and web apps. The sites react to users' actions. Almost 76.5% of websites, including big ones like Zoom, Facebook, and Microsoft, use PHP.

Hypertext preprocessors not only aid website development, but also let developers 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. 

PHP features

Below are some notable features of the PHP programming language.

• Object-oriented programming: With PHP5 and later versions, you can use features like data hiding and inheritance to simplify creating complex and reusable web code. 
• Performance: PHP delivers fast performance because it works in its memory space and connects to databases smoothly.
• Open-source: Free for everyone!
• Case sensitivity: PHP is picky about upper and lowercase when it comes to variables and specific keywords.
• Platform independent: PHP works with any operating system or database. 

Understanding Python in detail

Created by a Dutch programmer, Guido van Rossum, Python first came out in 1991, and became a favorite among programmers and big tech companies. Python made it easier to create websites with frameworks like Django, Flask, and Web2Py.

Python helps data scientists analyze volumes of data using libraries. It solves problems with its many tools and a strong community to assist when needed. Python is a language that people from all over the world have helped make better.

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

The code runs line by line to easily identify and fix issues. You can mix Python with C++ code and compile it to get the outcomes you expect. 

Why do developers use Python?

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

On the AI and ML side, Python offers libraries like TensorFlow and Kera that deliver ready-to-use artificial intelligence and machine learning tools. It does a great job of automating tasks with scripts to save on time. It has a Pygame library for gaming use cases that lets programmers create fun 2D games while it takes good care of visuals, sounds, and mechanics. Lastly, the programming language supports creating desktop apps with multiple operating systems using thePyQT and wxPython frameworks. 

Python features

Below are some of Python’s notable features. 

• Easy to learn: It’s super simple to pick up, making it a beginner's favorite. The syntax is pretty easy. 
• Free and open-source: Python won't cost you a thing to download. You can grab it from Python's official website. It provides high-level data types and supports dynamic type checking.
• Interpreted language: With Python, you don't need to compile your code into machine instructions. It comes with an interactive development environment to help you along. 
• Dynamic typing: You don't have to declare variable types in Python. The language determines the type of variables when you run your code, making your life easier.

Comparing PHP and Python based on different priorities

Let’s compare PHP and Python according to programmers' everyday needs to help you arrive at a final verdict.

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

• Performance: PHP 7 introduces speed improvements so it’s faster with Zend Engine 3.0. With these adjustments, it edges out Python.

• Versatility: Developers see Python as a more versatile language because it supports applications across different tech fields, including ML and AI.

• Scalability: Python’s Django helps build scalable applications, as it has done with Instagram. Python better accommodates the needs of scaling businesses.

• Speed to market: Python and PHP both offer tools such as Django and Laravel to build web applications quickly. They’re equally good at developing web applications at a fast pace.

• Web framework options: Both PHP and Python offer strong web framework options.

• Ease of installation: PHP is easier and more user-friendly to install across different operating systems than Python. 

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

• Environment management: Python outperforms PHP because it provides efficient environment management with virtualenv.

• Documentation: Python’s documentation is more organized and less confusing compared to PHP. 

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

Make the right choice

In the above section, PHP comes ahead of Python by three points. However, this doesn’t automatically mean you should choose Python. They’re both reliable choices for developing websites and applications. 

Your choice depends on your work, your experience, and your expertise. A seasoned programmer can go with either PHP or Python when they’re looking to create a simple website. 

But starting with Python is a better option if you're a beginner, as it’s easier to learn. From there, you can explore PHP and other languages to upskill yourself. Moreover, choosing Python is smart if you aspire to work with AI, ML, or Big Data. 

Learn more about different app programming languages to develop your next product stack.