PHP vs Python: Which One Is Better for Web Development in 2022

So, you’re unable to decide between PHP and Python for your next web development project. Since both are incredibly popular programming languages and come with competitive features, narrowing one down for your use can get tricky.

This definitive comparison will break down the differences between PHP vs Python in a convenient way. This will help you determine whether PHP or Python is your best bet for developing web applications.

That said, let’s dive in.

What is PHP?

PHP is a popular programming language that came out back in 1994. As you might have assumed, PHP is one of the oldest computer languages ever developed.

It’s used to develop interactive and responsive websites and helps to ensure an optimal page loading speed of a website.

PHP is also known as a server-side programming language and is used widely across the globe. In fact, 79.2% of websites on the internet are running off PHP. As a result, 8 of every 10 websites you visit are built using PHP. These websites are launched on managed PHP hosting platforms that are reliable and manageable.

Most CMS solutions with more than 50% share in the WWW ecosystem also use Php as backend language. The need to create themes, plugins, and extensions for those CMS solutions also creates a high demand for Php developers. Here is the details article on the Best Php CMS Platforms for Developers in 2022.

What is Python?

Python is different from PHP as it’s an object-oriented and general-purpose programming language. It’s also quite popular for web development, but programmers widely use it for mobile app development as well.

Though the base of this language is even older than PHP (as it came out in 1989), it got popular in 2000, when the 2.0 version of Python was released. This version also supports Unicode, which boosts its demand among web & app developers as well as consumers.

Where PHP is famous as a server-side programming language, Python is known as a backend programming language. It has been used by many tech giants like Uber, Dropbox, Pinterest, Google, Reddit, and Instagram.

PHP — Key Features

Here are the main features of PHP:

• Compared to many other programming & scripting languages, PHP is easier to use.
• PHP offers faster web applications compared to other languages like ASP and JSP.
• It comes with predefined error reporting constants for error notices and warnings.
• PHP is an open-source language — you don’t have to pay to use it.
• With database integration, it supports various databases like Oracle, MySQL, etc.
• Creates a breakdown of previous accesses of the user to offer access logging.

Python — Key Features

Here are the main features of Python:

• Learning Python and using it for web development is easy.
• Python offers an interactive mode of testing & code debugging.
• Python’s structure is versatile and supports a wide range of applications.
• You can integrate Python with other languages like Java, C, and C++.
• Python supports dynamic type checking to offer high-level dynamic data types.
• It is compatible with automatic garbage collection.
• Python supports various types of hardware using a single interface.

PHP — Pros and Cons

Below are the main advantages and disadvantages of PHP:

Pros of PHP

• Supports SQL by default
• Versatile operating system support (It supports Windows, Linux, and UNIX)
• It offers a large ecosystem for the convenience of developers
• Designed for top-tier debugging
• Lots of open-source frameworks available for free
• Offers cross-platform support
• Platform-independent & flexible code
• Lots of database interfaces like No SQL, PostgreSQL, and so on

Cons of PHP

• Lacks some security protocols and features
• It doesn’t fit the content-based apps well
• Its core behavior cannot be changed
• Lacks IOT alliance
• Weak code typing
• Relatively delayed performance

Python — Pros and Cons

Below are the main advantages and disadvantages of Python:

Pros of Python

• WORA functionality for portability
• Graphical interface for ease of use
• Unfolding and open-source language
• It can be used to develop GUI apps
• Compatible with automatic garbage collection
• The code offers cross-platform support
• Versatile language for different fields
• Easy integration with languages like Java and C++

Cons of Python

• Frequent run-time errors due to duck-typing
• Dynamic typing makes it easy to detect errors
• Not as fast as other web development programming languages
• Consumes a lot of memory (RAM)
• The code is vast — may not fit small websites & apps

PHP vs. Python — Head to Head Comparison

The table below compares PHP vs. Python in detail:

When Should I Choose PHP?

With almost 80% of websites using PHP, it’s certainly the top consideration for web developers. We recommend it for almost all types of websites. However, here is when to pick PHP:

• If you’re willing to develop a website, blog, or another web application.
• If you want effective server-side code.
• If you want to invest in web development.

When Should I Choose Python?

Python is getting more and more popular these days. Here is when you should choose it:

• If you’re working in areas like AI, robotics, data science, and other scientific fields.
• If you want to build a website using the Django framework.
• If you’re looking forward to deep data analytics.

Final Words

After breaking down the differences between PHP vs. Python in various parameters, the difference between them is not that huge to help you make a decision.

Whether it’s about documentation, functionalities, database support, library support, features, or another key aspect, both PHP and Python tend to be competitive — making it hard for you to finalize one.

However, your certain requirements will define which language to pick. But in most cases, PHP is what we recommend.