Businesses of all sizes now need the adoption of customized software solutions. The first and most crucial is a mobile application or website, and both of these applications have a server as a backend. Thus, backend development is a necessary component of website development, and backend developers are typically responsible for the majority of the solution’s development.

If you decide to construct your own website or mobile application, it is essential to work with professional backend developers that can oversee the whole process. When it comes to backend development, a variety of programming languages are employed, however, the most prominent are as follows:

  • Python
  • PHP
  • JavaScript
  • Ruby
  • C#

Thus, when it comes to backend developers, there is only one logical question – which framework to utilize for your specific project.

In this article, we’ll compare two of the most popular and frequently used backend programming languages: PHP and Python. We will attempt to cover all of their characteristics, functions, and benefits in order to construct a variety of software solutions.

What exactly is PHP?

PHP is commonly regarded as the most popular open-source programming language. Its primary function is to create dynamic page content. PHP, like all other backend languages, is in charge of business logic.

Additionally, it is capable of collecting data, setting and receiving cookies. Additionally, PHP enables the modification, updating, and deletion of database data, as well as the control of user access to and encryption of this data.

Why would you want to use PHP?

Prior to deciding on PHP, you should determine the kind of solution you will have and if the characteristics of PHP fit your requirements.

  • Many operating systems are supported by PHP, including Linux, Macintosh, and Unix.
  • This programming language is compatible with the majority of servers.
  • Learning PHP is considered to be an easy task.
  • In the majority of circumstances, PHP runs swiftly and effectively on the server-side.
  • It supports a variety of database types.
  • PHP is a free open-source framework.
  • Python is a programming language.

Python is an object-oriented, high-level programming language with a large library that may be interpreted. It is mostly utilized in the creation of web applications and system scripting for a variety of fields.

Additionally, Python runs on a variety of platforms and is simple to use because of its comparable syntax to English.

Python is primarily used to construct online applications and database system connections because it is capable of handling large amounts of data, modifying files, and performing complex computations. Python imposes stringent rules on code type, which improves the readability of the language.

Thus, Python is mostly utilized by inexperienced developers.

Why would you want to use Python?

We’d like to highlight the primary features of Python software development in order to help you decide whether or not to use this programming language.

The syntax is easily intelligible and it is simple to modify and debug. Additionally, the code is simple to maintain.

It is adaptable to a variety of platforms because of its flexibility.

  • Python simplifies development by providing prebuilt libraries.
  • Python enables pre-launch testing of solutions.
  • Many relational database management systems are supported and interfaces are provided.
  • Python provides graphical user interfaces and has a web framework. For instance, tkmter, WXPython, and Django.
  • Comparison between PHP vs Python Performance
  • To evaluate which programming language is most suited for your software solution, it is necessary to compare these two: PHP and Python.
  • Learning Ease

Python is often regarded as being far simpler to learn. You may wonder why. As a general-purpose programming language, Python may be used for a wide range of tasks. Additionally, the majority of introductory programming courses teach Python as a foundational programming language. It demonstrates that Python programming is simpler and faster than PHP development. As a result, Python is the most often used programming language for developing websites and apps. As previously said, it features a very basic syntax and legible code.

When it comes to PHP, everything is the polar opposite of Python. It is unsuitable for ordinary applications. Its architecture is optimized for the creation of web applications, which are regarded as more complicated solutions. Thus, learning PHP from scratch and using it appropriately requires much more time than learning Python. PHP is best suited for developers that have already worked with this programming language and are familiar with its syntax. PHP was first used to create basic personal websites, but it has evolved and increased its capabilities.

Support from the Community

When it comes to selecting the appropriate programming language for your software solution, it is not only about development but also about maintenance. Python and PHP are comparable in this regard since each has a sizable community. Due to the fact that PHP has been on the market for a long period of time and hundreds of web applications have been produced using the framework, there are several developers willing to give ongoing support.

Python is in a similar scenario. Additionally, there are several Python-developed programs, indicating that Python’s community support is comparable to PHP’s. Python gained prominence because Google used this programming language to create YouTube. Additionally, Instagram, Reddit, and Pinterest are prominent Python-based applications. Facebook is the most well-known PHP application.

Documentation

The documentation for both programming languages is extensive. Programming languages come with comprehensive documentation. Numerous forums, debates, and websites provide excellent training on how to construct software solutions using PHP or Python. When it comes to documentation, there is no difference between the two languages.

Pricing

As previously said, PHP and Python are both open-source, which means they are both available for free download. Thus, these two languages are comparable to commercial frameworks.

Library Assistance

If the preceding statements do not demonstrate the stark difference between PHP and Python. Python has good and well-developed library support for the majority of application types. PHP lags behind a bit in this regard, however, Packagist also serves as an excellent foundation for PHP.

Numerous startup businesses have recently launched online applications powered by machine learning.

TensorFlow, Keras, Theano, and Scikit Learn are some of the best machine learning packages available in Python. Python libraries are small, simple to use, and strongly integrated with web frameworks like Django and Symfony2.

Speed

Previously, PHP 5 was rather sluggish and required an excessive amount of effort to implement. PHP 7 got much faster after improvements, however when it comes to arithmetic, text processing, or working with large amounts of data, PHP yields to Python. When developing software solutions, speed is critical and may be a deciding factor. In certain businesses, postponing the launch by several days might cost a fortune and have a negative impact on the system’s overall performance. Thus, PHP surpasses Python at this stage. However, not all applications need maximum performance, and it is not critical if certain operations take longer than planned.

Selecting a Web Framework

It is past time to discuss the frameworks available for the PHP and Python programming languages, which are mostly utilized for online development. Regarding Python, they are as follows:

  • Django
  • Flask
  • Pylons
  • Pyramid

When it comes to PHP frameworks, the following stand out:

  • Codeigniter
  • Zend
  • Laravel
  • Symfony

Let us go a bit more specific with our framework descriptions. Django is renowned for its performance, scalability, security, and ease of use. There are many applications developed on top of it, making it the most used Python framework.

Additionally, Codeigniter and Laravel are quite popular in today’s industry. These two frameworks are used by the majority of PHP applications.

The decision is entirely dependent on the sort of web development, its characteristics, and its objectives.

Debugging

The Python programming language comes with a comprehensive debugger called PDB. It provides strong documentation and ease of use for all levels of developer certification. Python’s debugging technique is based on Xdebug. Two of these debuggers share a number of features, including stacks, breakpoints, and path mapping. Thus, this point demonstrates the similarity between PHP and Python.

Python and PHP both have their advantages.

We’d like to point out some of Python’s and PHP’s distinctive features after comparing the two programming languages. The choice of any of these languages and frameworks is determined by the sort of solution your firm requires and the industry in which it operates. Certain functions may be done by PHP, while others need Python. Only seasoned backend engineers are in a position to tell you which one is best for your needs.

Python’s characteristics

  • Simple onboarding and robust maintenance
  • Available on a variety of platforms and readily developed via the use of the same interface
  • Python’s interpreter supports the inclusion of low-level modules.
  • Appropriate for huge codes, offering strong structure and support
  • Has a waste collecting system in place
  • Python allows for interactive testing and debugging.
  • It can run on any platform that supports Java, C, and C++.
  • PHP’s characteristics
  • A wide range of databases, including MySQL and Oracle, as well as Python, are supported.
  • Simple is use and coding compared to other scripting languages.
  • Effectiveness superior to other scripting languages
  • PHP is an open-source program that is completely free to download and use.
  • PHP provides access logging by generating a summary of the user’s recent accesses.

Which language to choose — PHP or Python?

We discussed the primary characteristics of the PHP and Python programming languages. The question now arises: which one should you go with?

A general-purpose programming language like Python may also be used to build online applications, while PHP is a web-specific language. Which one is the greatest for you is entirely dependent on the parameters of your project. If your product is designed to automate work activities for a small business, PHP is a better alternative. Additionally, a PHP-based solution is a strong fit for e-commerce websites and content management systems due to the ease with which third-party applications may be connected.

Python is frequently utilized for solutions that need AI, data science, and utility for the scientific community. Python has a large number of framework libraries that facilitate the use of machine learning technology. Additionally, Python is an excellent option if your business wants to integrate Big Data.

Nevertheless, before beginning the creation of your own software solution, it is necessary to establish the primary and second objectives and criteria that your organization wants to attain, to examine all specifics of technologies that should be engaged in the development.

A team of experts, comprising a Business Analyst, a Scrum Master, frontend and backend engineers, as well as UI/UX designers and quality assurance specialists, is necessary if you have a bad experience.

Conclusion

Taking everything into consideration, PHP and Python are two full-featured programming languages that are utilized to construct software solutions for clients with varying needs, functional ranges, and commercial objectives. Python is a general-purpose language, whereas PHP is mostly used for online development, although both may be excellent choices for developing web applications. Only experienced Business Analysts and Software Architects can assist you in defining your company’s requirements, developing the appropriate strategy for solution development, and selecting the appropriate technologies, programming languages, and frameworks.