Python vs PHP

Python vs PHP

In this article we are going to make a comparison between two very well-known and currently used programming languages. Python vs PHP.

First of all, we are going to make a brief summary of each of them.

Python

Python is a high-level, interpreted, object-oriented programming language.

It was developed by Guido van Rossum and released in 1991. With development in various versions and subversions, we now have Python 2 and Python 3, with the latest stable version being 3.11.1 released on December 6, 2022.

Python's design philosophy focuses on code readability and uses meaningful indentation and dynamic semantics. It is dynamically typed and supports garbage collection and various programming paradigms, such as structured (mainly procedural), functional, and object-oriented programming.

As a result, it helps programmers to code clearly with logic and is useful for large and small scale projects. Due to its extensive list of standard libraries, Python is also known as a “Batteries Included” programming language.

Here are some reasons why you should select Python:

• Compared to the code of other languages, Python code is easy to write and debug. Therefore, its source code is relatively easy to maintain.
• Python is a portable language, so it can run on a wide variety of operating systems and platforms.
• When comparing Python web development with PHP, Python comes with many pre-built libraries, making your development task easier.
• Python helps you simplify complex programming by taking care of memory addresses and garbage collection internally.
• Python provides an interactive shell that helps you test things before actual implementation.
• Python offers database interfaces to all major commercial DBMS systems.
• Python supports GUI applications and Web frameworks.

PHP

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is an open source scripting language widely used for server-side web development.

Created in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf, PHP was originally called “Personal Home Page”. It released the first version of PHP (PHP 1.0) in June 1995. Since then, several developments have been made for later versions of PHP, and we have PHP 8.2 as the latest version of PHP which was released on December 8, 2022.

A PHP code is processed on a web server using a PHP interpreter implemented in a daemon, module, or CGI (Common Gateway Interface) executable. This interpretation and execution of PHP code can be data of any type, such as binary images.

• PHP runs on various such as Windows, Unix, Linux, Mac OS X, etc.

• PHP is compatible with almost all Apache, IIS servers

• PHP is easy to learn and runs efficiently on the server side

• PHP can be downloaded for free from its official website www.php.net

Key differences

• Python is a language object oriented programming high-level used for rapid application development, while PHP is used to develop a dynamic website or web application.
• Python is widely used in AI, data science, and the scientific community, while PHP is the language of choice for web development.
• Python has fewer frameworks.
• Comparing Python vs. PHP for web development, Python offers a very clear and concise code syntax, while PHP has a wide range of naming and syntax conventions.
• The key features of Python are rapid development, dynamic typing, and friendly code, while the key features of PHP are open source, easy deployment, and continuous improvements.

Popularity

If we look at the popularity index of programming languages, PYPL, we can see that Python is the most popular language and the one that has been growing the most in the last 5 years.

Based on this data, we can see how PHP is far behind, but we must keep in mind that the use of PHP is more limited than that of Python.

The PYPL index is based on how often language tutorials are searched on Google. Google Trends conducts the study every year, showing the results of the last 12 months.

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Do you want to learn how to program in PHP? You can do it in Professional Master in Fullstack Web Development.