Talking about server-side development, Node.js vs PHP are tough competitors of each other. One is a runtime environment that builds quick and scalable web-apps, while the other is an open-source, popular JavaScript programming language.
Both have contributed a lot in building robust backends, thus many large organizations trust both technologies. Node JS list includes Netflix, Walmart, Groupon. On the other hand, Wikipedia, Tumblr, Slack uses PHP for server-side development.
This article will guide you through the key abilities of both the technologies and will also help you to understand about their potential contribution in the development world. Our proficient developers have added value to the content with their real-time experience on working with these technologies.
Node.js vs PHP: The Ultimate Showdown
What is Node JS?
Node JS is a runtime environment that builds the app’s backend with the use of modern tools and technologies. It utilizes JavaScript for writing command-line tools and building enterprise-level applications.
There is a list of frameworks of node.js which you can leverage for server-side development. Also, the features of Node. JS includes:
- Single-Threaded
- Event-Driven & Asynchronous
- Builds Highly Scalable Apps
What is PHP?
PHP, aka Hypertext preprocessor server-side programming language, is a programming language that ensures rapid web development. In addition, you can leverage PHP for constructing standalone graphical apps and robotic drone control.
Below are a few features of PHP. So, let’s take a quick look at them:
- Loosely Typed Language
- Compatibility
- Object-oriented features
- PDO classes
Market Share of Node JS vs PHP
As you can see, the above image shows the upward trend for Node JS but has only 186K websites built using the technology. On the other hand, PHP, showing a declined trend but has more exposure to the market.
This was the basic difference in the market share through which we cannot conclude which is best and which should be considered for software development. For a better idea, let’s take a look at the similarities.
Similarities between PHP Vs. Node JS
Performance:
Undoubtedly, you cannot compare apples to oranges. Here, both technologies are proficient in delivering quality results and robust performance.
PHP can deliver smooth performance for developing full-stack development. Also, you can use it for rendering and compilation of a webpage.
While Node JS has its way of offering a robust performance. It has API requests that become a thin layer between a database and a web-client. Moreover, Google Chrome’s V8 engine supports Node JS that ensures fast delivery and rapid performance.
Interpreted Language:
Node JS and PHP, being an interpreted language, are on the same page of implementing the tasks freely and directly. There are multiple benefits of an interpreted language such as easy debugging, program size to be smaller, dynamic typing, etc.
Compatibility:
Both languages are compatible as they can run on any OS such as iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. Also, languages are flexible and adaptable. You can freely use the language with your preferred operating system.
Service:
Node JS and PHP are popular in their respective fields of development, but they offer similar services, i.e., web requests or web development. The languages have to handle heavy web content and also have to deliver an efficient and highly intuitive user interface. These are the areas where their app programmers prefer both Node JS and PHP.
Differences between PHP Vs. Node JS
Complexity:
Node Js beats PHP in terms of complexity as the former requires more coding as compared to the latter. On the other hand, even though PHP is easier for the beginners, it is still equivalent to Node when considering professional app programmers.
JS Affiliation:
PHP doesn’t depend on the external tools as it has its base that can deliver the content from the browser to the server.
While Node JS efficiently empowers the app programmers not to rely on the browsers and reduces the reliability of the web platforms. Many experts believe that you need to hire Node.js developers as highly in demand.
Portability:
PHP ahead of the battle of PHP is ahead in the battle of Node.js vs PHP as it is highly compatible with any of the operating systems. Also, you can web host on the PHP platform at a much affordable rate as compared to Node JS.
Framework:
PHP is compiled with numerous frameworks such as CodeIgniter, Laravel, CakePHP, etc. The use of this language is for building a highly-efficient backend of the website or applications.
Synchronization:
Node JS is asynchronous, event-driven, and non-blocking in nature, while PHP is a synchronous programming language. This means that Node JS is viable as compared to PHP for enhancing development speed.
Whereas PHP is less viable, means it loses the battle of Node JS Vs. PHP in terms of viability. Synchronous coding means executing the code from one line to another only when the current line has been completed.
After the similarities and differences, let’s have a glance over the pros and cons of Node JS Vs. PHP.
Read also: 14 Best Node.js Frameworks For The Year 2024
Pros
Full-Stack JS:
JavaScript is an ideal option for building the front-end of the applications and combining it with NodeJS, it turns out to be a boon for the developers.
The perfect combo of JS and Node helps app professionals to build a robust full-stack application with minimum cost and less time. Additionally, there will be low maintenance cost and easy detection of bugs.
Scalability:
Node JS has a non-blocking and asynchronous feature, which makes it quick as well as allows it to operate numerous events to run at a time. Applications like SPAs, data-driven, and on-time are built using Node JS as its core technology.
Flexible:
Node JS is open to any development using any technologies. It is not restricted with limited architectures and patterns. There are no such boundaries or strict guidelines that need to be followed before developing projects.
Additionally, the Node Package Manager (NPM) is a big relief to the professionals for rapid and smooth app development.
Cons:
Not Ideal For CPU-Based Tasks:
Node JS is single-threaded, which makes it sluggish and unresponsive for building CPU-based intensive tasks. A multi-threaded server would be an ideal choice for developing tasks such as the generation of graphics or editing of audio and video, many more things.
Maturity:
Node JS has a wide community and huge NPM repository, yet it is considered to be immature because of the quality of modules in NPM, which are either inferior or unstable.
You can see many modules are low in quality and not tested, which is a big risk to the project build using the tools.
Pros & Cons of PHP
Designed For Web:
PHP is designed to work on building web apps specifically. Also, you can render the pages on the server. You can leverage PHP for developing intensive CPU-bound tasks & back-end rendering.
Mobility Solutions:
PHP is flexible and portable as it can run on any server and any platform. You can write your code once and use it anywhere.
Moreover, there is huge support for PHP, which is another advantage for the developers.
Strong Codebase:
The codebase that PHP contains is powerful and rich, which has popular platforms for developing websites and web development frameworks. Moreover, it is so easy that a non-technical guy can also operate it.
Uploading blogs or e-commerce websites takes not more than a minute, which saves a lot of time for the developers.
Obsolete Front-end model:
The use of a traditional approach that includes page request initiation, HTML rendering, database connection, and configuration parameters. For this reason, PHP turns out to be a sluggish option and not so preferable as compared to Node JS.
Speed Issues:
JavaScript is the best to build Single-page apps (SPAs) as it makes the implementation of the tasks easier and smoother as compared to PHP.
