PHP vs Python: Applications, Career Opportunity & Best Language to Learn
August 21, 2022
logicrays
The debate between PHP vs Python is ongoing with a significant market holding. Websites use PHP and Python for web development. Platforms like WordPress, machine learning, CMS, finance industry, data science, data analysis, startups, and others use PHP or Python for their web development.
Rasmus Lerdorf developed Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) for command line scripting, writing desktop applications, and embedding in HTML. PHP, a server-side scripting language, creates web pages or websites. 40% of the CMS uses PHP. PHP has been evolving since its release in 1995, and with version 8, the language is creating a whole new digital world.
Guido van Rossum’s Python is a user-friendly, high-level, general-purpose programming language released in 1991. Businesses use it for system automation, computer graphics, game development and more.
What is Python?
Python is a high-level, integrated computer programming language. It is a general-purpose programming language that creates different programs for websites, software, data analysis, automated tests, etc.
It highlights code readability. The features enable many programming paradigms that include structures, object-oriented and functional programming.
Use case of Python
Python has clear syntax and is scalable. Companies see a prospect in using Python. The list is ongoing.
Following are the plethora of use of Python
Web application
Data science implementation
Game development
Artificial intelligence
Internet of things
Desktop GUI applications
Web scraping applications
Image recognition
Enterprise applications
Text processing
Education sector
API benefits
Problems Solved by Python
Python is a language that is easy to learn and simple to use. The programs in Python are shorter and faster. Python helps solve problems with prototypes, testing, and iterating cycle programming solutions. The syntax of Python is easily readable, making it popular in data science. The complex issues of data science become a trouble-free affair with only four actions. This includes data collecting and cleaning. Data gets collected from libraries like Numpy, Pandas, Matplotib, and Scipy. The second step is data exploration, followed by data modeling and visualization.
Python is a functional programming language that provides solutions to problems as it is transportable. It is an open-source programming language. Users can modify and contribute to it and suggest improving the language. Python can be installed on three operating systems: Linux, Mac and Windows. It is free and easy to download and run the systems.
Created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994, the general-purpose scripting language is used in web development. The Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) codes process codes on a web server. PHP development focuses on server-side scripting. It needs a server module, web server and a web browser. PHP is known for command line scripting apt for executing Linux scripts or Task Scheduler on Windows.
Use case of PHP
PHP’s scripting language enables its use for various platforms like social media pages such as Facebook and Instagram, Google, and Wikipedia. The vast use case of PHP is as follows-
Writing down the script-
Cyber security of the web pages and websites
CMS (Content Management System) system
Image processing
Integration of cloud into the website
Generating page content
Encryption of data
Control user-access
Send and receive cookies
E-commerce applications
Problems solved by PHP
A skilled PHP developer can provide website customization. PHP is preferable for server-side programming due to its scalability and enhances growing traffic. At the same time, other languages have a vital issue with security. PHP developers focus on configured security. Clients prefer PHP for writing safe and secure codes for the website and applications. The performance-optimized language is suitable for interacting with databases. The data gets checked, cleaned and filtered from users, web services and APIs. PHP acts like a sanitizing inputs and outputs catalyst. PHP aces at fixing any existing errors. PHP fixes performance issues by tracking and fixing bugs and updating codes.
Pros of Python and PHP
Pros of Python
Python is a beginner-friendly language. The syntax is easy to use, like English. Students find it effortless to learn and smooth to use.
Python provides popular frameworks for web application development. It takes fewer codes and provides a high speed of development.
The other benefit of using Python is that it is platform-agnostic. It allows you to use the same source code on various operating systems.
The versatility of the language makes it work for researchers, QA engineers, and data engineers.
Pros of PHP
PHP has a flexible scripting language. It enables a user to make changes even after the project has started.
Runs on different operating systems. The integration and compatibility on platforms like Linux and UNIX make it a favourite.
Easy scripting language. The syntax of PHP is uncomplicated. A developer need not make new codes to make changes but can amend the existing ones.
The Cost-effective language is an open-source web language. You do not have to pay for the software or a license. It works efficiently for a large number of applications.
Cons of Python and PHP
Cons of Python:
With Python vs PHP performance comparison, Python has limitations, such as –
Speed restraint: The dynamic semantics demands the web developer to check the programs and assign the types making it a slower process
One task at a time: Python allows only one sequence of byte code to conduct. It obstructs conducting modern multi-core processors and lacks the conduction of multithreaded programs
Eats up the memory with its space: Python is a high usage resource with high memory consumption.
Running Python on Smartphone is difficult: Python is not famous in the mobile market because of its high energy and consumption of memory,
Cons of PHP
Similarly, with PHP vs Python speed limitations, PHP has its own set of cons-
Knowledge about the framework: To work with PHP, Knowledge about the framework is essential to refrain from writing a fresh set of codes.
Open-source poses a problem for PHP: Anybody can look up the ASCII text file as it is easily accessible and available.
Too many features slow down the process: PHP cannot support several features from the framework simultaneously, showcasing poor performance.
Cannot make online application changes easily.
Career scope in Python and PHP
The career scope in Python is broad. You can find careers in data science, analysis, artificial intelligence, big data, networking, etc. Companies like Netflix, NASA, Yahoo, Nokia, Google, Amazon, Facebook, IBM, PayPal, and others use Python. Job profiles that fit under this head are:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXhKa_4-5fE
Software Engineer
DevOps Engineer
Data Scientist
Artificial Intelligence
Python Developer
Research Analyst
The salary ranges from ₹ four lacs to 7 lacs and grows with every year of experience.
Like Python, PHP usage is vast from companies like Rediff, Google, Oracle, Intel, eBay, Nokia, Accenture, and Wipro Facebook use PHP. The career options under PHP are as follows:
PHP Programmer
PHP Web Developer
Software Developer
Web Designer
Command Line Scripting
The salary ranges from 2 lacs pa to 4 lacs pa and gradually increases with experience.
Final Thoughts on PHP vs Python
The difference between PHP and Python is clear. The fact is that both provide higher career options with good packages. India is a growing market for this. Learning PHP and Python becomes imperative to survive in the competitive market. PHP and Python are becoming the base of all web developers. Where are you?
