PHP vs. JavaScript: Differences, Benefits, Advantages, and More

 

Two scripting languages that are particularly popular among web developers are JavaScript and PHP. Both languages were developed for the web and are quite effective at what they were intended to do, but they also differ significantly from one another.

Traditionally, PHP is a server-side language, whereas JavaScript, often known as JS, is used in browsers. Although they both contribute to the creation of dynamic websites, which still serves as their primary goal, this results in differing needs and application scopes for the two.

This JavaScript versus PHP comparison article looks more closely at their similarities and differences, compatibilities, and ideal usage cases to help you distinguish between them.

Origin

Both languages developed in response to the demand for more dynamic and interactive websites on the Internet. JavaScript was created when Netscape included a scripting language interpreter with its then-extremely well-liked Internet browser, the Navigator, in 1995.

The language was originally known as LiveScript but was later renamed JavaScript to capitalize on Java's then-current popularity. But despite how similar Java and JavaScript appear to be, they are actually two completely different languages.

Rasmus Lerdorf, a Danish-Canadian programmer, created a set of CGI (Common Gateway Interface) applications in 1994 that handled databases and web forms. These programs served as the precursor of PHP. The PHP/FI, which stands for Personal Home Page/Forms Interpreter, was the name he gave to this original implementation.

As a movement grew around it starting in 1997, the technology's name was changed to PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, and it gradually evolved into the well-known PHP that we are all familiar with today.

Front end and server side

Since PHP is a server-side language, pre-processed database entries are delivered along with dynamic website content after it has been executed on the web server. The user's web browser then initiates any embedded scripts, and that is when JavaScript enters the picture.

JavaScript was initially solely a front-end language, which meant that only the user's browser could execute it. JavaScript has now become a full-stack application development language thanks to new runtime engines like Node.js and its Express.js framework.

As a result, it can now be used for both server-side and front-end website building. For those who find it challenging to merge HTML with CSS, PHP, and JavaScript on one editor, this is a great improvement.

PHP and JavaScript Share Similarities

In many aspects, JavaScript and PHP are comparable. They are both C-style languages, to start. This is a reference to how they structure and indent their code using curly braces, or "."

They also contribute to the dynamic nature of websites, which is another commonality between the two. Early in the 1990s, the majority of websites were static and frequently required updates from a webmaster or other tech-savvy individual.

However, thanks to server-side programming languages like PHP and JavaScript, anyone may easily update a website using entry forms.

The fact that both languages are platform-independent also contributed to their increasing popularity. Aside from text-based web browsers, almost all current browsers include a JavaScript interpreter, and PHP is accessible on almost all operating systems.

They both use double forward slashes ('//') for single-line comments and a slash-asterisk combination ('/* comments here */') for multi-line comments. Their arrays also both start at zero ('0').

Their Disparities

This comparison between JavaScript and PHP also highlights several distinctions between the two programming languages, such as variable declarations and arrays.

In contrast to JavaScript, which does not require it, all variable names in PHP begin with a dollar sign, as in $variable. Both numeric and associative arrays are supported by PHP, but JavaScript can handle both but does not provide adequate associative array support.

Variable scope, which refers to the areas of the program that can view or access a variable, is another distinction between the two languages. Except for variables declared using the 'global' keyword, such as 'global $variable;', all variables in PHP have a local scope.

Contrarily, all variables in JavaScript are given a global scope until they are declared with the var keyword, in which case they become local, as in the example "var Variable;".

Usage

Both languages are the most widely used in their respective fields; JavaScript is used on 95% of websites, while PHP is used on 80% of websites.

PHP excels at managing numerous web requests that call for decision-making to get data from a database. This covers online automated procedures including bots and web crawlers as well as system logins, member dashboards, and management systems.

When a developer has to give a website or app the native appearance and feel of native programs, JavaScript shines. This features simple color pickers, menu management, drag-and-drop capability, input validation before sending it off to the server, and other real-time CSS modifications.

Advantages

All contemporary browsers come pre-packaged with JavaScript, which has advantages over other languages. So, as soon as the browser opens, it is prepared to run. Installing PHP on a server is the first step.

Due to its open-source nature, PHP has a sizable, vibrant, and extremely helpful online community. This offers devoted programmers, libraries, and functional scripts to solve the most complex server-side issues.

Additionally, PHP just has to be written once to function. On the other hand, JavaScript is interpreted and used differently by various browsers. In the past, this caused a lot of problems because you had to write unique scripts for Internet Explorer, Firefox, and other browsers.

But since 2006, libraries like jQuery have provided a solution to this JavaScript issue by allowing you to write your code only once. Without more input from you, this code is then accurately run on the various browsers. You must, however, also acquire a new coding style as a result of this.

Extensibility

The LAMP stack, which stands for Linux, Apache, and MySQL, effortlessly integrates PHP. Nevertheless, this program is also offered for Windows, Mac, and other operating systems.

It offers a robust yet user-friendly database processing and access system that it inherited from Perl. This enables it to easily manipulate complex data. Along with several frameworks and content management systems, the PHP_cli package also provides PHP as a command-line processor, similar to Python or Perl.

Although they are inferior to what is available for PHP, frameworks for JavaScript like jQuery, Laravel, AngularJS, and so on expand its features and increase its strength.

An example of HTML using JavaScript and PHP

Conclusion

As you can see from the comparisons we made above, neither of the two is superior to the other in every way. There are some situations in which JavaScript excels and others in which PHP excels.

However, it will be in your best interest to use both languages when organizing your upcoming tasks. Specifically, employing JavaScript for the front end and PHP for the back end.

On the other hand, whether you're planning a straightforward page or creating a streaming application, you might want to think about using a JavaScript framework like Node.js.

But PHP will be your best option if the project is big and complicated. However, keep in mind that there are many PHP-based free and open-source CMS systems available and that they might well be what you utilize. WordPress is one illustration.