Choosing the right programming language is very important for any development project. Nowadays, Python and PHP are two popular programming languages that most businesses like to use for web development projects.

When comparing these two, choosing one becomes a bit difficult. Although many websites are developed in PHP, Python has also becomes very popular in the last few years.

But, which programming language is right for your web app – Python or PHP? In this blog post, we will discuss the basics of the two languages and then will proceed to their comparison. So, let’s get started!

What is Python?

Python is an open-source programming language that aims at object-oriented programming concepts. Guido Van Rossum developed this language in 1991. Currently, it is one of the most extensively used languages, providing high-level, easy-to-understand syntax.

According to Stack Overflow Survey 2021, Python is one of the most wanted and loved languages. Many companies in the world use Python with their apps. It acts as a scripting language for web browsers, and thereby, you can use it for web app development.

What is PHP?

PHP or Hypertext Pre-processor is a suitable choice of programming language for web developers. It’s an open-source server scripting language that is used for creating engaging, user-driven website pages. PHP is the actual choice of language with some outstanding features, plugins, libraries, and add-ons to maximize colossal community support and functionalities.

Rasmus Lerdorf developed PHP or Personal Home Page in 1995. After that, it got its new name, i.e., PHP-Hypertext Pre-processor. Almost all web browsers support PHP and it is fantastic for the backend development of web apps.

PHP empowers almost every website on the web. It’s a flexible, pragmatic, and fast language that can tackle dynamic content on HTML websites, session tracking, and databases.

Features of Python

• Python can run on different hardware platforms using the same user interface.
• It is easy to read, learn, and maintain.
• It provides a perfect structure and support for large programs.
• Low-level modules are easy to include in the Python interpreter.
• Python features the support for automatic garbage collection.
• You can integrate Python with C, C++, and Java programming code.
• Python provides high-level dynamic types of data and the support for dynamic type checking.
• It assists in an interactive mode of testing and debugging.

Features of PHP

• PHP is easier to employ and code than other scripting languages.
• It supports different databases like MySQL and Oracle, and hence, provides database integration.
• PHP gives access to log in by making a summary of the latest user accesses.
• Compared to other scripting languages like JSP and ASP, PHP is more efficient.
• It features a few predefined error reporting constants that create a warning or error notice.
• Since PHP is an open-source language, you can download and use it for free.

Pros and Cons of Python

Here are the pros and cons of using Python programming language for web development:

Pros of Python

• A general-purpose, object-oriented, and versatile language to employ across different fields
• Features cross-platform code reusability
• Easy to use, read, learn, and maintain
• Features automatic garbage collection
• Develops GUI apps
• Can integrate easily with programming code of other languages like Java or C++
• Has libraries like Tensorflow for math-intensive tasks
• An open-source, uniformly unfolding language
• Highly graphic and makes amateur favorable
• WORA functionality makes it portable

Cons of Python

• Not much useful in mobile computing, browsers, and mobile app development
• It uses a massive amount of memory to offer ease to a developer
• Works slower than other website development languages
• Makes delays in the testing of web apps
• Error detection becomes difficult due to dynamic typing
• Gigantic for a simple and small app or website
• Duck-typing causes run-time errors
• A bit simpler for some specific tasks

Pros and Cons of PHP

Below are the top benefits and drawbacks of using PHP for web app development:

Pros of PHP

• Sustains top-notch debugging
• Features copious pluggable frameworks Open-source and object-oriented
• Features a large ecosystem
• Gives support for other database interfaces like No SQL, PostgreSQL, and so forth
• Get supports from several operating systems and works cross-platform
• Gives support for database collection modules
• Flexible and platform-independent
• PHP-based apps support all operating systems like Windows, Linux, and UNIX.
• Features in-built SQL support
• Many open-source PHP frameworks are available to use for free

Cons of PHP

• Impeded and wired performance
• You cannot change its core behavior
• Uses weak typing that can lead to wrong knowledge and data to users
• Not suitable for content-based apps
• No IOT alliance
• An inadequacy of security protocols and features

When to Choose Python?

Python programming language becomes more popular nowadays. Below are some of the cases when you should opt for Python:

• Building websites utilizing the Django framework
• Seeking deep data analytics
• And working in areas like robotics and data science

When to Choose PHP?

PHP is a popular server-side scripting language among developers. Here are some cases when you can select PHP:

• Less investment
• Developing blogs, web applications, and websites
• Working effectively on the server-side

Why Choose Python?

Python boasts many advantages, and thereby, it is these days’ technology. Here’s why you should select Python for web development:

• Python eliminates the difficulty of coding and deals with garbage collection and memory addresses automatically.
• Python syntax is quick to comprehend, and it’s easy to debug also. Hence, its source code is easier to maintain.
• With a range of pre-built libraries, Python web development is easy.
• Having a framework for the web, Python supports GUI apps. For instance, Django, WXPython, Tkinter, etc.
• Since it’s a portable and versatile language, you can run Python on different operating systems or platforms.
• Python considers a database-friendly interface that can store a massive. amount of data for essential commercial DBMS systems.
• Python’s interactive shell aids unit testing before implementing a product.