PHP and JavaScript both are very popular scripting languages. The major difference between PHP and JavaScript is that, PHP is a server side scripting language while JavaScript is a client side scripting language.
Both PHP and JavaScript are widely being used for creating dynamic web pages. Although, with introduction of zNode.js, JavaScript can now be used at the server side also.
After this, the question that which language should be used to develop applications became more viable. Therefore, it is important to explore the similarities and differences between the two languages before choosing any one.
What Is PHP?
PHP stands for Hypertext Preprocessor, which is a general purpose scripting language which is executed at the server side. PHP was initially introduced in 1995, since then it has gained a lot of popularity and has become a major choice as server side language for the developers.
PHP is an object oriented, interpreted scripting language which open source also. The basic function of PHP is to develop applications that are executed at the server side and to generate dynamic web pages.
What Is JavaScript?
JavaScript is an object oriented dynamic computer programming language. JavaScript is lightweight and most commonly used to create interactive effects within web pages.
JavaScript is executed at the client side implementing which allows script at the client side to interact with the user and develop dynamic web pages. The major function of JavaScript is to make the web pages interactive and dynamic.
Similarities Between PHP And JavaScript
Even though PHP and JavaScript are different from each other, they do have some similarities that are worth considering.
- Interpreted.
PHP and JavaScript both are interpreted languages. Interpreted language is the one in which instructions are executed directly without initially compiling the code into machine language instructions.
Therefore, in scripts the code can run as it is, in their respective runtime environments (browser for JavaScript; server for PHP). There is always a debate on which language to use, compiled or interpreted, it is believed that scripts offer good programmer productivity and are easy to use. PHP and JavaScript are good for veterans and beginners because they both are interpreted in nature.
- Ubiquitous.
PHP and JavaScript together makes an excellent combination for developing websites with JavaScript on the frontend while PHP on the backend. Majority of the websites are powered by PHP and JavaScript.
This is why there is a huge community support for these two languagestogether as a package deal. JavaScript and PHP together have a huge codebase of libraries and frameworks. Therefore, this is an important similarity between the two languages that they are ubiquitous.
Differences Between PHP And JavaScript
The most obvious and undisputed choice for many developers is JavaScript for the purpose of front-end web development, and PHP is the most popular script that is executed at the server side. Considering this, both the languages will be compared below with JavaScript’s foothold on the client-side, with PHP at the back-end.
- Runtime Environments.
There is a reason behind JavaScript’s synonymy with client-side scripting and PHP being majorly at the server-side. Both PHP and JavaScript can easily be embedded into HTML and an interpreter is needed for both of them to run.
JavaScript being a core component of the web experience, it has its interpreter built into all the major web browsers. PHP is powered by the Zend engine and is available absolutely free to be installed and used at the server side.
Therefore, PHP and JavaScript have different runtime environments. Before, 2009 JavaScript could only be used at the client side or for front end development only, but with the introduction of Node.js in 2009 JavaScript can now be used at the server side also.
When compared conceptually, PHP is much simpler to use than Node.js. In PHP, the code needs to be wrapped between the <?php?> tags saved in a file that has a .php extension and you just need to simply enter the URL into your browser.
This is all need to set up a PHP server. Anything, wrapped between those tags is considered as a complete code and will execute properly, be it anything as simple as<?php echo ‘Hello World’; ?>or anything more complex than this, will work absolutely fine.
A web server such as MySQL with PHP installed will be able to perform both functions of interpreting the file and displaying the web page in the browser.While setting up a Node.js server requires more lines of code, and needs a basic understanding of the working of callback and closure functions.
A Few More Differences
- In PHP, the code is only be seen after the execution by the server while in JavaScript it is possible to view the code after the output is interpreted.
- PHP can only possibly be embedded with HTML while it is possible to embed JavaScript with HTML, AJAX and XML.
- PHP performs many functions like reading and deploying databases, importing the files present on the server, gaining files of data from other domains as well and developing web pages. JavaScript can only be useful in importing files with information.
- Execution of a PHP script is not done within a browser’s window whereas for the execution of a JavaScript code a browser is needed.
- PHP most commonly use MySQL for the purpose of database management whereas JavaScript does not.
Therefore, this is how PHP is different from JavaScript. Both of them are scripting language but have major differences.