When Should You Use PHP or JavaScript?
By: Benedict Ideboghie
Tags: Mobile App Development, Website Design, Digital Marketing Service, Bulk Sms Service, Web Development

When Should You Use PHP or JavaScript?

At first, I believe PHP is the best programming language been the only language that met the demand of my first project as a beginner and all my life as a programmer, I gave more attention to PHP, on how and what do to make my PHP skill better. Even when some things are not working using PHP, I kept trying it.

It became clear to me later that to get a good design, dynamic and interactive application, one needs front-end technology or an application like Javascript. Apart from Javascript dynamic and interactive nature, JavaScript alongside HTML and CSS can also be easily integrated into the ongoing technology to develop a standalone Mobile App with less stress.

Also, in my quest for SMS notification on website such as payment confirmation, registration confirmation, OTP (One-Time Password), Bank alert, credit balance, appointment notification and many more on a website or mobile application I found both JavaScript and PHP more suitable for Bulk SMS gateway API integration on a website.

Get quick guide to SMS integration on website:

Download Simple PHP Bulk SMS API Guide Here.

Download Simple Javascript Bulk SMS API Guide Here

Let quickly go through the difference and the similarity between JavaScript and PHP

What is JavaScript?

HTML and CSS, JavaScript is considered one of the big three core components of the web. Injected in a majority of websites, JavaScript is a scripting language that typically runs in the browser and makes web pages dynamic and interactive. Today, JavaScript is also quickly growing as a server-side technology since the release of Node.js in 2009.

What is PHP?

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a general-purpose scripting language that quickly popularity due to is closeness in nature with C language and a server-side language for web developers introduced in 1995. Today, a majority of sites on the web run on PHP, due in large part to its popularity as the back-end of content management systems (CMS) like Wordpress, Joomla, etc

PHP vs JavaScript: Major Similarities

As different as they are, there are some top-level similarities worth considering, especially if you are comparing a PHP back-end to Node.js.

• Read. Both PHP and JavaScript are what you call interpreted languages, or “scripts” — the code can be run as-is in their respective runtime environments (browser for JavaScript; the server for PHP). While there’s a lot of nuance to the compiled vs. interpreted debate, it is generally true that scripts are much easier to use and favor programmer productivity. Both PHP and JavaScript fall into this category and are great for beginners.

• Global. Together, both PHP and JavaScript power a majority of websites. For most of their existence, they were like peanut butter and jelly — JavaScript on the front-end, PHP on the backend. That means there is a huge codebase of libraries, frameworks and community support for these two languages together as a package deal. Think of an idea or a question and it’s likely somebody, somewhere has already developed a solution.

When Should You Use PHP or JavaScript?

Even with the introduction of Node.js, the answer to this question “When Should You Use PHP or JavaScript?” is still: JavaScript for the client-side, and PHP for the server-side. But, if you’re trying to choose between back-end technologies or are building an entire solution stack, it helps to go into a little more detail.

You should consider PHP if your project involves

• CMS’s like WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla, etc.

• Servers like MySQL, SQL, MariaDB, Oracle, etc.

• Solution Stacks or open source application like WAMP, XMAPP, LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)

You should consider JavaScript if your project involves

• Dynamic front end applications

• Simple mobile app without server or internet (stand-alone app).

• Server-side technologies like Node.js, MongoDB, Express.js, etc.

• Solution Stacks like MEAN (MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS)