Node.js vs PHP: Which is better for backend development?
Tags: php, node, programming, webdev
Published: 2021-12-17 10:25:57

There are many facets of web development that are constantly evolving. Likewise, the app development and programming communities have to contend with a constant influx of new technologies and tools. In their minds, the two types of solutions are not distinct: the long-term and mature and the latest and upcoming.

Programmers dealing with backends usually have to choose between PHP vs Node.js. Both these languages are used to create unique websites. In addition, people use PHP to develop server-side applications and Javascript for constructing front-end applications.

Popular sites that use Node.js include Twitter, Spotify, Medium, Trello, etc., and sites that use PHP are Facebook, Wikipedia, WordPress, Instagram, etc. 

The market share of PHP stands at 45.43%, and Node.js stands at 4.24%, according to a report by SimilarTech.

Then, why did everything suddenly change? What changed? Backend programmers shifted their attention from traditional PHP to JS, which took the form of an all-new Node.js.

**Importance Of The Right Backend Technology**
A web page features technology from both sides: the client-side and the server. These include a backend language, a database, and a server that is invisible to users. As the most widely used server-side technologies, both Node.js and PHP run the internet, and both are capable of running applications of any complexity. 

Therefore, choosing the correct backend technology is critical for a project. Conversely, a wrong choice can spell disaster for any business. 

Especially for small businesses, selecting the right technology can seem overwhelming because a wrong decision will have more significant consequences for a small company that often has limited resources. 

Here in this article, we compare both PHP vs Node.js in greater detail.

**A Brief Overview Of Node.js**
JavaScript V8 Engine in Chrome is the foundation for Node.js backend development, a cross-platform and open-source javascript runtime environment. It was developed by Ryan Dahl, an American software engineer. 

Although Node.js is relatively new, Microsoft, Yahoo, LinkedIn, and PayPal are among the companies that already use Node.js. 

As per a report, 1.6% of all websites known to web use Node.js. It allows the developers to leverage asynchronous programming, which is the primary advantage of Node.js. Developers no longer need to wait for functions and procedures to run. 

There is no linear or line-by-line execution of the code, and it is executed all at once.  Another great advantage is that multiple databases are supported by Node.js backend development. That is why people are saying that Node.Js is the future of web development.

**When To Use Node.js**
To achieve the best app performance, we will determine when to use Node.js. Also, now that you have an overview of Node.js, let’s look at some examples illustrating when to use Node.js’ on the practical level. 

1. Real-time Application
2. IoT Applications
3. Data Streaming Applications
4. Chat Application
5. Single-page Application

**Advantages Of Node.js**
Node.js has many advantages, but the below mentioned are the prominent ones:

**1. Node.js Offers Easy Scalability**
Node.js is built to scale; also, it’s an excellent choice to use Node.js for microservices architecture because it’s a lightweight technology tool. Small app developers use it to build light, fast, real-time systems that can be scaled up later or easily added on to existing systems. There is no limit to the heights you can reach with it.

**2. Easy To Learn**
Node.js programming is relatively intuitive once you are proficient in JavaScript and Object-Oriented Programming. Also, to be successful with Node’s asynchronous flow, you have to have a clear understanding of the client-server model.

Because of this, it becomes effortless for them when they choose to use Node.js for the backend. In addition, the high adaptation rate reduces overall development time since the development rate is high.

**3. Node.js – A Single Programming Language**
Node.js is a programming language that you can use to power back-end applications developed with JavaScript. Also, JavaScript is used on the front end and the back end, and you can use the same language for both ends of the website, resulting in better productivity. In addition to its simplicity, Node.js allows you to create web applications compatible with nearly every web browser because it supports JavaScript.

**4. The Benefit Of Fullstack JS**
JavaScript was used exclusively on the client-side before Node.js. At the same time, server-side development was then handled by a different language. As a result, backend and frontend developers have to be hired separately in practice.

Full-stack JavaScript became possible due to the popularity of Node.js. These days, web applications can be implemented in the front-end and back-end with JavaScript, allowing much more efficient app deployments.

**5. Fast Solution**
The response time in the middle of testing can be significant, as it determines how well the startup will perform in the long run. Node.js provides a quick response time for developers, thus providing a much-needed benefit. Also, Node.js lightweight technology comes with a set of tools that speeds up the development process. 

**6. Enhanced Flexibility**
Technology such as Node.js is highly flexible, so the requirements of a business or project can be met by customizing it. Moreover, web developers can create client-server communication by combining JSON and Node.js. 

Thanks to its support for JSON formats, Node.js is a highly flexible framework. JSON is an API that can communicate with apps, clients, and servers across the network.

**7. Known For Offering High Performance**
To understand how Node.js accomplishes this, it is vital to know how the underlying technology works. Software development calls for smooth operations, and Node.js makes that possible. 

For Node.js to function appropriately, Google’s V8 JavaScript engine is needed as JavaScript engines compile directly to machine code. Thus, when the code is compiled directly into machine code, it runs faster and better. Also, due to non-blocking I/O operations provided by the runtime environment, executing the code is made considerably faster.

**8. The Advantage Of Caching**
The Node.js runtime environment has a caching module among its many features. Also, it is possible to optimize Node.js by using caching services. An application memory cache stores the first module request made when a request is made. 

As a result, developers don’t have to execute their code as often as site loads by the caching module respond instantly to users. Using this method, you can let your users view your web pages within a fraction of a second, so they will not have to wait too long.

**9. Offers The Freedom To Develop Apps**
Node.js offers more freedom and room to do things your way than other programming languages. This language is incredibly flexible so that you can customize every element completely. It allows you to add features with fewer restrictions from a fresh install, but it can only execute basic tasks.

**10. Real-Time Communication**
When it comes to data-intensive, real-time apps and IoT devices, Node.js is considered the most suitable technology because it is both scalable and quick at the same time. Therefore, IoT apps and real-time apps using this technology are perfect for IoT devices. 

Applications such as forums, social networks, stock exchange software, and advertising servers can be connected to node.js constantly via two-way connections. 

**Disadvantages Of Node.js**
Node.js isn’t picture-perfect. Here we have mentioned a few weak points you can look out for when choosing Node.js:

**1. Application Programming Interface (API) Is Not Stable**
Node.js has a significant disadvantage because the API frequently changes, resulting in backward incompatibility. The incompatibility leads to its instability, which leads to heavy code changes. To sync with the latest Node.js API version, they constantly have to change the access code. Additionally, constant changes in codes are needed to keep up with the newest version.

**2. Lacks a robust library support system**
If Node.js is used to create a web application, monitoring becomes complex. This is only because Node.js has several registrations and libraries of poor quality or incomplete and inadequately documented. 

Due to the extensive libraries and modules available, it is open-source, resulting in low coding standards. Therefore, you can only succeed in your project if you hire well-qualified and experienced experts with reputable expertise.

**A Brief Overview Of PHP**
PHP stands for Hypertext Preprocessor. Rasmus Lerdorf developed it in 1995. 

A PHP application runs on a web server and does not rely on the online browser. It uses the same syntax as that of a C programming language. 

PHP is a favorite amongst newbies and established developers worldwide for various reasons, including its range of functionalities, a fantastic array of add-ins to extend functionality, and a unique online community, which directly contributes to its popularity. According to a report by Statista, PHP is the 11th most practiced programming language worldwide as of 2021. Even it is very important for PHP developers to take their roles and responsibilities seriously for developing any applications. 

**When To Use PHP?**
All domains use PHP to develop web applications and other software. Below we have mentioned a few areas where you should use PHP for development by hiring the best PHP developers:  

1. Image processing
2. Representation and data analytics
3. E-commerce applications and websites
4. Content Management System
5. UI/UX based Applications

**Advantages Of PHP**
Among PHP’s many advantages are its performance, stability, and user-friendliness, which have led to its popularity. In the following list, we discuss the benefits of PHP in more detail:

**1. Quick Unit Testing**
It is easy to test PHP-based web applications. Its quick testing feature is an easy way to test PHP backend development. This feature also helps the programmers with writing test cases and facilitates smooth testing. Furthermore, PHP-based web applications do not require additional code written by the developers as many of the tasks can be automated using PHP frameworks. 

**2. Platform Independent**
Almost all operating systems are supported by PHP, including Windows, Unix, and Linux. Therefore, you can use PHP to develop web applications on any operating system. Furthermore, with PHP, integration with other programming languages and databases is easy, and also there is no need to rewrite the program.

**3. Maintenance**
Frameworks like PHP help in developing web applications, and also maintaining the code is much easier. PHP framework’s model view controller architecture simplifies the maintenance and use of code. In addition, it helps separate files for different modules according to the MVC architecture.

**4. Stability**
In addition to its user-friendly features, the PHP backend development is also very stable. Since PHP was developed, it has grown in popularity. Its goal is to make it easier for programmers to build PHP-based web applications. During the time they have been using PHP, they have fixed many of the issues and bugs.

**5. Higher Loading Speed**
Compared with other programming languages, PHP is fast. Therefore, slow internet and data speeds are no problem for PHP applications. However, it takes a long time for other applications to connect to the database and download the data after queries are made. 

**6. Less Coding**
Programmers can keep the source code of web applications clean and maintainable with the code generation tools provided by specific PHP frameworks. This makes it easy for PHP programmers to add features or functionality to a website without writing lengthy and complex codes.

**7. User-Friendly**
The PHP language is easy to learn in application development, especially for developers with C programming experience. However, among all the programming languages available to developers, PHP is only the first choice if you are trying to build dynamic, complex, and user-friendly web applications.

**8. Built-In Database Connection**
Connecting multiple built-in databases directly reduces the time and trouble needed to develop web applications and content-based sites altogether. There are a variety of widely used relational databases that PHP developers can use. Frameworks that provide object-relational mapping systems further simplify database operations.

**9. Library Support**
Utilizing PHP has another advantage of providing functional modules. Different available modules are essential for helping to simplify your work. Since the modules have already been developed, you don’t need to create them from scratch. Including the module and maybe making a few modifications is all that will be required. PHP includes a variety of modules, including Graphics and PDF

**Disadvantages Of PHP**
Despite PHP’s usefulness, the language also has several drawbacks that limit its dominance in that field. These are the drawbacks that we examined to get a clearer picture.

**1. Security Issues**
PHP-based products continue to raise security concerns due to several reasons over the years. First, its open-source nature ensures that once a vulnerability is found, it becomes common knowledge. These vulnerabilities can therefore be exploited by any programmer with malicious intent and adequate skills. And it can only be fixed when the bug is removed in a new version.

**2. Doesn’t Allow Change Or Modification**
Frameworks for PHP provide a base structure for developing web applications and a way to build custom applications. Although developers do not have any control over the core behavior of these frameworks, they still lack any option to modify them. In this way, you cannot change the core behavior of a web application in PHP.

**Difference Between Node.js And PHP**
PHP and Node.js provide robust, dynamic, and efficient server-side development platforms, which have become competitors because of their powerful features. 

Although the two scripting languages compete with each other, there are also some differences between them. Listed are some examples of some of the differences. 

**1. Runtime Environment**
JS languages are run on a server with Node.js, designed to run externally in a browser. Web browsers with such capabilities can perform functions on the client-side without requiring any platform-specific components. In addition, it allows developers to use JavaScript beyond the browser.

The PHP scripting language is used to write web pages. The webserver module of the Zend engine could be used with an interpreter to run it in a browser. The PHP programming language was designed to deliver web content to browsers.

**2. Modules**
Node.js supporters complain that PHP projects are more stable than Node.js projects. With the npm-audit initiative, the Node.js package registry aims to provide more control over its packages. This enables you to check for malicious code in each box. 

On the other hand, the PHP programming language has been dominant in this area for many years. There have been recent complaints from some PHP loyalists that they don’t receive good projects. Since PHP is capable of being imported on other platforms, they have migrated to other platforms.

**3. Scalability**
Upon comparing Node.js vs PHP scalability, both technologies prove to be scalable. It’s possible to build large scalable applications with either PHP or Node.js. Yet, there are some critical differences in how efficiently you can create scalable applications.

In the context of e-commerce and blogs, PHP is often a go-to tool for building web applications where most content management systems are supported. The Node.js framework, on the other hand, can be used to create dynamic, scalable solutions geared towards handling numerous I/O operations. Additionally, you can scale Node.js on multi-core systems, but this may require more work.

**4. Performance**
Code performance is measured by how well PHP or Node.js code is written, how quickly pages load, and how seamless the application performs. 

Its asynchronous nature and its JavaScript V8 engine make Node.js extremely fast and remarkably fast at executing code. However, the event-driven nature of Node.js prevents it from blocking existing requests from being completed.

PHP performance on page-load time efficiency shows that it was developed much earlier. This results in slow loading and no chance for concurrency since the process is blocked until it’s fully calculated. 

**5. DataBase**
It’s much easier to understand how disparate data points are related when using relational databases because data is stored in tables. 

Databases stored in NoSQL databases can include almost any data structure, including structured, semistructured, and unstructured. NoSQL databases are therefore the best choice for developers. 

Node.js has grown in tandem with the NoSQL database revolution, which means it is compatible with various databases. Databases like MongoDB and CouchDB are compatible with Node.js.

While PHP works on traditional databases like MySQL and MariaDB, you can access NoSQL databases with library import, but it is a complicated process that takes time.

**6. Frameworks**
The most common components of your project are already provided in the form of libraries, functions, and APIs by frameworks. Therefore, it takes you less time to write redundant code using an extensive framework. 

Node.js’s libraries have seen massive growth in a relatively short period due to frameworks like Meteor and Sails. As a result, the number of frameworks is much higher, allowing for faster development by reducing resource consumption.

Moreover, PHP frameworks have been around since 1995 with hundreds of niche markets. Laravel, CakePHP, and Phalcon are some of the most commonly used frameworks by many programmers.

**What to Choose:**

To compare Node.js vs PHP, it is impossible to determine which is better. Rather than choosing a technology based on features alone, you should first assess the project’s requirements and then select the one that fits them.

For instance, the prominent companies that utilize Node.js include  Netflix, Paypal, NASA, Trello, etc. These companies decided to move to Node.js for its features like real-time open connection, speedy delivery, and reduced development time. 

Therefore, if you have an app that needs frequent updates, Node.js would be a good choice.

Companies like Facebook, Wikipedia, MailChimp, WordPress, etc., utilize PHP for their app development. These companies have been using PHP for quite some time now. 

They use PHP to create full-fledged static HTML websites to improve the development process and save time making a source code each time.

However, it is essential to remember the best thing about both of them is that the best experts create them in the field to develop web and mobile applications more effectively and efficiently.

So, when selecting a technology, your task should determine which one will best satisfy your project requirements. Then, with an understanding of your business logic and project goals, you can select the most suitable technology platform for your project.