PHP vs Python in 2020?
Published: 2020-04-06 09:01:21

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title: PHP vs Python in 2020?
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![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/sibuc3yhn0431csm6bn3.jpg)
Backend development is undeniably among the top-rated skills today. Web and mobile app development have dominated the market in the past year, and this trend is expected to stay in 2020. One of the major reasons for the popularity of these skills is the value they provide – any startup or new business these days requires a web presence and a mobile application for better reach. Both of these are concerned with backend development. 

Today, we’ll be comparing for you two of the best languages: PHP & Python, to help you decide the best one for you. 

**Python vs PHP – making the choice**

A number of factors need to be considered in the process of choosing the right web development language:

**•	Ease of Learning**
![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/r8pqf6ly2wc9sb3249bs.jpg)
One of the most important criteria to consider while choosing a framework is its ease of learning – its syntax. Python, in this regard, is favorable as it has a simple and straightforward syntax. So much so that it is now commonly used for teaching programming fundamentals to beginners. It is a general-purpose language, with shorter programs that are easier to write than other programming languages. Simpler syntax, extremely readable code and short programs gives it an edge to be used for developing applications. Less code also implies quick development times and easy maintenance. 

PHP was essentially designed for web development and thus it is more sophisticated or complex, if you will, and can present a learning challenge for novice programmers. It is also quite old, which means that a lot of tutorials and content available for PHP learning might be outdated. Although the developer community is making efforts to provide support for those new to the language, PHP poses difficulty in the learning aspect and Python is a level up in this regard.
	
**•	Installation**

When it comes to installation, Python can give some challenges whether you work for a [software house in Pakistan](https://www.dynamologic.com/software-house-in-pakistan/) or are a self-employed programmer. If you have OS X on your system, then note that a system version of Python is pre-installed on your computer. However, this version is of no use, as it is outdated and hence cannot be used for application development. Thinking of installing new packages? Well, that won’t work either! You’ll have to get your hands on a new version to get started. Installing Python on Windows is even more challenging as it will require using a Windows package manager which is definitely some extra work. Working on Linux? No problems with Python.

PHP, on the other hand, can be installed with convenience whether you’re using Windows, OS X, or Linux. You can access it from various shared hosting sites and it doesn’t cost much either.

**•	Library Support**

In the library support aspect, Python wins over PHP. Whatever the type of applications, Python has extensive library support available. With the evolving trend of Machine Learning, a lot of companies are focusing on developing web applications that are backed with machine learning. The best part – Python has amazing machine learning libraries that are not only faster and more functional, but also allow developers to seamlessly integrate their applications with the web framework. Some of these libraries include Keras, Theano, TensorFlow, etc.

In comparison, PHP does not have strong library support with only a single library known as Packagist – The PHP Package Repository. 

**•	Speed**

The speed of a web application is something not entirely related to the framework on which it is built. Slow database queries, relying too much on network queries, and excessive disk reading are factors that will slow down your speed every time. However, generally, PHP is considered to be a faster language than Python. More so with the release of PHP 7.x versions which give programs that are 3 times faster as compared to a normal Python program. This comes as a great benefit with respect to performance-critical applications. For example, in a banking system where millions of visitors are using the application daily, such a delay can significantly affect the system’s overall performance. So, PHP takes the lead over Python from the speed perspective.

**•	Debugging**
![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/fp8hxotb3dtw3awj81fa.jpg)
If you’re an experienced developer you know how important an efficient debugger is for your code. After all, your work doesn’t end with developing code; finding where it went wrong and fixing the issues is equally crucial to develop a fully-functional program. Both Python and PHP provide great debuggers. The PDB (Python’s Debugger) is user-friendly and integrates easily into your development environment. With simply a push on the “debug” button, you’re all set to debug your code. 

PHP provides XDebug which may require a bit of setup, but that isn’t a big deal at all. Both the debuggers come with common debugging features such as breakpoints, path mapping and so on, and both are fantastic.

**•	Documentation**

There is an ample amount of documentation available for both Python and PHP. Python’s documentation is extremely straightforward and precise and does not allow comments. PHP, on the other hand, has extremely helpful documentation explaining complex concepts in a simple language and includes a developers’ comments feature. However, commenting can help but also cause confusion, as the comments that appear on top are the older ones and their context may not be up-to-date. Due to this, Python has a slight edge over PHP, but not a very significant one.  

**•	Price**

Price may seem to be a deciding factor for selecting a development platform, but many frameworks and languages hugely favor programmers in this regard. Both Python and PHP have been designed to aid developers by making them free and open source. This makes both of them popular among other paid web development frameworks.

**In a Nutshell**

The trend of cross-collaborative teams has become widespread in recent times, where individuals with different skill sets come together to develop various projects. In such teams, PHP can present challenges as it is somewhat complex for inexperienced people. Python offers a broader landscape as it is not specific to web development and is easy to learn as well. Nonetheless, it really depends on what your project needs are. Our recommendation – Python is a bit more favorable for web-based applications as compared to PHP. However, we would also say – fully evaluate your needs and then come to a conclusion.