PHP is a server-side programming language that has been around for more than 25 years. Developers today tend to have strong feelings about it. When a new programming language or tool comes out, people will probably talk about where PHP is "dead." The Stack Overflow annual developer survey shows that PHP has moved down the list of the most popular programming languages, from fifth in 2017 to eighth in 2022. Even so, PHP is still used by nearly 80% of all websites. For example, WordPress and Facebook both run on PHP. So what's up?
Why is PHP still used by so many people?
PHP, or Hypertext Preprocessor, is a scripting language that can be used for many different things. It can be used to make dynamic and interactive websites. It was one of the first server-side languages that could be embedded into HTML. This made it easier to add functionality to web pages without having to call external files for data. Its use has changed over time, as new versions (version 8.0 came out in November 2020) have added features and unlocked new ones.
It's easy to learn and use. One of the main reasons PHP became so popular is that it's easy to get started with. Most people could make a web page with just one PHP file in a short amount of time, even if they didn't know much about web development or had a lot of experience with it. PHP is easier to learn than many other languages because the syntax is easy to understand and the command functions are simple.
It's free because it's open source: This also makes it easier for developers to start using PHP because it can be set up quickly and for free. A lot of PHP frameworks, like Laravel and Symfony, are also free to use. Companies also like this feature because it helps keep the costs of building a website in check.
It can be used in many different ways: One of the best things about PHP is that it can be used on Mac OS, Windows, Linux, and most web browsers. It also works with all the major web servers, which makes it easy to use on different systems and platforms with little extra cost.
Also read: How do I start SEO for a new website?
It has a lot of support from the community: PHP is a scripting language that has been around for a long time and is widely used. It now has a large and loyal community of people who support it. There are a lot of tutorials, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and tips to help new PHP developers get started and to keep pushing the limits of what the language can do with regular updates.
It's quick and safe: Every company wants its website or app to be fast and safe. PHP has its own memory and can keep up with other languages in terms of speed, especially when using newer versions. People have asked about PHP's security in the past, but it's important to remember that it's not inherently more or less secure than other programming languages. Because it is used a lot and has a lot of community support, there are now a lot of tools, frameworks, and best practices that can help fix weaknesses and protect against cyberattacks.
It works well with databases: PHP makes it easy to connect securely to almost any kind of database. This gives developers more freedom to choose the database that works best with the app they are making.
It's been tried and true: The fact that PHP has been around for 25 years means that its code has been tested in many different real-world situations. The main bugs have been found and fixed, which makes the language more stable and gives developers more confidence in it. Also, over time, many frameworks and tools have been built that make PHP web development safer, more efficient, and more effective.
There is a lot of code from the past: Okay, this isn't really a benefit of PHP by itself, but when so many websites are already written in PHP, it becomes an important thing to think about. Simply put, it is usually easier to make changes in the same language than to try to rewrite everything in another. This helps PHP stick around even if some younger developers would rather use a different language. Because PHP has been around for a long time, it is also usually easier to find a PHP developer for your business. However, as we have said before on this blog, you should make sure they have the right skills.
PHP versus Other
Some of the things we've talked about above could, of course, be used with other programming languages. So, here are a few of the most popular alternatives to PHP that can help you decide which one is best for your project or organization.
JavaScript: This remains the most popular programming language of them all, and has been around for almost as long as PHP. JavaScript is mostly used on the client side, so it is not directly comparable to PHP. However, with the rise of Node.js and other frameworks, developers can use JavaScript to write scripts for the server side. Both languages have large communities and a lot of uses, but only JavaScript can be used to build a full stack. On the other hand, PHP is easier to learn and keep up to date, which could mean that using it could lower development costs.
Python is one of the most popular languages today because it is easy to learn and can be used in many different ways. It has become the most popular choice for data science and AI, but PHP is still used more for web development. Python has a community that is growing quickly and a growing number of frameworks and libraries. It is flexible, but it does not yet offer the same level of database support and connectivity as PHP.
Ruby: Ruby is another open-source programming language that has been around since the 1990s. It is used in the popular Ruby on Rails web development framework. It is praised for its beautiful syntax and strong performance, but it is harder to learn than PHP and doesn't have as much community support.
In the end, the language you choose will depend on what you're trying to build and which features you want to focus on. At Jobsite, our network of developers has a wide range of skills in different programming languages. If you want to find out how they can help your organization, please get in touch.
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