Node.js vs PHP: An Honest Comparison (2023)

IYKYK, and even if you don’t know, Node.js and PHP are two of the significant backend technologies that drive web applications. Although PHP is an older friend, and so it is given that it must have a larger community and major projects in its back pocket.

However, this large PHP community has started to notice a lack of relevant and upgraded projects. 

And unsurprisingly, this is exactly where node.js shines—developing a strong user base for projects that are meant for present-day applications.

In spite of the fact that both the technologies were launched at different times and in different technological environments, there are some noticeable similarities between them.

For example, both are regarded as the most successful and strongest alternatives for backend web applications, and they both have a large and supportive community of developers.

Node.js vs PHP…………….

Doesn’t it already seem like a classic movie plot? 

An electrifying battle between two long-term friends who have separated their ways. Most often, these clashes begin when one friend shows interest in stuff that had always been the other friend’s unspoken domain.

You can think of a fast & furious, wink!

Moreover, in our version of the programming language, Node.js swirls the pal flick into a grudge match, i.e., PHP and JavaScript, two buddies who once ruled cyberspace together but now fight out for the mind share of the developers.

In the past, the partnership was straightforward. JavaScript is used to handle minor details in the browser, and PHP is used to manage all the server-side tasks. It was a blissful union that supported a crucial part of the internet.

Then comes the twist in the story, some canny kid discovers that he can run JavaScript on the server. And suddenly, there was no need to make use of PHP to develop the next generation of tech stacks. It was JavaScript everywhere. And it even became the mantra for some.

The boom in node.js is proof that JavaScript is winning. Meanwhile, PHP slipped from third place to fourth overall, ranking-wise, and this was mostly because of heavily marked moments and product rollouts.

Hype can fade, but the software will live on for decades. 40 per cent of the pages that we view begin with PHP in one form or another. This is because PHP continues to regenerate.

Of course, the ending of the movie hasn’t been decided yet.

There are programmers that hoot about the simplicity and youthfulness of Node.js along with the purity of Javascript. 

And there are some who are happy with the deep code base and stability of PHP. 

Will javascript tumble its dear old friend to achieve domination?

Will the elder bud push back the server-side upstart?

The movie has just started; order a big batch of popcorn and sit back. 

Node.js vs PHP

What is Node.js?

Node.js is a Javascript runtime framework. Node.js provides applications with high performance and stability using the V8 JS engine. This framework also offers access to a group of asynchronous I/O that make applications more perceptive.

Node.js simplifies software development for billions of coders because they can develop both the server and client-side of the application by only using the JavaScript language.

What is PHP?

PHP is the massive Node.js alternative and is seen as one of the best backend languages in the world. According to a survey, 79 per cent of websites use PHP for backend development, and only 1.4 per cent use Node.js, the Javascript runtime environment.

Since PHP is a general-purpose backend technology, it is used for web development. The PHP language has a large number of frameworks like Laravel and Symfony that are open-source and can be used by everyone.

Node.js vs PHP: Pros & Cons

Benefits of Node.js

1. Shorter time to market

Node.js allows programmers to develop well-functioning apps in a short stretch of time. Node.js is fast because it is capable of sharing code and performing tests between the client-side and server-side. This distributivity allows a higher degree of effectiveness and productivity for developers.

2. Developing apps with real-time experience

Node.js also offers features to develop applications with real-time experience. By utilizing the event-driven runtime environment of JavaScript, you can easily develop high-quality applications.

3. Easy implementation of changes

In the constantly fluctuating market, it is necessary to remain flexible and be capable of changing or updating applications to meet the constantly changing end-user requirements. Node.js is an advanced model that supports developers in making changes in the application in a short stretch of time. This is not possible only because of the offbeat or unique model, but the MongoDB database also enables smoother data changes.

4. Easy to ascend

In this battle of Node.js vs PHP, the latter is probably more suitable, but Node is far easier to scale. The scalability point should not be overestimated, as it grows with the company’s progress.

Disadvantages of Node.js

Every coin has two sides; nothing is perfect, and so does Node.js. There are drawbacks to everything good. Only the intensity of the disadvantages is what makes a good thing good. A few disadvantages of Node.js are:

• Low performance for intense calculations
• There is a scarcity of complex tools and frameworks to develop resources from the given templates.

Benefits of PHP

1. Modern customization palette

You might have heard this a lot. The major benefit of using PHP is its customizability. Once your company ascends, you will have to adjust and maintain the growing and ever-changing demands and have to make a few changes. And with the customization feature, your website will get a great competitive advantage.

2. High level of security and flexibility

Every year, companies face a loss of a substantial amount of money due to ransomware attacks, and that is why all kinds of preventive measures are important. With PHP, one gets a highly secure code that guarantees a good level of data protection. In addition to this, PHP is also famous for its flexibility and compatibility across all platforms, be it Windows, Linux, macOS, etc.

3. Increased client retention rates

PHP offers a fast data processing feature that will decrease page load time. I mean, we don’t like waiting for the page to load and eventually end up abounding the website. And it is obvious to everyone. However, applications that run on PHP load pages briskly, thus increasing the customer retention rate and making the application easier to use.

4.  Large talent pool

The Slashdata survey states that there are more than 6 million PHP developers all around the world. This demonstrates the popularity of the PHP language. PHP will give your company a large pool of candidates to choose from. So, when you hire and onboard the PHP developers, you will be ahead of schedule. 

Disadvantages of PHP

There is one drawback to PHP that makes a coder run away from this technology.

1. Prolonged testing activities

The one drawback of PHP is its faulty error handling compared to Node. PHP does not offer a large collection of debugging tools to identify bugs and alert programmers in real-time. This feature makes PHP more prone to errors and extends the process of quality assurance.

Node.js vs. PHP: Which One Is More Popular?

One thing that I have learned from being on a digital marketing team is that every statement should be backed up with data. The decision should be made on the basis of data. 

So here is some collected data on Node.js and PHP that shows their popularity in the current world.

The above data demonstrates the staggering popularity of PHP across all website categories. But from this alone, you can’t draw any conclusion. 

This is because this data doesn’t show the 14-year gap between the launch of both. It also doesn’t state that PHP has brawled with new-age projects of late. There are issues with scaling, and it is seen as a primary reason why PHP fails to keep up with present-day tech demands. 

On the other hand, Node.js provides more relevant packages and more advanced projects—thus easily outperforming PHP and gaining a developed user base.

Plus, a recent survey by Stack Overflow shows that around 58.4% of programmers fear PHP. and Node.js is one of the most preferred technologies in the entire category of frameworks, libraries, and tools with around 33.91% of the 83,052 developers in favour. The same survey showed that around 63.22% of developers loved Node.js. 

So, it is worth noticing that even though PHP has been the more popular technology for years, expert developers are extensively using Node.js.

Node.js vs PHP: Detailed Comparison

Coding

If the semantics were easy and well-engineered, you would be able to perform more with less code.

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In a discreet manner, both languages can be easily understood. It would be easy for a novice developer to get proficient in either of these languages.

Whatever the case, Node.js can be easily executed regardless of its longer codes, all thanks to its setup of just one programming language. 

So, if coding is the problem, then Node.js is the winner.

Server-side Coding

Server-side coding focuses on the productive implementation of functions that would eventually constitute the UI. It is one of the important features as it signifies the user experience, data utilized on the client’s device, and page loading speeds of an app.

Node.js	PHP
The major benefit of this development environment is that you can bring in all the logic of the backend code for the client-side code. This way, it becomes easy to use the features on both the client-side and server-side. Plus, Node.js transfers all the workload from the client-side server.  So, Node.js can be an ideal use case for the audience with a smartphone with decent processing power.	PHP was developed to make dynamic web pages.  Thus, various features that you might need for the UX elements of the web pages are already in-built. Above that, PHP is based on HTML code created for each web page.

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Both Node.js and PHP have become valuable due to their use cases. If you have a project that demands a static website and if your target audience uses low-powered devices, PHP will be just what you need.

But, if your project includes dynamic websites with a dynamic UI, then you should go with Node.js. 

Speed

This feature refers to the execution speed innate in both technologies. High-speed implementation means a swift development process and a cost-effective project.

Node.js	PHP
Node.js is one of the few asynchronous development environments. It is the major differentiator and gives an edge to Node.js over others. Being asynchronous means it drastically reduces the downtime for the web apps and offers a seamless user experience.	Like the majority of languages and technologies, PHP operates on synchronicity. It means each and every function and module is implemented in the code-specified order. Also, if one function is not implemented, the subsequent one will not start until the first one is completed.

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All thanks to the asynchronous execution of Node.js, it is no doubt a clear winner here owing to its good speedy performance.

Performance

PHP vs Node.js performance is another benchmark of how a code is written in Node.js or PHP and their performance on KPIs like page-loads and seamlessness. Any high-performing technology means good results for your product performance.

Node.js	PHP
The asynchronous feature of Node.js with the JavaScript V8 engine provides Node.js with remarkable performance in addition to quick startup time.  Node.js has an order-independent model that is also referred to as concurrency.	PHP was developed in an earlier timeframe, and it is evident in the way it has page-load time efficiency.  It blocks an entire process till it’s been completely calculated. This also means it has zero scopes of concurrency.

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Both technologies use just-in-time compilation. Moreover, in PHP vs Node.js performance if high performance is on your priority list, turn all your hands towards Node. js.

Frameworks

Frameworks focus on the minute details of your project as the most commonly used code is provided with functions, libraries, and APIs. The more substantial the framework is, the less redundant code you have to write.

Node.js	PHP
Node.js frameworks like Meteor, Derby, Express, and Sails have seen a huge expansion in their libraries in a relatively short time. These frameworks can boost productivity by reducing development time.	Since 1995, PHP has had a very rich library of frameworks, each with its own niche.  There are development agencies that mainly focus on forms of PHP frameworks like Laravel, CakePHP, CodeIgniter, and Phalcon.

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No doubt, the list of PHP frameworks is long, so there are more nuances in choosing a technology that performs better. Besides this, many PHP frameworks have one common problem, that is, mixed content and code.

Node.js was developed at a time when demarcating code between modules became the norm, so consistency is managed across most of its framework by keeping the code organized.

Therefore, Node.js will be a better choice if your next project requires massive use of frameworks.

Database

Another criterion in Node.js vs PHP is the database. It is to examine how technology can connect with the database along with the type of database. 

Node.js	PHP
Node.js has evolved with the arrival of NoSQL (Not Only SQL). Node.js works smoothly with NoSQL databases like MongoDB and CouchDB.	PHP is the older technology and is designed to work with relational and conventional databases like MySQL and MariaDB.

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If you are planning to develop a scalable web application that will eventually pull data from conventional, relational, or NoSQL databases, then in such a case, Node.js is what suits you the best.

Community

The expertise of the community decides what type of update is required in frameworks and libraries under each technology. It is obvious that your programmers’ team will not be able to write code for each feature from the very beginning. 

Thus, using tested libraries will reduce the development time and will increase productivity. 

Node.js	PHP
The majority of the Node.js projects are registered on the npmjs.com registry.  Node.js is new, and so its community is small as compared to PHP.	PHP has been around for a long time, so its community is also very large.  But the new projects developed by this community are interesting as compared to Node.js.

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The projects in Node.js are fewer in number as compared to PHP, but it’s also true that their newer projects are way more relevant. However, given the existing project in PHP and the one coming for Node.js, it’s a complete tie.

Node.js vs PHP: The Verdict

One question that ought to come up after the detailed comparison we have seen between PHP vs Node.js is, which technology is better?

Is Node.js a great alternative to PHP?

The answer is that it all depends on your choice, project, and industry. 

So let’s frame the question correctly. 

When should I use Node.js vs PHP?

Node.js vs PHP: When to use Node.js?

Node.js can be a perfect choice if you are building dynamic single-page applications using Angular, React, and JQuery for the frontend. This node is part of the MEAN, MERN, and MEVN stacks. That is why its usage makes sense if your tech stack consists of these tools.

Node.js can solely support IoT devices and heavy data streaming platforms. Since Node can manage multiple concurrent processes, it is also used for collaborative business management tools such as Trello.

PHP vs Node.js: When to use PHP?

PHP can be a good pick for a blog or eCommerce project as it needs various integrations. PHP is a part of the LAMP stack that includes Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP.

PHP is the best for web development because it allows developers to generate dynamic content. Thus, PHP is great for data collection and sending and receiving cookies.

Sum Up!

With so many backend technologies, it is difficult to choose the correct one that can complement your project and enrich your tech stack.

There is no standard procedure to check if Node.js is better than PHP or vice versa. However, to evaluate which technology outshines the other, it would be best to first map out the requirements of your project and then select the technology that fits the best. 

If it’s still unclear when to use Node.js vs PHP, reach out to Extern Labs to get an answer to your tech-related query.

Our experts at Extern Labs are pros, and they are always excited to share their experiences with our next client.