PHP and Python are two of the most popular and influential programming languages. They both have their strengths and weaknesses and share many standard software development capabilities. Although Rasmus Lerdorf developed PHP as a web language, and Guido van Rossum created Python as a general-purpose programming language, technological advances have made both excellent web development candidates. As with any technology decision, choosing the best one for your next web development project ultimately comes down to your requirements and resources. Assessing each language and comparing their strengths across several core elements can help you make the correct choice.

Development Environment

Both PHP and Python have features and a few drawbacks when it comes to their development environments. PHP is much easier to install across any platform, be it Windows, macOS, or Linux. Shared hosting sites also offer it as a pre-installed component that forms part of your web server package. Python, on the other hand, can be complicated to install on specific platforms. On Windows, using Chocolatey is the best way to install Python 3. Python comes pre-installed on macOS, but it is usually outdated Python 2.7, so you need to install Python 3 for development. However, if you are on Linux, installing Python 3 is relatively straightforward.

The next part of your development setup typically requires the configuration of a development environment so you can manage and segregate your code, application install language, and library versions. Python has far better support for multiple development environments with virtualenv. Unfortunately, PHP does not offer the same features. The virtPHP project is no longer actively maintained, so you would need to use infrastructure technologies like containers or multiple virtual machines to separate your PHP development environments.

Language Complexity

PHP and Python are both dynamically typed, object-oriented, and multi-platform languages. Even though they have similar underlying architectures, they have differences in their ease of use. PHP has a rigid syntax due to its history as a language for creating dynamic web applications. Python is far easier to read than PHP, which makes debugging code simpler. Its history as a general-purpose programming language also makes it more flexible than PHP for beginners.

Extendibility

Library management in Python is far better than it is in PHP. Python pip allows software developers a simple and straightforward way to manage different libraries they may need to extend their applications. It is also fast and makes it easy to determine all the requirements for a particular project. PHP overhauled its library management with the introduction of Composer in PHP 7. This tool replaced the older Packagist, but it is still relatively young and does not have Python pip's depth or maturity.

Security

Writing and deploying secure code is a core requirement of any web development project. With so many critical services moving online, including communication, finance, and utility infrastructure, software developers must protect their applications. Writing secure code comes down to following robust Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) best practices. However, if we look at the underlying inherent language vulnerabilities, Python consistently ranks as more secure than PHP. In the 2020 Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report, PHP Object Injection ranked as the second-highest web application attack vector after SQL injection. However, many of these PHP vulnerabilities and security incidents relate to older modules and poor coding practices.

Scalability and Adaptability

Web applications need to have the ability to scale. In addition to this critical scalability requirement, web apps also need to accommodate changing market conditions and customer demands. Web applications need to sustain events such as viral social media posts that result in thousands of extra visitors or the launch of a new product or service. As the world continues to leverage technology to adapt and innovate, building web apps that can meet these challenges is vital.

PHP and Python both offer excellent scalability and adaptability features. Web application frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony, and CodeIgniter give PHP software developers the flexibility and structure they need. Python developers can leverage Django and Flask, which offer speed, security, and scalability. No matter which language you choose, both PHP and Python have the foundational elements needed to meet modern web application development challenges. However, Python does have a slight advantage in emerging technologies due to its popularity as the language of choice for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

Documentation and Community Support

Every software developer needs access to a supportive community and good documentation. Due to the scope and depth of modern programming languages, it is implausible to expect a developer to know every function and nuance, especially when they are starting their journey. Both PHP and Python have very supportive communities. Looking at Stack Overflow trends, Python questions have consistently ranked as the most asked since mid-2019. PHP ranks at number 5 in 2021.

As far as documentation goes, both PHP and Python have excellent online resources. PHP documentation covers all the language's built-in features in simple, straightforward language. It also gives developers the ability to add comments. However, this feature can be a double-edged sword. Since PHP has been around since 1995, some of the documentation's comments are decades old and may not be suitable for modern applications. Python's online document repository also covers everything a developer needs to get to grips with any particular language aspect. It does not offer PHP's comments feature, and the content is not as simple and straightforward. Beginners who do not understand some technical jargon and development terminology may find Python's documentation site intimidating. However, the tremendous community supports more than makes up for this minor drawback.

PHP or Python? It Comes Down to Your Unique Requirements

Choosing between PHP and Python for web development ultimately comes down to your requirements and resource availability. PHP is well suited for a small or medium-scale project where you only need a limited feature set. It is also a great language if you want simple and rapid development due to its robust tools, support, and frameworks. Python can offer the same benefits, but its emergence as the preeminent Machine Learning language gives it the edge in those projects. The other factor to consider is developer availability. If you have a PHP development team ready to go but need to hire Python devs, PHP makes business sense unless the project type specifically needs Python.

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