PHP vs. Node.js: Which Is the Best App Backend Technology

If you know anything about app development, you must have heard the terms ‘PHP’ and ‘Node.js.’ While they are uttered in connection to app development, they are different. Not all but in some respects. Knowing about them is vital. Why? It’s because their distinct features make or don’t make them apt for a developer. It is also the reason the app development community is divided in their opinion regarding PHP vs Node.js. Which one beats which one? Below, we will see just that. 

PHP vs. Node.js – Key Differences to Look For

Before explaining in detail, let’s see the major differences between these two app development languages at a glance:    

Difference In Terms Of…	PHP	Node.js
Coding	Needs minimal coding to function	Requires more lines of coding
Performance	Slower in handling requests. Executes lines of coding one at a time as a result of being a synchronous language	Faster in handling requests. No need to wait for I/O operations to finish due to its asynchronous nature
Functionality	Limited development opportunities and a part of the LAMP stack	No functionality fragmentation, with JS being a full-stack development language capable of building a web/mobile app on its own
Database	Used with traditional or RDBMS like PostgreSQL, MySQL, etc. Supports NOSQL databases like MongoDB as well	Supports various NOSQL and graph databases. Its built-in JSON support is an added bonus
Runtime Environment	Uses Zend – an open-source compiler and runtime environment	Utilizes Google’s V8 engine

Below is a chart that shows the market share of both these app development language giants:

As is clear, Node.js clearly lags behind PHP as regards market share. But does that make PHP better than Node.js? We will find that out when we discuss their differences in detail:

1. Coding 

PHP is a veteran in this field called ‘app development.’ It is only natural that this language has gone through a lot of development and has become more efficient over the years. PHP requires minimal coding. Yes, only a few lines of coding are enough to achieve your functional goal. However, there is a little con. If you lack sufficient knowledge about the LAMP stack and how generators and operators function in it, you’re pretty much doomed. 

On the contrary, Node.js needs more lines of coding to do its job. However, the complete development environment is JS-written. This makes it easier to code. And since it deals with a single language only, you need to memorize fewer things.  

2. Performance 

Being an older language, PHP utilizes different request-handling ideas, and its synchronous nature makes it process modules one by one. And what’s the result? It blocks any process that hasn’t finished all required executions. This causes loading delays and zero concurrency. Nevertheless, an HHVM Virtual Machine can come in handy in such cases. This virtual machine can boost the convenience of a PHP development company. How? Well, it boosts PHP web app performance by more than 75%. 

On the other hand, Node.js’s asynchronous nature and JavaScript V8 engine help ensure faster execution speeds and startup times. Plus, it is event-driven. That means it never blocks any new request and doesn’t wait for old ones to finish their execution. This concurrency offers a suitable environment for high-performance app development.      

3. Functionality 

PHP is a pure backend programming language. Naturally, its development scope is narrow. PHP is a part of the LAMP stack. That’s why a developer working with PHP must know different tech along with CSS and HTML in-depth. This is complicated, as a developer has to learn and memorize various complex things. But still, PHP’s frequent evolution provides developers with new concepts and features to make something big.

Node.js, by contrast, combines many vital components into a single, smooth package. Also, it offers zero functionality fragmentation and lets developers build an entire backend model with no hassle. In addition, being a full-stack development language, JavaScript is capable of building a web/mobile app from scratch without any help.     

4. Database 

Developers can use PHP with traditional or relational DBMS. These include MySQL, PostgreSQL, and more. As of today, MySQL ranks atop the list of most used databases for PHP website building. PHP belongs to the popular LAMP stack. This enables developers to make use of NoSQL databases, such as MongoDB with PHP. 

Talking Node.js, it smoothly functions with different NoSQL databases along with graph databases, such as Neo4j. While it works with SQL databases as well, NoSQL databases are more convenient for a Node.js development service. And why wouldn’t they? Node.js’ built-in JSON support makes it an ideal choice for NoSQL databases and building scalable web apps. 

5. Runtime Environment 

PHP’s runtime environment is called Zend, an open-source compiler and runtime environment that utilizes Zend Virtual Machine. 

Contrarily, Node.js is a cross-platform backend JS runtime environment that uses Google’s V8 engine. 

Wrapping Up 

To conclude, PHP and Node.js have their differences. But you can’t just put one over the other like that. It is up to the developer what they want to use for their app development projects. While this is clear, one little question remains: when to use PHP and when to use Node.js? Well, the answer is hidden in your specific needs. 

If building CMS-backed e-commerce sites, utilizing the LAMP stack, or easy execution and incorporation are your goals – PHP should be your choice. On the flip side, if you want to develop real-time/dynamic single-page apps or utilize frontend tech like React or Vue.js – look no further than Node.js.