Why are Web Developers choosing NodeJS over PHP?
This is most interesting topic I want to talk about. NodeJS vs PHP.
Every Language has it’s own pros and cons. I will talking about the topics in both languages and comparing them with each other. And at the last I will tell which one I prefer?😉
Topics to cover:
- Performance.
- Speed.
- Framework.
- Coding.
- Hosting.
- Database.
- Community.
- Limitations Of NodeJS and PHP.
#1] Performance.
NodeJS
Node.js is asynchronous in nature with the power of Javascript v8 engine. It gives a remarkable execution speed along with quick startup times. Since Node.js is event driven, it doesnt block the requests to finish existing ones.
PHP
Php is not asynchronous as it blocks the code till it is finished. And this makes it slower in performance.
Node.js is still a faster alternative.
#2] Speed
NodeJS
Node.js is among very few asynchronous development environments. This, being a major differentiator, gives Node.js an edge over other languages. Being asynchronous means that it need not wait for a module to be successfully executed before loading the next one. Such execution drastically reduces the downtime for the web app and makes for a seamless user experience.
PHP
Like most languages and technologies from the pre-2K era, PHP operates on synchronicity. That means every module and function is executed in the code-specified order. If one function or module is not executed, the consequential ones will not start until it’s completed.
#3] Framework
Frameworks help you focus on the fine details of your project as the most commonly used code is already provided with functions, libraries, and APIs. The more extensive the framework, the lesser the amount of redundant code you need to write.
NodeJS
With frameworks like Meteor, Derby, Express, and Sails, Node.js has seen a massive expansion of its libraries in a relatively shorter period. While these frameworks can boost productivity reducing development time and resource consumption, PHP’s frameworks outnumber those of Node.js by a huge margin.
PHP
Around since 1995, PHP has a very rich library of frameworks with niche markets of their own. In fact, some development agencies focus specifically on forms of PHP frameworks like Laravel, CodeIgniter, CakePHP, and Phalcon.
#4] Coding
If the syntax is easy and well engineered, you’ll be able to do more with less code.
NodeJS
On the surface, it may seem that Node.js requires more lines of code to execute the same functions as PHP. Thankfully, you need not remember the syntax of different languages while coding because the entire development environment is programmed with Javascript. So Node.js may sometimes require relatively longer lines of code, but it operates with only one language.
PHP
PHP has been around for a while and has flourished significantly over the years. It may seem from afar that PHP requires lesser lines of code to perform a function and is thus easier. But then, you need to be fluent in how operators and generators work in Linux, Apache HTTP Server, MySQL, and PHP itself (commonly referred to as LAMP).
#5] Hosting
It measures the range of compatibility that a technology platform shares with different hosting service providers. The number of alternatives available directly affects hosting expenses. The speed and security of the web app must also be considered while selecting a host.
NodeJS
Node.js has a range of alternatives that help it perform competitively. Joyent, the company that maintains Node.js, provides a SmartOS system. This is great for debugging, performance enhancement, and ease of deployment. With Heroku and Nodejitsu, it is easy to use Node.js in a Platform-as-a-Service setup.
PHP
PHP is, directly and indirectly, powering almost 79% of the internet. Due to its majestic reach, it’s designed for compatibility with all major hosting service providers. With its LAMP stack, it meets the needs of many servers. However, LAMP isn’t considered the most secure technology stack for hosting.
#6] Database
Here, we’re examining how conveniently the technology is able to connect with the database along with the type of the database – relational or traditional. Conventional databases traditionally store data in a navigational or hierarchical format.
NodeJS
Since Node.js has grown with the advent of NoSQL databases, it’s well-synchronized with all forms of databases. With Javascript Object Notation- a unique format of data used while interacting with databases- Node.js can work swimmingly with NoSQL databases like MongoDB and CouchDB.
It also supports graph databases and has substantial libraries to access SQL databases.
PHP
Being the older technoloy, PHP is designed to work with relational and conventional databases like MySQL and MariaDB. While it’s possible to import libraries to work with NoSQL databases, the process is tedious and eats up a large chunk of processing time.
#7] Community
The strength and expertise of a community decide what kind of updates come to various the frameworks, libraries, and projects being launched under each technology. It’s a given that your team won’t be able to write code for each feature and module from scratch.
Thus, using popular and tested libraries brings down development time and increases productivity. While a larger community might have more projects, the quality of an individual project/library/framework is what helps create value for your team.
NodeJS
Most Node.js projects are indexed on npmjs.com registry. Since Node.js is relatively new, its community is smaller compared to PHP. Yet the projects developed by the community lean more toward the development needs of today. In fact, many projects focus on adding unique functionalities to Node.js instead of serving as a library to import features from other languages.
PHP
PHP has been around longer than most technologies, so it has a bigger community and a larger number of projects under its belt. But one key issue here is that the newer projects developed by the community just appear uninteresting when compared to Node.js.
Initially, the projects they developed were received well for adding to the platform features that already existed in other languages. But now that many similar projects do exist, some PHP loyalists feel the need for more interesting projects to come their way.
#8] Advantages And Disadvantages
Advantages of NodeJS
- Easy to learn
- Fast backend Solution
- More Flexible
Disadvantages of NodeJS
- Unstable API
- Heavy Computing tasks
- Asynchronous Programming Model
- High demand for experienced resources
Advantages of PHP
- Open source and free of cost.
- Less learning curve.
- Powerfull library support.
Disadvantages of PHP
- Security Issues.
- Poor performance.
- Poor framework.
Conclusion:
To conclude, both Node.js and PHP are able to serve as a great server-side framework. Both of them have some pros and cons, however, the amazing thing is that both are developed by the experts in order to make web and mobile developed better.
While choosing the technology, your question should not be which is better, rather it should be which one can serve your project requirements in a better way. Understanding the business and project logic, can provide you a clear idea for choosing the right technology platform for their project.