Nodejs vs PHP: What to Consider for Back-end Development?

Nodejs and PHP are two of the most widely used backend technologies for web development. The former has been in play since 1994 while the latter had its initial release in 2009. While PHP is considered ideal for server-side scripting, Node.js is tagged as the most suited for modern web applications or the one that caters to current development needs.

Read: Top 6 Node.js Frameworks to Use for Web Apps in 2022

Both Node.js and PHP are excellent in their own ways. But if you have to pick one, what should you prefer? Well, this cannot be answered without a detailed comparison. One needs to assess multiple factors and then come to a conclusion. That is what we are going to help you with today. In this Nodejs vs PHP blog post, we will take a look at the different factors that you should consider when choosing between the two, and when should you consider what so that you can make an informed decision.

Node js vs PHP: A Quick Overview

Nodejs is an open-source server-side JavaScript run-time environment that is built on Chrome’s JavaScript engine (V8). It is used to build fast and scalable web applications. Big players like Netflix, LinkedIn, and Medium are already using Node.js

Acronym for Hypertext Preprocessor, PHP is an open-source server-side scripting language used for web development. It is being used by some of the popular names like Facebook and Wikipedia.

Since PHP is the older of the two, it thus has a large community base and has been associated with most of the projects. But because it’s old, it lacks modern capabilities, and that’s where Node js comes in. It is suitable for modern-day projects or use cases and consists of fast-growing libraries and frameworks.

The decision to choose between Node js and PHP should be meticulous as selecting one over the other can have an impact in terms of performance, budget, time-to-market, and more. Let’s take a look at the different factors that you should consider when choosing between PHP and Nodejs.

1. Nodejs vs PHP: Coding

Nodejs may seem to require more lines of code than its counterpart to execute the same functions. But with Node.js, you do not require remembering the syntax of different languages as the development environment is programmed with JavaScript. So, on the surface, it does look like it involves writing longer lines of code, but it functions with only a single language.

Read: Choosing the Best JavaScript Framework Between Vue and React

PHP, on the other hand, doesn’t require lengthy codes and is relatively easier. But one must be fluent in how generators and operators work in Linux, MySQL, and Apache HTTP servers.

Both Node.js and PHP can be easily understood, however, the former has a slight upper hand over the latter in this case as it is comparatively easier to execute despite longer codes.

2. Nodejs vs PHP: Performance

Performance here refers to how the code written in PHP or Node.js impacts the page load speed and seamlessness. Speaking of Node.js, its asynchronous nature with JavaScript v8 engine enables an exceptional execution speed and quick startup time. Also, Node.js is event-driven and thus doesn’t block requests to finish the existing ones. This order-independent execution is what we call concurrency, which means various modules are executed at a given time but not in tandem.

PHP doesn’t deliver a great performance when it comes to page load time efficiency. It would block a process until it is completely calculated, which is one of the core reasons behind its slow loading. You can though boost the performance of your PHP web app by around 75% by pairing it with HHVM Virtual Machine.

Despite this, PHP doesn’t beat Node.js as far as performance is concerned. So, in PHP vs Nodejs, the latter is the clear winner here.

3. Nodejs vs PHP: Speed

The next factor to consider when choosing between Node js and PHP is their execution speed. The better the speed, the faster the development.

Node.js is amongst the limited asynchronous development environments. This means that it doesn’t need to wait for a module to be successfully executed before loading the next one. This gives Node.js an edge over other languages as such execution significantly reduces the downtime and paves the way for a seamless user experience.

PHP, similar to most other languages and technologies of the pre-2000 era, operates on synchronicity, which means that the modules are executed in the code specified order. If one function isn’t executed, the following ones would not start until the first one is finished.

Nodejs again is the clear winner here because of its fast-performing nature.

4. Nodejs vs PHP: Database

Through this factor, we would examine how conveniently Node.js or PHP can connect with the database along with the type of database.

Node.js works superbly with NoSQL databases like MongoDB and CouchDB. It also supports graph databases and has adequate libraries to access SQL databases. Speaking of PHP, it is used in collaboration with relational or traditional databases like MySQL, MariaDB, etc. You can use the NoSQL databases with PHP too; there are some ways to do it, however, they aren’t very popular. Moreover, the process is time-consuming and tedious.

Read: MongoDB vs MySQL

If you are looking to develop a scalable web app that can extract data from relational, traditional, or NoSQL databases, Nodejs should be your ideal choice.

5. Nodejs vs PHP: Request Handling

Request handling refers to how briskly a technology can process client-side requests. The requests not only need to be processed accurately but efficiently as well.

Thanks to the asynchronous nature of Node.js, it can process multiple requests without waiting for one to end to begin the next. But there’s a catch. If an unresolved error of one request isn’t addressed in due time, it can interfere with other requests and lead to an overall system error.

PHP, on the other hand, handles a single request at a time. When requests are executed in a silo, it prevents cross-contamination of request errors. This, however, also leads to a lag in the system.

Nodejs has an upper hand over PHP here as it executes more processes using fewer resources.

6. Nodejs vs PHP: Community

PHP is one of the oldest technologies. It has been around for more than 25 years and has a myriad of projects under its kitty. Node.js is comparatively new and thus has a smaller community. But for modern-day developers, PHP may seem lackluster as it is not that much effective in catering to the development needs of today.

Since this point is only about community support, PHP gets an edge here over Node.js

7. Nodejs vs PHP: Modules

Node.js comes with a package management system called NPM (Node Package Manager) and its registry which is easy to use and publish. On the other hand, PHP uses module installing technologies like PEAR and Composer which is comparatively new.

But complaints are often heard about the Node.js projects that they are not as stable as PHP and its other counterparts. The quality control systems are barely in place. PHP encompasses a richer library of modules. So, in this segment, PHP has an upper hand over Nodejs.

PHP vs Nodejs: When to choose What?

Although Node.js has bagged the most points here in the overall comparison, it would be unfair to decide on a clear winner without even knowing your requirements or priorities. If development efficiency, high speed and consistent Callback from servers, and real-time data functionality are at the top of your list, go with Node.js. On the other hand, if Portability, Centralized server, and no-scaling needs are your top priority, PHP would be the best option.

The final call is yours to decide which technology suits your project the most.