Node js vs PHP: Which One is Better for Backend Development?

Highlights

? PHP is a programming language introduced in 1994, while Node is a JavaScript Runtime Environment launched in 2009.
? Node and PHP share several similarities, such as cross-platform functionality and support for different types of applications and services.
? Node.js is currently the most popular framework, while PHP remains a widely-used server-side programming language, powering approximately 77.5% of websites.

Introduction

As we know, that Node is a cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment that runs on the V8 JavaScript engine. PHP, on the other hand, is a general-purpose scripting language intended for web development. However, both Node js vs PHP hold an important place in the server-side development for your web application. To better understand this metric and why comparing PHP vs Node.js is crucial, let us take the stats from SimilarTech, which states that 4,403,243 websites use PHP language.

Only 264,637 websites prefer Node.js for their web application development. But, if we have a detailed look at the usage graph of both the tech stacks, we can infer that the chart is going down for PHP, and for Node.js, there is an upsurge. So, without delay, let us jump to our topic, i.e., Node.js vs PHP.

Node js vs PHP Similarities

As we know, both tech stacks are used for the server side of your web application development, and both have their differences that make one separate from the other. However, both these tech stacks are bound to share a few similarities that will make this comparison more considerate. Let us have a look at them:

? Cross-Platform Compatibility

With a growing tech-savvy population worldwide, small or large business owners are looking for feasible options to have a cross-platform tech stack that can cater to their target market irrespective of the platform they are on. Well! PHP and Node.js are platform-independent and can operate on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Also, Node can perform on SunOS. Node.js has several Docket images for the Docker hub for Node.js. However, you need to run PHP from the command line directly. Also, you can compile the course code for PHP and Node.

? Interpreted Language

As we know, an interpreted language is one in which there is no earlier compiling of a program into the machine language, and the implementations execute the instructions directly. So, both PHP and Nde.js first allow development on the exact implementation page without interrupting your process. It offers benefits like reducing the program size, easy debugging, and dynamic typing.

? Service

Both PHP vs Node.js serve the web requests and are also effective in serving the web sockets. Both tech stacks can easily manage dynamic web content and offer an interactive and user-friendly interface.

? Application Types

Another similarity between these tech stacks is that both Node js and PHP run on a server and handle the routed requests. You can overlap them in assisting the dynamic web pages, static content, and data requests. However, the Node web sockets are conventional even after PHP introduces web socket servers. While PHP uses Ratchet, Node uses socket.io, and both PHP vs Node js serve streams where Node has Stream API to do so, while for PHP, a few custom codes are needed.

? Extensibility

Both the tech stacks are open-source and have an extensive ecosystem of add-ons, allowing for the expansion of boundaries for both PHP vs Node.js. Also, you can change or alter the code per your requirements and needs and make it the best fit for your project.

Node js vs PHP Comparison Table

Both Node and PHP are effective in the server-side development of your web application and share a few similarities. However, several Node JS vs PHP differences makes them far apart from each other. But before we jump onto the in-depth comparison. Let us first take a circumferential overview of PHP vs Node js with a tabular comparison of both the tech stacks.

Parameter	Node.js	PHP
Created By	Ryan Dahl	Rasmus Lerdorf
Launched In	2009	1994
Type	JavaScript Runtime Environment	Programming Language
Coding	Lengthy	Concise
Engine	Google V8 JavaScript Engine	Zend Engine
Package Manager	NPM (Node Package Manager)	Composer
Code Execution	Asynchronous	Synchronous
Execution Speed	Lightweight and Fast	Comparatively Slow
Concurrency	Event-driven non-blocking I/O	Multi-threaded blocking I/O
Performance	Fast	Comparatively Slow
Web-Server	Not needed as it runs its own environment	Apache and IIS
Database	No built-in support, uses libraries via NPM	Requires connection via libraries
Functional Programming	It is a combination of functional and procedural programming	It is not a functional programming
JSON	JSON.stringify() and JSON.parse()	json_encode() and json_decode()
Community	Small	Extensive
Hosting	It is compatible with hosting providers like Bluehost, Hostinger, HostGator, etc.	Possesses compatibility with a number of hosting providers like Bluehost, iPage, HostGator, Hostinger, SiteGround, etc.
Complexity	Though not so complex, it needs more lines of code and callback functions.	Comparatively Simpler
Module	Bundled with NPM package manager	Need to be downloaded and installed manually
Extensibility	More extensible due to JavaScript and the vast NPM library	Extensible
Frameworks	Express.js, Koa.js, NestJS	Laravel, CodeIgniter, Symfony, CakePHP
Practical Application	? Streaming Services ? Instant Messengers ? Social Networks ? FIntech Applications ? Online Education ? Project Management Tools ? Gaming Applications ? Live Chats	? Can be integrated with popular CMSs like WordPress or Joomla ? eCommerce Marketplaces ? Websites ? Marketing Platforms ? Blogs

Node vs PHP In-Depth Comparison

Now that we have covered the primary comparison between the two tech stacks, Node vs PHP, let us move forward with the in-depth difference between Node js vs PHP. under various parameters and heads.

? Popularity

Coming onto the popularity of the two tech stacks, we can infer that there are two sides of a single segment, whereby on one side, PHP is used by around 80% of the websites while Node.js is only used by 1-2% of the websites. But, still considering the last five year data from Google Trends, we can easily infer that Node is growing by the time. But, still, PHP holds a considerable market share regarding popularity.

However, Node.js has observed a significant shift in popularity in recent years; according to the StackOverflow Developer Survey 2022, Node.js is the most popular framework among developers, with 47.12% of total developers presenting to prefer Node.js for their project development. And, if we refer to the in-depth bifurcation of the stats, we can infer that it is preferred by not only the expert professionals but also by the developers who are learning to code, whereby 46.31% of the expert developers have Node.js as their first choice while 52.86% of the developers learning to code; prefer Node.js for their web application development.

Hence, with these stats and data, we can infer that tech stacks have gained an important place in the market and are growing tremendously. So, there is a draw in Node js vs PHP Popularity.

Winner: Draw

? Performance

The Node js vs PHP Performance is a comparison metric that depends on your tech stack and other factors. You can infer PHP vs Node js Performance with factors like page load speed and perfectness. However, these factors look puny but seriously impact the User Experience of your web applications.

Regarding Node.js vs PHP, Node is asynchronous and uses a JavaScript V8 Engine offering exceptional speed and faster start-up time. As Node.js is event-driven, it does not block requests but executes them concurrently. Combining Node’s concurrency with JavaScript delivers an exceptional environment for developing high-performance applications.

On the other hand, PHP is older in the market than Node.js and follows a different way of handling requests, making it slower. Additionally, the synchronous code execution procedure block or halts the process until all the executions are completed, which results in delayed loading and no concurrency. But linking it with the HHVM can enhance the performance of PHP by up to 75% however, when it comes to Node vs PHP Performance of your web application Node is faster than PHP.

Winner: Node.js

? Learning Curve

Another crucial comparison factor between the two tech stacks, PHP vs Node.js, is the Learning Curve; talking about Node.js, we can say that it is a pretty decent choice for the ones who know JavaScipt. However, those who are a novice in JavaScript will have to face a complex learning curve, and still, it is preferred to first learn JavaScript before moving on to learning Node.js. So, we can infer that Node.js has a steep learning curve.

Coming onto PHP language, it is one of the simplest languages to learn, or we can say that PHP has the simplest learning curve. However, it requires the developers to have significant knowledge of CSS and HTML to maintain a project based on PHP. Also, the learning curve becomes steeper as dealing with multiple technologies is a complex task, but still, even after this, the learning curve of PHP is simpler than that of Node.js.

Winner: PHP

? Concurrency

As we know, PHP is synchronous in nature which infers that it executes the code line by line whenever a code is executed, which means that it will wait for the present line of code to complete its execution before jumping onto the following line, blocking the request until the time the previous request is not entirely executed.

However, for NodeJS, it is asynchronous in nature, with which we can infer that the code does not have to wait for the I/O operations to complete. Node involves the promises, callbacks, or JavaScript built-in async wait for the keywords to handle the sluggish activities like the I/O and remote data fetching, making Node.js fast and allowing a Node server to manage the large requests or connections with ease.

Winner: Node.js

? Development Kit

Comparing these tech stacks in terms of the Development Kit, we can infer that whether we take Node.js or PHP, both of them have a significant and wide range of IDEs, editors, validators, debuggers, and various other tools. On one side, Node has an effective tool called the NPM or the Node Package Manager, which allows Node.js developers to manage the modules and dependencies.

However, on the other side, PHP has its package manager influenced by NPM, known as Composer, which helps manage the modules and dependencies.

A fundamental difference between the two is that NPM is built by default; you have to build the Composer yourself. For NPM, the system built with NPM made a system for frontend projects like Gulp and Grunt, which has become widespread.

Winner: Draw

? Syntax

Considering Syntax, let us first take the PHP syntax, which states that since the release of new versions, the Syntax of PHP has been changed, which is the main reason much backward compatibility work has been done; the main benefit of this backward compatibility is that you can easily move your code from the older versions to the new ones. However, it is why PHP has become a mess to handle, as a single function can be performed in multiple ways.

However, with JavaScript, several tendencies are involved, like the object prototype model, which attracts the developers; also, the Syntax seems lightweight. Still, contrary to this, the JavaScript Syntax has faced a lot of criticism in terms of Math errors; though it is rare, these problems are solved easily with the help of math libraries. But the top pro for Node.js in terms of Syntax is that you are not required to learn a completely different language; if you are somewhat familiar with the JavaScript language, then through the lines of code are more, but it would be more familiar to work with which hereby gives Node.js an edge over PHP.

Winner: Node

? Database

Choosing the ideal database is vital to your web application development when comparing Node js vs PHP. Talking first about Node.js, which functions with NoSQL databases like MongoDB and CouchDB, along with graph databases like Neo4j. However, it has the functionality to interact with the SQL databases; still, many developers prefer the NoSQL databases. The reason behind that is the inbuilt JSON support which allows Node.js to work well with the NoSQL databases.

On the other side, PHP is used in RDBMS or relational database management systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, MS SQL, and others. MySQL is the most prevalently used database for creating PHP websites. But, as it is a part of the renowned open-source stack LAMP. So, it supports NoSQL databases like MongoDB.

So, comparing the two tech stacks based on the Database Parameters, we can say that if you wish for a scalable application, then Node.js is the ideal choice. However, if scalability is not much of a concern, then using PHP is also a good option.

Winner: Draw

? Security

As we know, security is the most crucial concern for any product owner or a business owner. Still, the fact is also eternal that no tech stack is entirely secure from security threats. However, it is better to take precautionary measures and choose the tech stacks that offer safety to your web applications against severe security threats.

The Security issues you may face in PHP are XSS (cross-site scripting), session hijacking, SQL injection attacks, directory traversal, and others. PHP presents security against all these issues, but the best and ideal way is to understand that any code written in PHP is secure as you write it. If you are an expert developer, you would know that if you code right, then, your code is already secure to the extent it would be in any other programming language. However, this is not the case with novice developers as they lack the thought process to prevent your application from vulnerabilities.

Experienced developers, while doing the development process, must think of a secure design and encrypt or decrypt a string in PHP using the OpenSSL function extension, also known as Cryptography. You can also implement LBS or Language-Based Security to strengthen your application’s security.

Node.js faces vulnerabilities like MITM or machine-in-the-middle attacks, advanced persistent threats, and code injection. For Node.js, the system offers security practices like OWASP Dependency-Check and Acutinex for handling issues easily by reducing vulnerability and creating a secure system.

Winner: Node

? Modules and Extensibility

In Node.js, Modules are external apps based on their capabilities. They can be a single file or a group of a number of files. As the modules are reusable, therefore, you can reuse them. Also, you can break down problematic code into simple bits.

However, in PHP, there are mainly three modules: code extensions and bundled extensions, which are, by default, present with the PHP installation. And the external extensions, the ones that are not included in the core PHP or any package. The PHP extensions are mainly written in C language, but you can also compile them with PHP to allow either static or dynamic loading. Also, PHP possesses many vibrant extension modules that offer significant extensibility.

Though both give a tough fight to each other under this segment, PHP seems to have the upper hand in the Modules segment of this comparison.

Winner: PHP

? Scalability

When talking about Node.js vs PHP scalability, the term shivers the product owners, but still, it is mainly a matter of needs and requirements, specifically any scalable language or frameworks. However, some offer better scalability than others over time. Considering the same, in this case, Node.js possesses more scope for scalability compared to PHP. The reason is that PHP is easy to learn but hard to master, which is why many developers are unable to build complex PHP applications; thus, comparatively, Node.js is a better choice.

Winner: Node

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? Hosting

As we have discussed before, PHP is the backend technology of around 80% of all websites, directly or indirectly. The primary intent is to make PHP compatible with almost every major hosting service provider, which offers it a great stretch into the market. Also, the LAMP stack of PHP caters to the requirements of many servers but is not a secure option for hosting.

However, for Node.js, there are a number of options that help it perform efficiently. It assesses a technology platform’s range of interoperability with various hosting service providers; thus, these options vary the cost accordingly. Also, speed and security are other factors that must be considered when choosing a hosting provider.

So, we can infer here that both the tech stacks are equally capable in terms of hosting, though Node.js presents a broader range of options for hosting service providers. And, if security is not of utmost importance, then, choosing either of the two is viable.

Winner: Draw

? Code Example

Talking about the Code Example, we can infer that both languages are different from each other when it comes to coding. Node is based on JavaScript and it uses an event-driven non-blocking I/O model whereas, PHP is a server-side scripting language mainly used in web development. To better understand this difference let us take into compare a basic “Hello, World!” example.

Node Example

// Load the HTTP module
const http = require('http');

// Create an HTTP server
http.createServer((req, res) => {
  // Set the response HTTP header with HTTP status and Content type
  res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});

  // Send the response body "Hello World"
  res.end('Hello, World!\n');
}).listen(8080);

console.log('Server running at http://localhost:8080/');

PHP Example

<?php
// Set the response content type
header('Content-Type: text/plain');

// Send the response body "Hello World"
echo 'Hello, World!';
?>

Referring to the examples, Initially it might seem that PHP has lesser lines of codes so it is easier but, then, you need to have a significant understanding of of the operators and generators and their functioning in LAMP. However, Node on the other side though requires more lines of code but as it uses a single language, therefore, it is comparatively easier and simpler.

Winner: Node

? Runtime Environment

As we have discussed earlier, PHP runs on Zend, which is an open-source scripting engine, and it functions to interpret the PHP code. However, Node.js is a cross-platform, backend JavaScript runtime environment and uses the V8 JavaScript engine by Google.

We see that both the tech stacks have their separate runtime environment with specific functionalities, so we consider this a draw.

Winner: Draw

? Ecosystem

A significant reason behind PHP’s widespread reach worldwide is WordPress which has contributed to the PHP community. WordPress possesses a substantial percentage of the total number of websites on the internet. Also, to assist the product owners and developers, the community actively publishes online tutorials and informational content for training and supporting PHP.

Node.js presents a wide assortment of libraries and frameworks, though they are comparatively small and limited compared to PHP. However, it covers this limited community with its diversified projects. Also, as it is both frontend and backend compatible, the use cases increase even further, giving more scope for advancement to Node.js.

Winner: PHP

Node vs PHP When to Choose What?

Node and PHP are both one of the most renowned server-side scripting languages widely used for web application development. Both tech stacks present a wide range of options for web application development. However, the use cases for both of them are not ideally identical. Given below are some use cases for both the tech stacks that can be beneficial for you to gain conviction and make a clear decision and ideally choose the right tech stack for your web application development.

Node.js Use Cases:

Realtime Web Applications

Node can be your ideal choice when you are intending for online gaming apps, chat apps, and social media apps. The reason is its event-driven architecture and non-blocking I/O that makes it a great choice for handling real-time data.

Single Page Applications

Node.js is an efficient choice for data transfer between the client side and server side of the applications making it great for Single Page Applications. As we know, SPAs rely mainly on JavaScript to handle user interaction and Node enables developers to use the same language on both the client side and the server side.

Microservices

Node is a lightweight tech stack with a fast startup time. It is very effective when it comes to developing microservices, as they are small, independent components that can be deployed and scaled independently.

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PHP Use Cases:

Server-Side Scripting

PHP can be easily embedded in HTML and can perform tasks like accessing databases, processing form data, and sending mail, which is the reason PHP is mainly used for server-side scripting for generating dynamic web pages.

eCommerce Portals

PHP possess a number of eCommerce platforms such as Magento and WooCommerce that offers features such as inventory management, payment processing, and order tracking which is the reason why PHP is used majorly in creating online marketplaces and stores.

Content Management Systems

Another prevalent use case of PHP language is for building CMS or Content Management Systems like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla which enables users to create and manage digital content like blog posts, web pages, and multimedia content.

Companies using Node js vs PHP in 2024

With the evolving trends in the web app development market, the trends are also shifting. As PHP is ever-popular among product owners and Node.js with its efficiency and effectiveness is also getting great response from product owners worldwide but it is not the case with just the common product owners, many renowned brands and companies have implemented Node js and PHP for their web application development in 2024.

Companies Using Node js in 2024

Companies Using PHP in 2024

Conclusion

Now, this is what we have regarding Node js vs PHP in our pile of information. With the said data, we can conclude that both the tech stacks have significant importance in their arena, and which of the two is the ideal choice for your project is entirely dependent on your project’s use case and requirements. However, if you are a product owner or a business owner and are confused about going with Node.js or PHP, then you can hire Full stack Developer to help you get the conviction and better understand which of the two tech stacks would be a viable solution for your web application development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Node better than PHP?

Node js is a JS framework that allows for executing the JavaScript code on the server side, which makes it a significant replacement for PHP. Also, Node.js presents better performance than PHP; with this, we can say Yes, Node is better than PHP, but PHP is also a viable option under certain conditions.

Node js vs PHP Which one should you choose in 2024?

You can choose Node for apps that need frequent updates and involve various collaboration tools and other documentation suites, making it ideal for enthusiastic business owners who want to give a new taste to their users with every update in 2024. You can use PHP for less complex projects, making it an ideal choice for start-ups in 2024.

Node js vs PHP Which is preferred more for Microservice Architecture?

Node is a lightweight scripting tool with an event-driven architecture, making it fast, easy to maintain, and scalable; therefore, it is preferred to PHP for the microservices architecture.

Which is more secure Node or PHP?

Node js is inherently secure but uses third-party packages; therefore, it is vulnerable. However, according to the National Vulnerability Database, 30% of the total vulnerabilities are linked to PHP; thereby, we can infer that though both are not completely invulnerable, Node is comparatively more secure than PHP.