Introduction
About Node.js
Node.js was created in 2009 by Ryan Dahl. He created a software platform based on Google’s V8 JavaScript engine. The unusual thing is that the platform has its built-in libraries for handling requests and responses, thus you don’t need to use a third-party web server or any other dependencies. Node.js is actively gaining traction: it is currently used by big companies such as Microsoft, Yahoo, LinkedIn, and PayPal.
About PHP
PHP was created in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf. He created a shell program that was installed as a module for the Apache. It was originally developed as a preprocessor for hypertext pages so that PHP could be easily integrated into HTML code. This approach is not considered a good practice anymore, despite the fact that it used to be simple and understandable to beginners back in the day.
Overview
Why it is highly important to choose the right technology
Undoubtedly, the choice of technology plays an important role in your project success. If you’ve made the wrong decision, then everything can fail. The choice of technology can be a daunting task for small businesses and startups that typically operate with limited resources. The smaller the company is, the harder the impact of a bad decision will be.
Web technology includes the client side and the server side, which is invisible to users and includes a backend language, a database, and a server. Both Node.js and PHP run the web because they are the most widely used server-side technologies, and both can run applications of any complexity. At the same time, the differences between them are significant as they are built on different concepts and architectures. PHP is a programming language and Node.js is a cross-platform JavaScript environment. However, these technologies are similar from a server-side perspective. PHP is also a whole environment, and in fact, both Node.js and PHP can be fungible for many projects. Let’s take a closer look at the PHP vs Node.js battle.
Node.js Pros
Fast server connection
Node.js allows you to build non-blocking input/output JavaScript applications by using an event queue that can handle multiple requests at the same time. By using built-in asynchrony in JavaScript, you can create a highly scalable server application that maximizes your server’s CPU and memory while handling more requests at the same time than usual multithreaded servers. This functionality makes Node.js a great choice for real-time applications and those that require a lot of input/output operations.
One language for frontend and backend
Javascript is ideal for creating frontend applications and combining them with Node.js, which is extremely useful for developers.
The perfect combination of JS and Node helps professionals in building a robust, full-featured application with minimal investment and in less time. Also, it means low maintenance costs, easy error detection, and the ability to use TypeScript with static typing.
Flexibility
Node.js is open for any development and any technology. There are no limits or strict rules that must be followed before developing a project.
Besides, the Node Package Manager (NPM) is a great help for professionals to develop applications quickly and smoothly.
Node.js has no strict rules or hard dependencies, which leaves space for creativity when developing applications. The developers choose the architecture and dependencies themselves.
Apart from this, there are some other advantages in Node.js, for example: similar to JavaScript, Node is much easier to learn; it’s also ideal for dealing with huge files.
Scalability
Countering Node.js vs PHP, the first has a non-blocking and asynchronous feature that makes an application fast and allows you to manage many events running at the same time. SPAs and data-driven applications are built by using Node.js as their core technology.
Easy to learn
Since Javascript is considered one of the most popular programming languages, more and more programmers are joining the community. It becomes much easier for them to choose Node.js for the backend in the battle of PHP vs Node.js. It’s pretty easy to learn Node.js, too, which greatly speeds up the development process for beginners. Basically, Node.js is a minimalistic platform so you just need to learn JavaScript and read Node.js documentation to figure it out.
Node.js Cons
Little effectiveness in operations using CPU
The event-driven architecture of Node.js has some limitations, namely its low efficiency under high CPU usage. While Node.js handles these multi-table operations well, it still does poorly at graphics creation and image processing. Fortunately, after v10.5, a native Worker Threads module has been added to Node.js. This module is very helpful in performing CPU-intensive JavaScript operations. Also, there is a CUDA SDK that can help you reduce time spent on operations and the amount of CPU used.
Hosting
Node.js can run on the server side all the time without breaking the connection. You can do it locally or look for specialized hosting services, like a virtual cloud (VDS / VPS, server environment with full access). Unfortunately, not all hosters can afford it, so the prices will be corresponding.
PHP Pros
Big code base
PHP contains a rich and powerful codebase that includes popular web development platforms and frameworks. Moreover, it is so simple that even a person who is not versed in technology can operate it.
PHP has a huge code base for all kinds of solutions, from content management systems to powerful frameworks like Laravel and Symfony. For example, by using WordPress, a CMS written on PHP, you can create a blog in a matter of minutes.
Portable solutions
PHP is platform-based, it can run on almost any server and platform. You can write your code once and use it anywhere. Any web host supports PHP, and you can get a MySQL database for a great price. PHP is much simpler here than on the local server, and you will know exactly which PHP extensions are disabled and which are not.
Also, there is a huge PHP support community, which is another benefit for developers.
At the same time, there is a wide variety of hosting sites to support PHP, and you don’t need to rent a full server with SSH access to run your project. It means that the integration of PHP projects and their deployment is somewhat easier for small companies or individuals who can run and manage their applications without any knowledge of console commands.
Performance
Unlike Java or Python and other general-purpose programming languages, PHP was designed specifically for the web. That is why it contains all the necessary functionality for working with HTML, servers, and databases. Thanks to the comprehensive PHP language, in most cases you can get by with a minimal amount of JS code in the frontend. Also, it’s worth noting that PHP is interpreted language and Node.js is compiled which directly affects performance. A compiled code can be executed directly by the computer’s CPU. That is, the executable code is specified in the native language of the CPU. The interpreted code language must be translated from any format into CPU machine instructions during execution. This translation is done by an interpreter. It leads to the slower work of interpreted language.
Stability
PHP is also quite stable. It has been around for a long time. Programmers have worked on PHP to make it fairly stable and easier for developers to create web applications with this technology. They have spent a while working on bugfixing for different PHP versions and made it fairly stable.
PHP is compiled with numerous frameworks like Codeigniter, Laravel, CakePHP, etc. The PHP backend is highly efficient for a website or an application.
PHP Cons
Limited MVC applicability
PHP is not applicable enough for implementing the MVC pattern recommended for web development, which essence is in the separation of application data, user interface, and management logic into three components. You can often find a mix of the HTML and PHP code, where the business logic is merged with visualization, causing difficulties for code maintenance. You can solve this problem by using a suitable framework, but there is more temptation to mix HTML and PHP in one file.
Outdated client-server model
PHP follows the classic client-server model where a page request initiates an application, a database connection, their processing, and HTML rendering. It creates productivity losses. Comparing PHP and Node.js, the first is slower, and because of that Node.js is more suitable for writing real-time applications. But it is worth noting that this PHP disadvantage can be overcome with the help of Memcached. Though, keep in mind that it will create an additional dependency for your application.
Conclusion
The creation of a stable and reliable server side is one of the most important things in app development. That’s why it’s highly important to choose the right technology that will meet all your needs. To be sure that everything works correctly and causes no failure, think of entrusting the development process to a reliable company. Bamboo Agile can become your trusted partner in the backend development process. Simply fill out the form and get a free consultation on better technology. Make your application’s performance incredible!
