Comparison of usage and ease of use: Python vs PHP
Python is a programming language that can be used for various purposes, so it is a general-purpose programming language. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, web development, data analytics, game development, and financial forecasting models are just a few of the applications. Python is used by almost all current technology organizations, including Google and Netflix.
Python is a popular programming language among data scientists for data cleaning, visualization, and creating machine learning models. A good example is the fraud detection use case: analyzing, processing and segmenting historical data to find associations and patterns that can be used to avoid future fraud. Python can also be used as a scripting language. Python scripts can be run from the server command line without compiling them first.
Python allows you to develop lightweight and fast automation applications. For example, you can execute a script periodically to deactivate users of your website if they do not renew their subscription after multiple notifications. Python scripts can also be used to automate routine operations, such as backing up your work or posting on social media. Python is also commonly used for test automation. Python makes it easy to write test cases, and there are many testing libraries available, including Unittest, Pytest, and Django-test.
.PHP
PHP is primarily used as a programming language for developing dynamic web pages and applications. Have you ever noticed how the YouTube website changes after watching a few videos? This is a dynamic web page, which means that different information will be displayed each time the page is reloaded. PHP supports database connections and perfectly embeds HTML to display custom content.
Have you heard of WordPress? WordPress is an entirely PHP content management system (CMS) that allows you to create a website with little or no programming knowledge. According to HUBSPOT, 43.2% of websites on the internet use WordPress, and WordPress usage has been growing steadily since 2011.
According to W3Techs, 77.4% of websites use PHP for server-side programming. It's huge! PHP is also used by Wikipedia and Facebook.
Although PHP is losing popularity, it is still widely used. Its importance in web development cannot be underestimated.
Python vs. PHP as a first programming language
Python is an excellent choice as a first programming language.
First, it emphasizes proper coding techniques. Python improves syntactic readability by requiring you to write clean code with uniform indentation and no unnecessary parentheses and parentheses. Python is also strongly typed, which prevents you from mixing different data types and causing compilation problems.
To demonstrate this, consider the difference between a class declaration with a constructor in Python and PHP. Classes are the fundamental building blocks of object-oriented programming (OOP).
example
In Python, you can declare a class by writing the following code −
class Cricketer: def __init__(self, playername, team): self.playername = playername self.team = team cricketerObj = Cricketer("Ms.Dhoni", "India") print(cricketerObj.team)copy
output
Indiacopy
In Python, indentation (space/tab at the beginning of a line) is used to define code blocks and for readability. It is required to help you create properly indented code.
.PHP
example
In PHP, you can declare a class by writing the following code −
<？php 类板球运动员 { 公共$playername; 公共$team; 函数 __construct（$playername， $team） { $this->玩家名 = $playername; $this->团队 = $team; } } $cricketerObj = 新板球运动员（“Ms.Dhoni”， “India”）; 印刷$cricketerObj>团队; ？>copy
output
Indiacopy
Each line of code is enclosed in braces. Good indentation is optional, it is used only for readability.
Python has a large and supportive developer community that is constantly adding new libraries and features. The official repository PYPI contains a large number of excellent Python packages and libraries.
Python also includes excellent frameworks such as Django and Flask. They are easy to grasp and well documented.
Don't worry about your career opportunities! Python offers a wide range of professional pathways, from software developer to ethical hacker. According to ZipRecruiter, the national average salary for a Python developer in the US is $111,601 per year.
.PHP
PHP doesn't have the same reputation as Python. Although PHP is very simple to learn and understand, it is not an ideal first programming language due to inconsistencies in syntax and general architecture. It's also the loose type and occasionally unpredictable, which leads to bad habits.
Having said that, PHP has one of the most active development communities. The Internet's resources (documents, podcasts, forums, etc.) are unlimited. This is a huge benefit for beginners. Despite the strong disapproval of RASMUS, PHP offers excellent frameworks such as Laravel and Symfony.
Another great thing about PHP is that running PHP applications is so easy! You can do this in your local environment using AWESOME XAMPP. If you want to run it online, all you have to do is upload your PHP files to a PHP host like BLUEHOST without installing anything.
Career options are fairly limited; most of them are in web development. According to ZipRecruiter, the national average salary for a PHP developer in the US is $86,003 per year. That's a little less than a Python developer.
On the other hand, using PHP can teach you the basics of web building. This could be an excellent choice if you want a career in web development.
Which should I learn: Python or PHP?
Both languages Python and PHP have advantages and disadvantages. Both are very popular and have thriving development communities. However, I prefer Python as a first programming language because of its emphasis on excellent coding skills and a wide range of employment options.
Learning Python is better than learning PHP.