Node.js VS PHP — Which one should you choose?

The basic difference between PHP and Node.js is that PHP is a programming language and Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment based on the Chrome V8 engine.

Node.js VS PHP, which side can win this war depends on the type of website you build. For example, if you want to build a real-time chat application, then it would be wise to choose Node.js as it can easily handle a large number of client requests. However, this does not mean that PHP cannot be used. Please watch the Node.js video tutorial and PHP video tutorial before deciding who to use to build your website.

【Recommended Reading: Node.js Video Tutorial】

【Recommended Reading: Introduction to PHP Programming】

1. Performance

In terms of performance, Node.js clearly wins this one One round. Since Node.js follows an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model, Node.js is able to handle a large number of server requests compared to traditional backend technologies. PHP follows a blocking model where multiple threads are created on the server side to handle multiple client requests, which can lead to high server load and response time if the code is not optimized.

2. Hosting and Deployment

PHP applications can run on any server including Nginx and Apache as well as Windows and Linux platforms, which makes the deployment process easier, while Node.js, you need to have Virtual server with SSH access. Therefore, it would be better to deploy small business and personal applications with PHP without any knowledge of console commands and Secure Shell (SSH).

3. External dependencies

Node.js has fewer dependencies, and you can set up a web server with just a few lines of code. But to run PHP applications, external server software is required. Developers working with Node.js only need NPM (Node Package Manager) to download Node modules, which can be easily integrated into applications to provide additional functionality.

4. CPU Scaling Tasks

Node.js may excel at high throughput, but when applications are heavy and require a lot of CPU work, Node.js definitely falls short. In this case, PHP is best suited for the backend of the web application.

5. Single Page Application

If you have used Gmail, then you probably know what a Single Page Application is. A specific portion of a web page that a web application loads on the initial client request and then refreshes based on the client request. The combination of Node.js and AngularJS is a perfect solution for developing single-page applications.

6. Development Environment

Node.js can be used for desktop application development (Windows, Linux and Mac), mobile application development (hybrid and cross-platform applications), and even building console-based applications. While some can also develop using PHP, most developers don't.

7. Community support

Since PHP was born nearly 20 years earlier than Node.js, it has richer online resources such as documentation, APIs and code libraries. So there's a good chance that someone else has also tried what you're trying to accomplish with code and gotten help. On the other hand, although Node.js has received widespread attention from developers and organizations, it lacks resources to support developer development.

8. Learning Curve

Writing Node.js code is not an easy task for novices or even professional JavaScript developers as they need to understand some complex concepts like web workers and callbacks before getting started function. On the contrary, PHP is a very user-friendly programming language for newbies in developing web applications.

The results of the Node.js and PHP battle are mutually reinforcing, as both technologies have their own pros and cons. This is mostly a similar situation when comparing or choosing other technologies for web, desktop and mobile development. Node.js has a future and will definitely occupy a part of the PHP market, but it cannot completely replace PHP.

In the battle between Node.js and PHP, who do you prefer?