Why Use PHP? It’s Main Advantages and Disadvantages

PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, or PHP for short, is an open-source, general-purpose language. Despite being nearly three decades old, most organizations hire PHP developers to build websites and webpages of all shapes and sizes – content management systems, eCommerce stores, web applications, you name it.

So much so that this server-side scripting language powers nearly 77.5% of websites! Not just any random websites, PHP is one of the building blocks for leading websites like Facebook, Etsy, WordPress, and Spotify, to name a few. 

Whether you are looking to get into PHP programming or considering hiring a developer for your next project, here is a complete breakdown of the pros and cons of PHP.

Key Features of PHP

Before getting into the advantages and disadvantages of PHP, here is a quick roundup of some of its primary features:

Open Source

PHP is licensed under the Open Source Initiative (OSI), meaning it is open source and publicly accessible. You can program in PHP, use its frameworks, run code, etc., without paying a dime. Download PHP and get started building websites and applications of your choice.

Platform Independent

PHP is platform-independent, making it suitable for every operating system – Unix, Linux, Windows, and Mac. You can even develop your website or application in one environment and run it in another without any hitch. Apart from cross-platform compatibility, PHP is also technology and browser-agnostic.

Object Oriented

Since PHP supports object-oriented programming, it implements the OOP principles of data encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance, and polymorphism. It adds some modularity and reusability to the code. However, note that object-oriented programming became a feature of PHP from version 5 and beyond.

Interpreted

PHP is an interpreted language that does not require compilation into a machine language. The interpreter runs the program line by line, executing each command. As a result, PHP allows dynamic typing, shorter executable code, etc.

Loosely Typed Language

PHP is a loosely typed programming language. This means developers do not have to define the variable type while declaring it. The data type is either attributed or converted at runtime, making this language less strict.

Also Read: Regression Testing Tools for Automated Software Testing

Advantages of PHP

The advantages of PHP include the following.

Free to Use

As mentioned previously, PHP is an open-source language. As a result, you can use the programming language and associated syntax, frameworks, databases, libraries, and every other functionality at no additional cost.

PHP development services offer cost-effective solutions due to PHP being free to use, enabling businesses to build robust web applications without licensing fees, ensuring budget-friendly and scalable development

Ease and Simplicity

PHP is analogous to C, one of the most popular programming languages ever. As a result, programmers who are well-versed in C programming can effortlessly transition to PHP programming (and vice versa). Even if you weren’t familiar with either of the languages, the simple nature, paired with relaxed typing rules, makes the learning curve of PHP fairly easy.

Community Support

PHP enjoys immense popularity, as evidenced by its thriving communities. Such communities offer immense support to developers from all walks of life in resolving issues and improving their skills. The community is also highly active in improving the programming language by suggesting or releasing useful features, contributory libraries, and other assets.

Extensive Library

With PHP, you get access to its extensive and powerful library that contains an assortment of optimized and pre-written code. With such fundamentally strong building blocks readily available and accessible, you can start with tried and tested modules rather than writing everything from scratch. 

Code Reusability

While you can borrow codes from the libraries, you can also use PHP to curate a personalized library of composable, modular, and reusable elements. In doing so, you can use and reuse different yet repeatable components to build more complex applications. 

High Performance

The lightning-fast performance of PHP benchmarks has always been a key highlight of this server-side programming language. Developers can use PHP to improve code responsiveness. These advantages stem from the fact that PHP utilizes its memory more efficiently, enabling faster database connections.

Also Read: CI/CD Tools For Software Development and Delivery

Disadvantages of PHP

The drawbacks of using PHP include the following.

Versatility

Even though the scope of PHP has widened in the past few years, it remains the scripting language for building websites or web applications. However, suppose you are looking to develop solutions that leverage modern, cutting-edge technologies such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. In that case, PHP might not meet your expectations.

Debugging and Error Tracking

One of PHP’s greatest criticisms is its limited debugging tools. Not only that, but these debugging tools are also notorious for glossing over errors during search and track operations. As a result, errors can slip by unnoticed, which can be a pain to fix later. Modern AI coding agents can help identify and fix these errors more efficiently, offering an additional layer of quality assurance for PHP projects.

Core Behavior

PHP is a flexible and scalable language, sure. However, it has a rigid core. Due to this feature, you cannot make any changes to the application’s basic functionality or framework. So, once an application is developed with a specific function in mind, its scope will remain restricted to that particular task.

For those seeking greater adaptability and ease of modification without diving into coding, exploring no-code tools like those offered by WeWeb agency could be a viable alternative.

Security

The open-source nature of PHP makes it less secure. Its ASCII text file is accessible to all; anybody can change it. In contrast, when you hire developers, you gain access to a team skilled in creating secure and visually appealing mobile applications. So, the code you write in PHP will be visible to anyone with basic technical know-how, and they can use it to analyze any bugs or loose ends in your code, which they can exploit.

Competition

Although PHP has remained relevant for 30 years, it cannot compete with newer programming languages. Programming languages like Python offer greater ease, simplicity, and flexibility while following a syntax similar to English. For those looking for a more modern approach, Python development services offer a range of capabilities beyond web development!

Also Read: NippyBox: Is This Secure Cloud Storage Worth It?

Closing Thoughts

PHP has its fair share of highs and lows. It is one of the oldest server-side programming languages, and this legacy programming makes it as common as ever. PHP is fast and highly responsive, which remains a primary performance metric. Community support also tips the scales in favor of PHP. 

Not to mention, the developer’s skills are paramount. To navigate challenges effectively, consider hiring a reliable developer with expertise from a relevant programming certification course to bring your vision to life.

Eventually, it all boils down to the developer’s skills and competencies. So, hire a reliable developer to bring your vision to life.