Choosing the correct language to write your web applications can have severe implications for your application’s speed, performance, and security, as well as the ability to scale and manage it over time.
In contrast, re-writing the code without dedicated research leads to paying for expensive developer hours. The two most common languages used today are PHP and Go. Many find it difficult when the battle is of Go vs. PHP – which one is better suited to their project?
Let’s have a look at each one in turn. Then compare them to analyze which is the best in the battle of Go vs. PHP!
What is Golang?
Source: Statista – Most Used Programming Languages
Go (aka Golang) is a statically-typed language that runs on its runtime and resembles C in syntax. Google developed and released it under an open-source license in 2009, with further development and contributions coming from individuals or companies like Red Hat, Microsoft, Oracle, and IBM.
Go targets systems programming with a focus on simplicity rather than optimization; it has gained popularity as a developer language due to its compiler’s flexibility and extensive standard library.
A quick comparison of similar languages reveals that Go has higher performance than Java but lower performance than NodeJS and Python—it falls somewhere between them in terms of speed.
Pros of Golang
- Golang has a simple syntax, making it easy to learn and understand.
- It compiles quickly, allowing developers to iterate faster than with other languages like C++ or Java.
- Golang’s performance is on par with Java and C++, but without all their complexity and boilerplate code.
- You can use it to build almost anything, from web applications to microservices and even mobile apps (Android or iOS).
- Go is open source, meaning it’s free to use. Moreover, if you want an enterprise-grade version, commercial options are also available (e.g., Google App Engine).
Cons of Golang
- If you need to hire Golang developers, fewer people are available who know how to program in Go than in other languages like C++ or Java.
- The language has some quirks that can make it challenging to learn.
Do you know the top companies using the Golang Language?
Many global brands trust Golang with their website; the notable names are:
- BBC
- Uber
- Medium
- DailyMotion
What is PHP?
Source: Statista – Top Programming Languages
Developed in 1994, PHP is a scripting language used to create web pages. Many content management systems are written in PHP because they’re fast and easy to use. It isn’t used much outside of website development. Still, it’s very popular as a server-side programming language that interacts with databases and delivers pages for websites to display on your browser.
What sets PHP apart from other programming languages is its ease of use and ability to interact with databases. If you want to build a website, it’s one of your best options because developers can use it in conjunction with HTML and CSS, which are also popular web development tools.
It’s been around since 1995 and has millions of users worldwide. WordPress—the most popular CMS on the web—is written in PHP.
Pros of PHP
- PHP is free and open-source, so programmers can use it to create anything from simple web pages to complex e-commerce sites, applications, and even mobile apps.
- It’s a highly readable language, making it easy to debug or troubleshoot code issues.
- It’s a widely used language, meaning plenty of resources are available to help you learn it, including books and online tutorials.
- It’s easy to hire PHP developers who know how to use it, as it has been around since 1995.
- It’s relatively easy to learn and use, making it a good choice if you’re just getting started with web development or have a small team that needs to be able to create websites quickly.
- It’s supported by all major operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Developers can run it on your computer or host it in a cloud environment.
Cons of PHP
- It’s an interpreted language, so every time a script runs, it must be translated from source code into machine code. There’s a limit to how fast that can happen. The more complex your program, and thus its source code, the longer it takes to run and deliver results.
- It’s a weakly typed language, so it doesn’t catch errors as they happen. Instead, it surpasses them when you try to execute a command or reference an object that doesn’t exist.
Which brands have trusted their website with PHP?
Worldwide many global brands are using PHP for their website. To name a few:
- WordPress
- Slack
- Etsy
- Tumblr
- MailChimp
That was all about the critical details of these two programming languages; let us now focus on the detailed comparison of Go vs. PHP.
Comparison Table: Go vs. PHP
| Features | Go | PHP | Winner |
| Popularity | Globally, 18 Million websites are using Golang as a programming language. | Globally, 93 Million websites are using Golang as a programming language. | PHP |
| Speed Performance | Golang is one of the fastest programming languages available out there. | PHP 7 is faster than its predecessors. | Golang |
| Security Standards | It is a highly secured language with data analysis capabilities. | It is also a secured programming language but lacks high-security levels. | Golang |
| Mature Community Support | Community support is available, and you can easily hire Golang developers. | Developed in 1995, PHP has an abundance of mature community support. | PHP |
| Support for Signed and Unsigned Integers | Available | Fails to support unsigned integers | Golang |
| Availability of While Loop | Not available | Available | PHP |
| Global Popularity as per Google Trends | The global average search volume of Golang is around 70 in 2022. | The global average search volume of PHP is around 90 in 2022. | PHP |
Go vs. PHP – Analyzing the project types Golang is ideal for
Golang is very useful for writing lightweight microservices as it’s fast, reliable, and easy to deploy. It’s also an excellent choice for projects that require high concurrency and low latency, like chat apps or online gaming platforms.
If you’re looking to build a REST API, Go might not be your best bet, but if you need to write a server that runs in real-time, Go is worth considering. Developers can use it with other languages like NodeJS or Python if you want to add additional functionality to your web app.
However, Go isn’t ideal for every project—if you want to build an application where performance isn’t critical (like most websites), PHP might be a better option since it tends to run faster than Go on average.
Go vs. PHP – Analyzing the project types PHP is ideal for
For simple, small-scale web development projects, PHP is great. If you’re building a small web app that needs to get up and running quickly, or if you have a database you need to interface with, it’s hard to beat PHP’s price tag and ease of use.
By installing a free server software like XAMPP, PHP web development companies can quickly start writing simple web apps in minutes.
You can also use many frameworks (think WordPress) to build out more complex functionality as your project grows. It’s also possible to deploy free applications on popular hosting platforms like GoDaddy and AWS S3.
Final Takeaways
A few key takeaways can help you decide which language to use in your next web development project. First, know what you’re trying to build and what requirements are involved.
Then, work with a team of developers that specializes in their language of choice. It will make it easier to collaborate and customize as your project develops over time.
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