9 Reasons to Use PHP in Web Development (Pros & Benefits)

PHP (short for Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server-side scripting language widely used in web development. PHP applications run on a web server, independent of the user's browser.

Over the years, PHP has evolved beyond its original purpose and has become one of the most popular programming languages for building websites and web applications. According to the Programming Language Popularity Index (PYPL), PHP currently ranks 5th worldwide.

PHP stands out for its efficiency, scalability, and strong community support, making web development faster and more convenient.

What Is PHP Used For?

PHP is primarily used for web development, particularly for building backends of web applications. Initially, PHP focused on creating dynamic websites, but today, it is widely used in various fields, including:

• Web Application Development – Building backends for websites and Content Management Systems (CMS).
• Desktop Applications – While not as common as other specialized languages, PHP can be used for desktop software development.
• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) – Since PHP 5, the language has supported OOP, increasing flexibility and code scalability.
• Integration with Other Languages – PHP can work with C/C++ for extending functionality and integrate with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to build full-featured web applications.

Real-World Examples of PHP Applications

Two of the most popular platforms built with PHP are:

✅ WordPress – The world’s most widely used Content Management System (CMS), powering around 48% of all CMS-based websites. It offers a vast plugin ecosystem, supporting diverse website types, from blogs to e-commerce stores and news portals.

✅ Facebook – While Facebook has transitioned some components to newer technologies, PHP remains an integral part of its core functionalities.

Additionally, PHP has powerful frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony, Zend Framework, and Yii, which accelerate web development by providing pre-built tools and libraries.

Advantages of PHP

PHP is a popular choice due to its numerous advantages over other programming languages. Here are 9 key reasons why PHP remains a top choice for web development:

1. Large Developer Community

PHP has a vast community of experienced developers, making it easier and more affordable for businesses to hire PHP developers.

2. Extensive Documentation & Learning Resources

PHP offers comprehensive documentation, books, and forums, helping developers quickly learn and troubleshoot issues.

3. High Performance & Fast Page Load Speed

PHP processes requests faster than many other languages. In certain scenarios, PHP runs three times faster than Python, improving SEO and user experience.

4. Support for Multiple Databases

PHP is compatible with various database management systems, including:

✅ MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MS SQL

✅ NoSQL databases like MongoDB, Redis

5. Open Source & Cost-Effective

PHP is completely free, reducing development costs significantly. Many PHP-related tools and frameworks are also open source, saving time and budget.

6. Affordable Web Hosting Services

Most hosting providers support PHP, particularly LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP), making infrastructure costs lower.

7. Easy Integration with HTML

PHP can be embedded directly into HTML, allowing developers to mix both technologies without requiring additional tools.

8. High Flexibility & Compatibility

PHP runs on multiple operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS) and integrates with various technologies, enhancing application scalability.

9. Cloud Computing Support

PHP integrates well with cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, enhancing flexibility and scalability.

Disadvantages of PHP

Despite its advantages, PHP has some limitations that can impact its long-term viability:

1. Declining Popularity

Although PHP still holds a significant market share, newer languages like Python and JavaScript are attracting more developers, potentially reducing the availability of PHP experts in the future.

2. Limited Libraries for Modern Technologies

PHP lacks robust libraries for emerging fields like:

❌ Artificial Intelligence (AI)

❌ Machine Learning (ML)

❌ Big Data Processing

This makes it less competitive than Python in these areas.

3. Security Concerns

Since PHP is open source, security vulnerabilities may be exploited if not updated regularly. Additionally, PHP’s low entry barrier means many new developers make security mistakes.

However, PHP applications developed by experienced teams following security best practices can effectively mitigate these risks.

The Future of PHP

PHP remains one of the most widely used web development languages, largely due to WordPress and CMS platforms.

However, the rise of Python and JavaScript could impact PHP’s market share, particularly in high-performance fields like AI, Big Data, and ML. To stay competitive, PHP must enhance performance and features in upcoming versions.

Conclusion: Is PHP Still Worth Using?

Based on the analysis, PHP remains a great choice for web development due to:

✅ Large developer community – Easy to find skilled professionals.

✅ Easy to learn – Extensive documentation available.

✅ Flexible & integrates with other technologies.

✅ Open source & cost-effective.

✅ Faster than Python in many web-related scenarios.

If you're looking for an optimal web development solution but are unsure about the right technology, feel free to contact us. Our team of experts will help you choose the most suitable technology for your needs and build a high-quality web solution. At the same time, we are actively recruiting skilled PHP developers for large-scale web projects.