.NET and Java are currently dominating the world as the latest web development technologies.

When someone needs to develop a web application, they often lean towards these well-known choices.

But have you ever wondered – What else can be chosen?

It’s great that these technologies are available, but what if you need something different?

Well, there is another choice available when it comes to finding technology for website development – and that’ PHP!

But do you ever get confused about what technology should you choose for what project requirements?

To help you clear some air (at least for PHP), we in this blog will be covering some strengths of the tech that make PHP a suitable choice.

Also, we will be sharing what business requirements should you choose PHP for web development.

As a software development company, when we encounter a new requirement, we don’t simply jump on board.

We choose the suitable tech while analyzing its capability to scale, and then we carefully weigh the pros and cons.

We prefer to test and evaluate it rigorously through intense QA testing to ensure its robustness.

But it doesn’t end there.

Technologies undergo testing on multiple parameters before they are deemed suitable for public use.

PHP is one such tested technology that has been around for a long time and has powered many business applications.

Want to know about PHP’s origin? – Read here!

If you are wondering why PHP is not that discussed technology like others, you must know something…

It actually has become quite popular these days – and all for a good reason!

So, what’s making PHP popular these days?

Let’s get to know them first…

There are reasons why PHP was not able to gain sudden popularity in its initial times, some of them are;

• • Earlier Security Concerns – Older versions of PHP did have some security vulnerabilities. However, the language and frameworks have addressed many of these issues.
• • Limited Scalability for Complex Applications – While frameworks have improved scalability, some complex enterprise applications might find other languages like Java or .NET more suitable for very high-performance needs.
• • Steeper Learning Curve Compared to Simpler Languages – Though easier than some languages, PHP has a slightly steeper learning curve compared to very beginner-friendly options like Python.

But since its initial release and until now let’s just say – PHP has matured and adapted, addressing some of its past shortcomings and finding a strong niche in the web development landscape.

Let’s look into some of the advanced attributes which made PHP not just a developer’s choice but also a good choice for website and application development.

PHP has been around for over 25 years, powering some of the biggest websites (e.g., Facebook). This maturity has made PHP a stable and well-tested language with a vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks.

Being an open-source technology, PHP offers a significant advantage as no licensing fees.

Additionally, hosting services for PHP are generally affordable, making it an economical choice for both small businesses and large enterprises and the large developer pool often leads to lower development costs compared to some newer languages.

While not the absolute best in raw performance, the tech has undergone optimizations that make PHP suitable for most web applications. Frameworks like Laravel offer features for performance enhancement.

Read About – Features and functionalities of Laravel that help speed up Enterprise App Development?

Newer versions of PHP prioritize security features and best practices. Developers have more tools and resources to combat vulnerabilities compared to earlier days.

PHP can handle various web development projects, from simple scripts to complex applications. Its flexibility allows it to adapt to diverse needs.

PHP has a massive, active community that contributes to a wealth of resources, including documentation, forums, and open-source projects. This community support ensures that developers can find solutions to problems, share knowledge, and continuously improve their skills.

And because of the diverse talent available across the globe, one can find local talent as well as leverage the best development talent from the world through Outsourcing.

Team PHP has provided many great features and tools to its worldwide users, and all cannot be mentioned in this blog!

But you can certainly click the link above and get to know all the latest that is happening in the world of PHP!

Now coming back to what you as someone who read the title want to know –

When and why to choose PHP if you have a business application to be developed?

Let’s start by answering with why!

Let us give you some of the best reasons why you should consider PHP for web development. Empowered by these robust features, building a business website or an application using PHP becomes much more convenient and faster.

PHP has numerous frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter, and Zend that streamline development by providing structured and reusable code. These frameworks come with built-in tools and libraries that simplify common tasks such as authentication, routing, and database management.

Benefit – Using frameworks can accelerate development, enhance code quality, and enforce best practices.

PHP is compatible with all major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS. It can also work seamlessly with various web servers, such as Apache and Nginx, and databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite.

Benefit – This versatility allows developers to choose the best combination of tools and platforms for their specific project needs, enhancing flexibility and scalability.

Modern PHP frameworks and the PHP language itself include robust security features to protect against common threats like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF). Regular updates and a proactive approach to security help maintain the integrity of PHP applications.

Benefit – Strong security measures ensure the safety of sensitive data and build trust with users.

PHP scripts are executed on the server side, which allows for fast processing and delivery of web pages. The language has been optimized over the years to enhance performance, and PHP 7 brought significant improvements in speed and memory usage.

Benefit – Faster execution times lead to better user experiences and can handle high-traffic loads efficiently.

PHP offers a vast array of built-in functions that make it easy to perform common tasks. These functions cover everything from string manipulation and array handling to date and time operations and file management.

Benefit – Developers can leverage these functions to quickly implement functionality without writing custom code from scratch, saving time and reducing errors.

PHP supports a wide range of databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, and SQL Server. This database flexibility allows developers to choose the best storage solution for their specific needs.

Benefit: The ability to easily connect and interact with various databases makes PHP highly versatile for different types of applications and data management tasks.

PHP uses a dynamic typing system, which means variables do not require explicit type declaration. The language can automatically determine the data type based on the context.

Benefit – This flexibility can speed up development by reducing the amount of boilerplate code needed and making the codebase more adaptable to changes.

PHP can easily create and consume RESTful APIs, making it suitable for modern web applications that require interaction with other services and applications. Libraries and frameworks like Guzzle and Laravel make API integration even simpler.

Benefit – Facilitates the development of scalable and maintainable applications that can interact with third-party services, enhancing functionality and user experience.

These are just a few merits that PHP has to offer – but the list is pretty long and needs to be discussed with PHP Experts who have worked on diverse PHP web development projects.

Now let’s move on to learn for what website development requirements you should choose PHP as technology.

PHP is a great choice for modern application development – but not for all types of business and application needs!

In the technical world, many people try to find that – “One Size Fits All” kind of formula – but unfortunately it doesn’t exist!

And the same applies to PHP – let’s take a look – for what and when you should choose PHP?

PHP’s ease of use and cost-effectiveness make it an excellent choice for small to medium-sized web applications. These applications typically do not require the extensive resources and infrastructure needed for enterprise-level solutions.

Use Cases – Suitable for small businesses, personal projects, and non-profits looking to develop functional, budget-friendly web applications.

Using PHP for website development is particularly well-suited for the requirements of content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, which are built on PHP. These platforms make it easy to create, manage, and publish content without extensive coding.

Use Cases – Ideal for blogs, news sites, and company websites that require regular content updates and user interaction.

Many popular e-commerce solutions, such as Magento, WooCommerce, and PrestaShop, are built using PHP. These platforms provide robust features for managing products, orders, and payments.

Use Cases – Suitable for online stores and marketplaces where flexibility and customization are essential for handling complex e-commerce operations.

PHP is highly customizable, making it suitable for custom web app development tailored to specific business needs. The language’s flexibility allows developers to create unique functionalities and features.

Use Cases – Ideal for businesses requiring unique applications that address specific challenges and workflows not covered by off-the-shelf solutions.

PHP’s simplicity and the availability of numerous frameworks enable quick development and prototyping. This is particularly beneficial in agile development environments where speed and iteration are crucial.

Use Cases – Perfect for startups and projects with tight deadlines that require rapid development cycles and quick market entry.

PHP’s flexibility allows it to integrate with various legacy systems and databases. This makes it a good choice for businesses looking to modernize their existing infrastructure without a complete overhaul.

Use Cases – Beneficial for enterprises needing to update and enhance their legacy applications while preserving existing investments.

With that, we come to the end of this mini-guide, which is still long enough for someone who needs quick info!

But we can’t help ourselves because, as a PHP website development company, we have a lot to tell you about this fun technology that can do wonders if chosen!

Personally, we have built many solutions with this technology!

We hope we were able to address some of your basic doubts with this guide and that you have clarity on what application development needs you should consider PHP for!