Comparing And Contrasting Java & PHP – How Easy It Is To Learn One Or The Other

For the past year I have been programming in Java, through an AP course, and I have learned a good majority of the language by this point, which I will be using next year during my AP computer science course. The majority of what Java is used for is primarily Software development via Windows, Linux, etc, and sometimes Websites, and other browsers miscellaneous are also used with Java. PHP is a primarily internet-based scripting language, most widely known as the language for WordPress, hence why I know a good portion of PHP.

Data Storing

PHP is also used for storing Data tied in with SQL, and to edit certain performance functions of how websites run, such as cache, emailing memory, and storage. Despite the similar-sounding names, Java and Javascript have a less significant lexical similarity compared to PHP, although I cannot confirm the validity of how similar Java and Javascript are. Javascript is primarily used solely for content that dynamically changes in value on HTML pages. Java isn’t used as frequently for data storing purposes, as PHP or SQL would, but it can still be effectively implemented in the same whether it be through user input or scanning for certain information on a document.

One similarity between Java and PHP is for loops, are used to iterate through certain segments of data. Most commonly used in arrays. In both coding languages, loops are written almost the same exact way. They are written like: for ($var = 0; x <= 5; $x++) and for java, it is the same concept. the for statement, then the new int declaration, for the loop border, then the increment.for (int i = 0; x >= var.length; x++)

I do find that arrays and even the ArrayList import package are a bit easier to configure compared to PHP. Or at least in the way you can read, and write them out. For example, int[] arr = new int{3}; and ArrayList<String> list = new ArrayList<String>(); are a bit easier to use, especially if you need to add extra data to the set, you can use .add in ArrayLists. In PHP, you can add values to an array with an array_pad method, but it copies the entire array, specified by length and value.

Also, if we talk about insertion or selection sort methods in arrays, Java has ways that it can excel in this field that PHP cannot, at least in terms of overall efficiency.

If And else Statements

If{} statements are also formatted the same way, as one segment of code is granted to be true if the original condition is true. The only difference is the $ sign variable which is unique to PHP, and a few other coding languages outside of java. Another similarity is classes, although in PHP you do not always need to make a new class for each project you make, compared to Java, where you need at least a main method,  and a few other class methods if you so need.

A big difference between the two languages is Java has far more flexibility in terms of open source programs, as PHP is more or less a scripting language for the internet. But that doesn’t mean PHP isn’t flexible with different aspects, especially with web development. Both Java and PHP have the same memory limit, which is 256 MB, so you can host two servers, or extensions, whatever the purpose may be in each language with a very similar purpose. Java and PHP do differ in download speeds, as PHP works more with caching, but you can still work with measuring download speeds, or just simplifying your code in java. But I am sure there are other ways you can integrate Java with the same purpose as PHP.

It isn’t common, but PHP and Java can work together side by side on the same server, or whatever application is in question. But they usually do not serve the same purpose. Usually, with PHP you are going to be accessing your web host’s system console, which can show the terminal code, and the browser output, only what can be edited dynamically on the website, compared to Java which is more on the outside end if used, especially on Windows, or Linux programs which could be used to develop on websites, but it is a lot of the time other integrated concepts.