PHP and HTML
Both of these languages are used today in developing web applications, but their use cases do differ significantly. As a PHP web development company, we are often asked which one is the best to use. For what it’s worth, the best option on which is better may surprise you. More on that later on down below!
HTML is generally one of the first languages that almost every programmer-to-be will learn. This markup language is very beginner-friendly, with a ton of resources and tutorials available. It is seen as the foundation language of all web development. Think of HTML as the glue responsible for keeping the main structure of a website – elements, attributes, and other components – held together.
PHP, on the other hand, is the most popular, leading back-end language for handling the server-side of websites. If you compared code to code, PHP will reach a whole different level of complexity concerning syntax, learning curve and the overall conventions of the language.
Read Also, Updating Your Website to PHP 7.3: Everything You Need to Know
Taking a Look at HTML
When it comes to front-end web development, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript form the iconic trio used to code pages. Think of these three as great friends hanging out in your browser and determining how your website looks to your users and viewers. Now along comes PHP acts like the weird kid on the block, you are forced to play with PHP to be nice. Why would you have to play with PHP? Well, this language has many quirks that work best for your page over and above the iconic trio.
It should be noted that while the iconic trio hangs around in the browser, for the most part, PHP spends its time on the server-side of things. As you can see, they work in two very different environments.
HTML files contain instructions on how the components of a webpage should be displayed. Content can be divided into lists and creating tables; you can also mark quotes and add footnotes etc. The browser then receives and follows these instructions.
So, where does PHP fit in here? Well the nice part about HTML is that you can add “PHP tags” in the HTML code to run more options for the page not normally available using only the iconic trio.
Now, Let’s Look at PHP
PHP is a scripting language providing instructions for the servers to interpret when it comes time to run the code. It is the most popular of server-side web development languages.
Some standard use cases of PHP can be for example, when turning static web pages into dynamic ones, meaning that some part(s) of the webpage updated without reloading the entire page. Frameworks such as Laravel and Symfony are primarily used now to handle PHP code rather than using just raw PHP to manually program the back-end.
Main Differences Between PHP vs. HTML
It is important to remember that while HTML handles the front-end development (the browser), PHP delivers on the backend (running on servers). PHP pretty much handles the way your website works.
For example, let’s say there is a login menu on your website. You will be using HTML and CSS to create and stylize the site. However, when it some time to check the validity of inputted credentials and if they exist and are correct, PHP will be needed. Once the credentials have been sent over to the server from the browser. PHP will output response by allowing access to the website or rejecting the login attempt as incorrect.
Also Read, 8 Best PHP Frameworks for Web Projects
Final Thoughts
Simply put, HTML and PHP are two very different languages with two very different roles to play in web development. It is not just a mere matter of choosing one over the other for the most part. It is more-so the fact that the two are necessary if you want to create a functional and successful website. HTML will do a great job of helping you build the structure of your website and PHP will make your website dynamic and feature-rich!!
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