Hypertext Preprocessor, otherwise known as PHP is a server side programming language that software developers use to create different kinds of web page content. This open source language works well with Linux based systems. ASP or Active Server Pages is another client side programming language that works with Windows based applications. Though ASP is somewhat similar to PHP in programming, it is a bit more advanced. But as with any other things, there are pros and cons on the usage of both PHP and AHP.
PHP coding is more widespread than ASP, mainly because it has been around for too long. But both are dynamic and will help you to generate web pages according to each client’s needs and requirements.
Users of PHP coding emphasis that there are as many weaknesses with PHP as there are strengths too.
Here are the Pros and Cons of PHP.
PHP is quick, easy and manages your databases, images, files, audio and video remarkably well. It offers extensive database support and since the syntax used with PHP is quite similar to other server side programming languages, it is easy to learn and apply. You get a lot of free products and free support once you make use of PHP coding. PHP is readily available to many people because you can use it with apache web server. Because of the speed of PHP, you can easily use a compiler with the language and create an excellent interface. Another big advantage of PHP is that the language is quite easy to learn irrespective of the fact that you are a developer or a non-developer. But often it has been proved that this blessing has turned to be a curse too.
The disadvantage of PHP is its low barrier entry. It makes it the perfect haven for hackers and its easy language feature often turns against itself. The language ceases to be a dynamic one after it completes a webpage which is very much unlike ASP. PHP however dynamic it may be has many problems if you are trying to incorporate it into a Windows infrastructure.
Here are the Pros and Cons of ASP.
The biggest advantage of ASP is its performance factor. Even before you begin the coding you are able to compile a lot of activities like automatic memory management, almost real time compilation, amazing caching services, run time profiling and so on. ASP programming language is designed for quick database integration and management.
The disadvantage of ASP is that it is considerably slower than PHP and this turns many developers off. However, the flexibility of ASP is remarkable since you can decide on the language you want to create the programming in. It is flawlessly accessible from internet and offers superior tool support. But there is another thing that works against ASP and it is the cost of running the programs. You need to install IIS platform on Windows before you can get it running and it doesn’t come cheap. Also it doesn’t have any additional features like encryption mechanisms, email from webpage, FTP like in PHP and you will have to buy them for a price. Though ASP is language independent, you will have to master a lot of syntaxes before you get familiar with it.