Also available in:
Deutsch (German)
Is it better to develop a new web project with PHP or Node.js? Opinions quickly diverge on this question. Both technologies are suitable for implementing web projects in the adult entertainment sector with elements such as streaming or interactions of all kinds. At around 30 years old, PHP is about twice as old as Node.js. But does that mean it is outdated? Anyone seeking advice on this in developer forums will quickly come to the conclusion that it is a matter of opinion. And this is not entirely wrong. Nevertheless, there are concrete criteria that can be used to determine the respective advantages and disadvantages. But first things first.
What exactly is Node.js?
Node.js is a server-side runtime environment for JavaScript that allows JavaScript code to be executed on a server outside of a web browser. It allows developers to use JavaScript on the server to program web servers, APIs, database accesses and other backend functions. Node.js works with an event loop and a non-blocking (asynchronous) I/O architecture. This means that it can process many tasks simultaneously without having to wait for one task to be completed. This makes Node.js particularly efficient for applications that have to process many simultaneous connections or data requests (e.g. chats, real-time games, streaming).
And how does PHP work?
PHP, on the other hand, is inherently a server-side scripting language used to create dynamic websites and web applications. The PHP interpreter reads the PHP code and executes it. This allows database queries, calculations, file accesses or other server-side operations to be performed. PHP can be embedded directly into HTML files by writing the PHP code between tags. This allows static content to be combined with dynamic elements.
Gegenüberstellung
Both technologies are current and are being actively developed. PHP is by no means outdated and is very well suited for many use cases. Node.js, on the other hand, offers advantages for modern, scalable and real-time applications.
| Aspect | Node.js | PHP |
|---|---|---|
| Language | JavaScript (or TypeScript) | PHP |
| Architecture | Event-driven, asynchronous, non-blocking | Synchronous, traditionally blocking (asynchronous approaches are also available from PHP 8 onwards, but are not as widespread) |
| Performance | Excellent for I/O-intensive, real-time and scalable applications | Good performance, especially with PHP 7/8 and OPcache; rather synchronous |
| Ecosystem | Huge npm ecosystem, many modern frameworks (Express, NestJS, Next.js) | Extensive ecosystem with frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony, WordPress, Drupal |
| language ecosystem | Uniform language for front end & back end (JavaScript) | Server-side language, front end mostly in JavaScript, separate languages |
| developer productivity | Very flexible, modern tooling, modularity, but often requires more setup | Quick to get started, lots of ready-made CMS and frameworks, simple deployment processes |
| Hosting & Deployment | Requires Node.js-enabled servers or containers (Docker, Cloud) | Very common, inexpensive shared hosting, easy installation |
| real-time applications | Ideal for websockets, chats, streaming, APIs with high load | Possible, but less efficient and less common |
| Community & Support | Very active, growing rapidly, many new tools and best practices | Large, established community with a lot of legacy code and stable solutions |
| learning curve | Easy for JavaScript developers, otherwise possibly steep | Easy for web developers, lots of tutorials and resources |
| Typical use cases | SPAs, microservices, real-time apps, APIs, server-side rendering | Content websites, CMS, classic web applications, e-commerce |
| scalability | Very good thanks to asynchronous architecture and microservices | Good, but often scaled vertically; horizontal scaling is possible but more complex. |
| Debugging & Testing | Modern tools, integrated debuggers, unit and integration tests well supported | Good tools available, but some are less modern than the Node.js toolchain. |
Node.js is particularly well suited for modern, scalable web applications that require real-time interactions and a unified language in the front and back end. It is ideal for microservices, API-first architectures and SPAs.
PHP remains a solid choice for classic web applications, content management systems and projects that rely on proven frameworks and affordable hosting. With modern frameworks such as Laravel, PHP is also well equipped for demanding applications.
Dependence on developers
Anyone commissioning a web project today must take particular care to keep dependence on the respective developments as low as possible. But what is the best way to achieve this? Many existing PHP projects are legacy code that is difficult to maintain and often only understood by experienced developers. This can lead to greater dependence on specific developers. Modern Node.js projects, on the other hand, are often more modular and use modern development practices, which can reduce dependence on individual developers. However, the rapid development of the ecosystem can also lead to dependencies on certain packages and their maintainers.
WordPress-based projects rely on PHP
Many projects today are implemented using Word Press as a basis. Building on this, developers programme individual plugins that address specific requirements. The choice here is relatively simple: WordPress itself is based entirely on PHP, so the plugins must also be implemented in this language. In principle, it would also be possible to integrate tools developed in Node.js, but that would be somewhat counterproductive.
Future-proof with Node.js?
The situation is completely different when it comes to a completely new and proprietary development. Here, Node.js once again shows its strengths. It is a powerful, scalable and flexible platform that is particularly well suited for real-time features, rapid development and full-stack JavaScript projects. These characteristics are particularly advantageous in the adult entertainment sector, where interactive, media-intensive and data protection-critical applications are often required.
Conclusion
As is so often the case, there is no universal answer or fundamentally better technology here either. Ultimately, individual circumstances such as the availability of the respective developers and specific requirements determine the right path to take. However, scalability and the performance that can be achieved with it play a decisive role, at least in successful projects with high traffic. In many cases, the arguments in favour of Node.js may outweigh those against it. However, anyone building niche websites based on WordPress, for example, will continue to use PHP.
