Technology
PHP and .NET – what is the difference?
PHP and .NET are the two by far largest server technologies on the web globally. They fill the same technical function but differ in many ways. In this article we have compiled everything you need to know about PHP and .NET - basic similarities and differences, how big they are on the market, what they are used for and how it usually goes when choosing between them.
Differences between PHP and .NET
The two largest server technologies on the web globally are PHP and .NET. .NET is backed by Microsoft while PHP is developed as open source by an active community on the web. Of the websites whose underlying server technology can be measured, just over 85% use one of these two. The largest is PHP with 77.8% while .NET is used by 7.3% of websites globally. After that follows a long list of smaller platforms such as Ruby, Java, Scala, Python and ColdFusion, just to name a few.
(Source: https://w3techs.com/)
Technically, PHP and .NET serve the same purpose: basic technology for developing programs that run on a web server. It’s about displaying and storing data on web pages that are generated on the server using code. Often a CMS is used for this. Sometimes you build ordinary websites, sometimes more specific applications such as e‑commerce sites, applications or various forms of digital services.
However, PHP and .NET differ technically. PHP is a scripting language while .NET is a framework in which you can program in several different languages. The most common language is C# (pronounced c-sharp). Around the development environments themselves there is a lot of other technology that usually forms part of the solutions that are built. Since Microsoft stands behind .NET it is most common to use Windows Server (operating system), IIS (web server) and SQL Server (database) when building web solutions. A common technology stack for PHP development is LAMP, which stands for Linux (operating system), Apache (web server), MySQL (database) and PHP (scripting language). That said, you are not locked into these choices. For example, it works perfectly well to run .NET Core on a Linux server or to let PHP store data in SQL Server, just to name a few examples. The reason these stacks are often used is that the combinations are proven and well documented, which makes them stable and easy to configure and develop against.
.NET is generally seen as somewhat more enterprise-oriented than PHP. Microsoft has long held a strong position among large and medium-sized companies and it is therefore natural that they also lean on Microsoft when it comes to web technology. .NET has a strong focus on security and functionality and is generally regarded as "more structured". PHP, in turn, has broader adoption and is very common among private individuals and small and medium-sized companies. A rich variety of frameworks, products and libraries means you can get "a lot ready quickly" but with the downside that there can be bugs in what you download. PHP has a strong focus on user interfaces.
What determines the choice of server technology
So what ultimately determines which server technology you choose? We would like to deliver a straight and unequivocal answer, but as always there are a variety of factors that decide:
- Starting point in the choice of CMS
It is very common to start by looking at CMSs. What features are available, what does it cost, is there support for the integrations you want to make, etc. If the choice then lands on Optimizely (Digital Experience Platform) or Umbraco, you implicitly choose Microsoft .NET because these two CMSs are built on it. If you choose WordPress or Drupal it automatically becomes PHP because those CMSs are built on that technology. - Starting point in technical preferences
If you already have in‑house developers or partners who are specialized in a particular server technology, you usually choose that one. Starting over from scratch is something you prefer to avoid - unless there are very strong technical or organizational reasons to do so. The exception is usually very old environments where the technology behind them has long since become obsolete and you still need to build something new from the ground up. - Choice based on analysis of technical strengths and weaknesses
Here you let the strictly rational weigh heavily. Many, especially technicians, might think that you should always choose this way. And it should definitely be part of the reasoning, but it cannot be the only criterion you consider. Raw technology is only one of several factors. To get a complete picture you must also weigh other factors such as existing systems, knowledge, costs, schedule and needs. - Choice based on needs relative to cost
This is something you should always look at, just as you always look at size and price when buying clothes. A solution that is too small and simple may be cheap for the moment but not meet needs in the long run. A solution that is too large and complex may encompass too much - even needs you will never have. The key is to find the right level.
The most common CMSs used worldwide
How CMS distribution looks globally
In the introduction to this article we mentioned that PHP is by far the largest with its 77.8%. You might then think that if so many other websites run PHP we should do the same. Unfortunately that's a bit too simplistic if you think that way. If you factor in other aspects such as the website's purpose, size, amount of traffic, possibilities for integration with other systems, performance and security, it's by no means certain that PHP is the best choice.
A major contributing reason that PHP appears so dominant when you only look at the number of websites is that there are an incredible number of small sites; from blogs to small business websites and personal homepages. In that segment PHP is very big, largely due to WordPress and inexpensive Linux-based hosting solutions.
Looking at CMSs the same volumetric dominance applies. Of the 73 million websites (globally) that use some form of CMS, WordPress has a market share of over 40%. The runner-up (Wix) has 7%. However, if you look at large global companies such as Walmart, Apple and Coca-Cola the picture is different. Among the USA's 500 largest companies (Fortune 500) only 17.7% use WordPress. The largest CMS is Adobe Experience Manager (32.6%) followed by Drupal, Sitecore and the aforementioned WordPress, all around 17%.
(Source: The State of the Enterprise Web, Storyblok).
Our technologies at Limetta - both .NET and PHP
We have developers who are primarily specialized in .NET, but who also work with PHP. We have many strong client projects behind us in both technologies using CMSs such as Digital Experience Platform (Episerver), Umbraco and WordPress. We also work with various frameworks and products such as React, Vue, WooCommerce and Laravel.
Our technical breadth enables us to approach technology choices neutrally and focus entirely on needs. We don't really find it very interesting to focus on the technology itself beyond that it should be fit for purpose, stable and allow us to deliver good solutions for our clients. Sometimes the choice falls on PHP, sometimes on .NET.
How the CMS distribution looks in Sweden
Sweden matured early digitally. In connection with that, many local companies and products emerged that have since matured and taken market share both in Scandinavia and Europe. The analysis firm Web Service Award has examined Sweden's websites since 2000. In its annual trend report "How Are Sweden's Websites Doing" it presents statistics about our choices of CMS.
Among just over 400 surveyed Swedish companies, municipalities and organizations, 38% reported that they used Optimizely (which is, however, a lower share than in the 2022 survey when it was 43%). Second was Sitevision with 32% and WordPress came in third with 11% Adobe Experience Manager barely made the list with its measly 1%.
(Source: Report: "How Are Sweden's Websites Doing? - 2023", Web Service Award AB).
Conclusion
The conclusion is that the server technology you choose often depends on which CMS you choose. And which CMS you choose, in turn, depends on the needs you have combined with what the market looks like in the country where you operate. A global Fortune 500 company has entirely different needs than a local electrical contracting firm, just as a municipality's needs differ markedly from a blogger's.
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