ASP and PHP represent different options for programming websites, and have overlapping strengths, but also some distinct differences. ASP, or Active Server Pages, is represented by ASP.NET at present, while PHP, or Hypertext Preprocessor, offers less of a defined framework and a more flexible programming language. ASP is Microsoft’s proprietary framework for designing dynamic looking websites, and uses a native .NET language and MVC controllers when building sites. PHP is open source, and designed for use with different platforms, OS’s, and Linux servers.
ASP uses Microsoft’s SQL database and a Visual Basic syntax, while PHP is more driven by MySQL. PHP is also run around interpretive implementation, with ASP using compiled implementation that relies on setting up an executable machine run for commands before they load for users. Both platforms, however, use server side architectures, and produce HTML outputs, so don’t necessarily look different to users. The differences that you have to weigh up between the two platforms instead comes down to your preference for Windows or open source options, as well as to some slight changes in terms of speed and functionality, and the type of site that you want.
Benefits of ASP
Going with ASP makes sense if you’re used to Microsoft, and already have registrations with the company in terms of servers and other software. Programming a site using ASP for a Microsoft server means that you can use a pre-existing framework to write applications and handle objects, while being able to use an MVC controller for quicker adding of elements. The dynamic site that you produce will therefore benefit from features that are tailored for use with .NET and Microsoft Exchange servers.
Hosting costs beyond being registered for Windows will not be significantly different from if you’re using a Linux server, and largely comes down to whether you have a pre-existing Microsoft connection. In some cases, using ASP will result in a slightly faster speed in loading sites, which is due to compiled implementation, rather than interpretation – this performance difference is negligible, however. The simplicity of running HTML through the server also means that it’s possible to quickly and easily generate new code and applications within a Windows framework.
By comparison, PHP has the core benefit of being open source and free, meaning that you won’t have to register with Windows or take on additional costs. PHP is also compatible across multiple servers and operating systems, and has a thriving community of users able to provide tutorials and editors. This open framework makes sense when you consider that many of the world’s top websites, including Google, Facebook, and Wikipedia, use PHP. Moreover, as PHP is more of a custom language, rather than a more open web design framework, there’s more room for flexibility and hands on coding, making it better for using different databases.
PHP can consequently be a good option for small businesses that don’t want to make a commitment to Microsoft, and gives designers a more flexible set of tools. In terms of development time for new sites, ASP generally takes longer due to having more complex coding features. As previously noted, the performance of either can range due to differences between interpreting and compiled implementations, but not to a significant degree.’
The main decision to make, then, arguably comes down to whether you want to make use of Microsoft’s well designed, but proprietary framework, or PHP’s open source flexibility. Outputs and the look of a site will be more or less the same, and an expert developer can make PHP work with a greater attention to individual coding details. If you want simplicity, however, then ASP.Net gives you an established framework that can produce consistent results.