Difference and Similarities between PHP and C
Last Updated :
19 Apr, 2023
PHP is a server-side scripting language designed specifically for web development. It can be easily embedded in HTML files and HTML codes can also be written in a PHP file. The thing that differentiates PHP from a client-side language like HTML is, PHP codes are executed on the server whereas HTML codes are directly rendered on the browser. C is a procedural programming language. It was initially developed by Dennis Ritchie as a system programming language to write an operating system. The main features of C language include low-level access to memory, a simple set of keywords, and a clean style, these features make C language suitable for system programmings like an operating system or compiler development.
Similarities between PHP and C
Parameters |
Similarities |
Syntax |
- Code is not sensitive to blanks.
- Semicolons are used for terminating a sentence.
- Functions are called in a similar fashion.
- Curly brackets are used for enclosing code in a block.
- C and C++ comment style is supported by PHP.
|
Operators |
All types of operators in C behave in a similar way in PHP, such as basic arithmetic, boolean, assignment, and comparison operators. |
Control Structure |
- The primary control structures such as, if-else, while, for, do-while, etc function in a similar way in both languages.
- Break and continue are available in both PHP and C.
- The switch is also the same, except that in PHP strings are also accepted as case identifiers.
|
Function prototype |
The user defines functions that are named in the same way in both languages. |
Supported platforms |
Windows, MacOS, Linux. |
Differences between PHP and C
Sl. No. |
Parameters |
PHP |
C |
1. |
Developed |
Developed by the PHP Group, PHP was first made available in 1994. |
In 1972, Denis Ritchie developed the computer language C in the Bell Labs at AT&T. |
2. |
Data types |
PHP has only two numerical data types:
- integer(can be compared to long in C)
- double(can be compared to double in C)
Strings are of random length and there is no character data type available in PHP.
|
C has:
- Primary data types(such as int, double, float, char, void, etc.)
- Derived data types(array, structure, union and pointer)
|
3. |
Type Conversion |
Data types are not checked during compile-time and data type errors are rare to occur. Values and variables are automatically cast into the suitable data type. |
In C variables are declared with data types. While some data types have an implicit conversion, others need to be type-casted. Data type error occurs in C commonly and should be taken care of. |
4. |
Array |
Superficially they look similar to arrays in C.
- Array need not be allocated or declared in advance.
- The indexes can be opted by user- string or a number.
- They are used for hashing and are known as associative arrays.
|
- The array needs to be allocated or declared in advance.
- Their data types and memory allocation is done before they are used in the code.
- The indexes can be only numbers starting from 0.
|
5. |
Structure |
No structure type is needed because of the array and objects. |
Structure type exists in C. |
6. |
Prototypes |
There is no prototype in PHP because the function is not required to be declared before its implementation. |
There are prototypes in C because the function is required to be declared before its implementation. |
7. |
Permissiveness |
PHP is a lot more lenient when compared to C. More than errors there are unexpected results from making new mistakes. |
C will give errors if the data type is not declared, the array size is not declared, etc. Comparing it to PHP it is a little stricter. |
8. |
Purpose |
It is a server-side language. |
It is a procedural programming language. |
9. |
HTML Connectivity |
Can be merged with an HTML file. |
Cannot be merged with an HTML file. |
10. |
Supported OS |
Windows, FreeBSD, Linux, Mac OSX, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and RISC OS |
Windows, MacOS, Linux, Embedded systems, and mobile devices |
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