Well, like you alluded, JavaScript is executed on the client side, so it would depend on the client. For example, a client on an iPAD wouldn't be able to run those Quake3 HTML5s as smoothly as a client running on a gaming machine. PHP on the other hand runs on the server.

In general, JS is faster considerably than PHP though (on the same hardware);

Here are some [hard figures][1] of tests between the two, to back up my assertion. [JS (query) vs PHP][2] Performance.

[1]: https://benchmarksgame-team.pages.debian.net/benchmarksgame/fastest/php.html [2]: jQuery vs. PHP - Performance Comparison

Answer from Authman Apatira on Stack Overflow
🌐
Programming Language Benchmarks
programming-language-benchmarks.vercel.app › javascript-vs-php
Javascript VS Php benchmarks, Which programming language or compiler is faster
benchmarks,benchmark,performance,binarytrees,coro-prime-sieve,edigits,helloworld,http-server,json-serde,lru,merkletrees,nbody,secp256k1,pidigits,spectral-norm,Javascript,Javascript lang,Php,Php lang
Discussions

PHP is 4x faster than JavaScript!
Faster at what is a pretty important question… More on reddit.com
🌐 r/PHP
24
0
October 16, 2023
Why is JavaScript Often Considered Superior to PHP?
Do you want to start a war? Because this is how you start a war. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/webdev
83
15
December 3, 2023
PHP vs Node.js

Really refreshing to see all the comments here with practical suggestions, and avoiding all the 'x is better than y'.

I'll add that, working in both Europe and North America, PHP is massive in Europe but seems to be more on a steady decline in NA (at least the cities I've worked; Toronto and SF). In Toronto we used to have a big regular PHP meetup, but attendance has dropped over the last 10 years and has been fully cancelled maybe a year or two ago.

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/node
31
15
September 27, 2020
Can i make PHP as fast as Node.js?
It isn't "fake asynchronous". The main difference here: By default, PHP creates a new thread for each request. That can be a little more labor intensive. By contrast, Node.js uses a single thread (a single application instance) for each request (unless run in multi-thread mode). Node.js isn't always faster than PHP. It depends on the script and the machine running the code. A multi-core processor may be faster at running PHP code (as each request is creating a new thread which can run on a different core). Another difference is that, with Node.js, you use a lot of callbacks (or async / await), while PHP is basically one line after another. So, in theory while PHP is processing something at any particular part of the script, Node.js could be pushing more requests into the event loop. Personally, I left PHP behind years ago for Node.js and I never looked back. It is less about how "fast" either is. Both can be fast. It is more about the convenience of using JavaScript on the front end and the back end. I will say that I am more productive building APIs in Node.js than in PHP. Also, things like WebSockets are easier to get started and work with in Node.js. Might just be an opinion though. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/node
69
16
August 7, 2021
People also ask

What's the difference between PHP and JavaScript?
While PHP is easier to learn, for front-end development it's better to choose JavaScript, as PHP is only for server-side development. Another difference is that JavaScript can communicate with databases such as Oracle or MySQL while PHP can't and that makes work a lot more complicated with PHP.
🌐
bitdegree.org
bitdegree.org › home › best learning platforms › guides › php vs. javascript: a thorough comparison
PHP vs JavaScript: What is JavaScript Used For, What is PHP Used For?
What is JQuery?
Worth to notice that JQuery is not a separate programming language. It's rather a library which is filled with additional functions for JavaScript, for example using JQuery saves time while using JavaScript as programmers do not have to write the code themselves.
🌐
bitdegree.org
bitdegree.org › home › best learning platforms › guides › php vs. javascript: a thorough comparison
PHP vs JavaScript: What is JavaScript Used For, What is PHP Used For?
Which aspect is the most important when choosing the best online learning platforms?
It wouldn't be right to pick just one aspect out of the selection: priorities depend on each individual person, their values, wishes, and goals. A feature that's important to one person can be utterly irrelevant to the other. Anyhow, all users would agree that good quality of the learning material is a must for online learning platforms.
🌐
bitdegree.org
bitdegree.org › home › best learning platforms › guides › php vs. javascript: a thorough comparison
PHP vs JavaScript: What is JavaScript Used For, What is PHP Used For?
🌐
BitDegree
bitdegree.org › home › best learning platforms › guides › php vs. javascript: a thorough comparison
PHP vs JavaScript: What is JavaScript Used For, What is PHP Used For?
Creating PHP dynamic websites is one of the uses of this scripting language. Sometimes it might be enough to combine HTML and CSS for creating static websites that rarely change. However, PHP can give that extra dynamic effect. However, the dynamic elements can be achieved by JavaScript’s Node.js as well.
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/php › php is 4x faster than javascript!
r/PHP on Reddit: PHP is 4x faster than JavaScript!
October 16, 2023 - Yes, or used a closure in PHP to match the Javascript better. Continue this thread ... JS runtime is faster, Nuno didn't benchmark properly.
🌐
Upwork
upwork.com › resources › articles › php vs. javascript: comparing strengths and weaknesses
PHP vs. JavaScript: Comparing Strengths and Weaknesses | Upwork
ResourcesArticlesPHP vs. JavaScript: Comparing Strengths and Weaknesses ... Comparing PHP and JavaScript is no longer as simple as comparing apples to oranges. Whereas past comparisons of PHP vs.
🌐
Medium
medium.com › @mehdibafdil › php-vs-node-js-in-2025-d643a974e4bb
PHP vs Node.js in 2025: The Shocking Truth About Performance | by Mehdi BAFDIL | Medium
January 10, 2025 - PHP vs Node.js in 2025: The Shocking Truth About Performance Last month, I migrated a legacy PHP application to Node.js, expecting dramatic performance improvements. What I discovered left me …
Find elsewhere
🌐
Netguru
netguru.com › home page › blog › an in-depth comparison of node.js vs. php in 2025
An In-Depth Comparison of Node.js vs. PHP in 2025
November 17, 2025 - Full-stack JavaScript development allows developers to leverage their existing JavaScript skills, resulting in faster development times and more maintainable code. Moreover, Node.js’s ecosystem offers a wide range of tools, libraries, and frameworks that can streamline the entire development process, making it an attractive option for developers looking to build scalable and efficient web applications. PHP, on the other hand, is a well-established server-side scripting language that has been around since 1994.
🌐
Kinsta®
kinsta.com › home › resource center › blog › web development languages › node.js vs php: a head-to-head comparison
Node.js vs PHP: A Head-to-Head Comparison
August 28, 2025 - It consists of an event-driven, non-blocking I/O architecture and operates on the Google V8 JavaScript runtime engine. As a result, it’s an efficient and ideal tool for real-time application development. Node.js has improved drastically over the years. But as with all backend tech, it takes a lot of effort to convince users to upgrade to the latest and the greatest — and we’ve even seen that with PHP.
🌐
TatvaSoft
tatvasoft.com › home › php vs javascript: a thorough comparison
PHP vs JavaScript: A Thorough Comparison - TatvaSoft blog
October 3, 2025 - Its performance largely depends on the code efficiency and server configurations. However, the PHP code is synchronous, so executing it all would take some time. JavaScript is a client-side scripting language that runs directly in the user’s web browser, leading to increased loading speed.
🌐
Simplior
simplior.com › home › node.js vs php performance: study with all the useful aspects
Node.js vs PHP: A Relative Study With all the Useful Aspects
August 21, 2024 - Faster code execution – The V8 ... PHP. In a benchmark test by Kinsta, a simple API request was 3x faster on Node.js compared to PHP 7.4....
Address   B1-17 Galaxy Signature, Science City Road, 380060, Ahmedabad
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/webdev › why is javascript often considered superior to php?
r/webdev on Reddit: Why is JavaScript Often Considered Superior to PHP?
December 3, 2023 -

Hello everyone,

I've been pondering a question and thought this would be the perfect place to seek some insights. I've noticed that in many developer circles, JavaScript is often lauded as a superior programming language compared to PHP. However, from my understanding, PHP has a significant capacity in terms of backend development, and it powers a large portion of the web (think WordPress, for instance).

I'm curious to know why JavaScript is generally held in higher esteem. Is it because of its versatility in both frontend and backend development through Node.js? Or is it more about the trends in web development that favor JavaScript frameworks like React and Angular?

I'm genuinely interested in understanding the technical and practical reasons behind this perception. Of course, I believe both languages have their strengths and use cases, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.

Why do you think JavaScript is often seen as superior to PHP?

What are the key strengths of JavaScript that might overshadow PHP's capabilities?

In what scenarios would PHP be a better choice over JavaScript?

Looking forward to your opinions and insights!

🌐
Zoomsearchengine
zoomsearchengine.com › zoom › benchmarks.html
WrenSoft - Zoom Search Engine - Benchmarking PHP vs ASP vs Javascript vs CGI
Benchmarking the Zoom search scripts (PHP vs ASP vs JS vs CGI versions), determine which suits your requirements, and how effective the Zoom Search Engine is for larger websites
🌐
JumpGrowth
jumpgrowth.com › blog › node-js-vs-php-comparison
Node js Vs PHP: Which is Best for Your Project? | Jumpgrowth
October 3, 2025 - Node.js capabilities have incredibly quick server-side response times because of its event-driven I/O model that is also non-blocking. Additionally, because it uses Google Chrome’s V8 engine, coding commands run unusually fast. These are just a few reasons why javascript Node.js speed stands out among other programming languages. PHP vs NodeJS Comparison and Benchmarks ·
🌐
Zend
zend.com › blog › php-vs-javascript
PHP vs. JavaScript: What's Best for Your Application? | Zend
December 19, 2023 - Comparing PHP vs. JavaScript? Get an overview from our expert, including benefits, use cases, and why they're commonly used together for web applications.
🌐
DOIT
doit.software › home › blog › node.js vs php in 2024: which one to choose for your project?
Node.js vs PHP: In-depth Comparison With Pros & Cons [2024]
August 5, 2025 - JavaScript and PHP are both the largest programming languages in the world with 67.7% and 26.2% respectively. Before Node.JS came around, JavaScript was no competition to PHP and was used solely for frontend development.
🌐
Medium
medium.com › @yuiltripathee › node-js-vs-php-comparison-get-the-job-done-purpose-d3d63351ea8a
NODE.JS vs PHP comparison - get the job done purpose | by Yuil Tripathee | Medium
September 1, 2019 - The performance of HHVM is about 74% better than Zend PHP. The performance of HHVM is very close to Node.JS, but Node.JS is still about 17% faster. The performance increase when using Wordpress with HHVM is about 47%. average response time ...
🌐
Toptal
toptal.com › back-end › server-side-io-performance-node-php-java-go
Server-side I/O Performance: Node vs. PHP vs. Java vs. Go | Toptal®
May 31, 2023 - We’ll examine Node, Java, Go, and PHP with Apache (Go versus Java performance, Node.js versus Java performance, etc.), discussing how the different languages model their I/O, the advantages and disadvantages of each model, and conclude with some rudimentary performance benchmarks.
🌐
Quora
quora.com › Does-Node-js-scale-better-than-PHP-for-a-high-traffic-website
Does Node.js scale better than PHP for a high traffic website? - Quora
Answer (1 of 5): Does JavaScript scale better than PHP for high traffic? (Node is the server, JS is the language.) No, you can develop a site for really high traffic in any language you can use to develop a website. (I really wouldn’t use assembly. Or even C.) But it’s far easier to use PHP serv...
🌐
Web & Crafts
webandcrafts.com › blog › node-js-vs-php
Node.js vs PHP: Choosing the Right Backend in 2026
February 17, 2025 - Node.js The asynchronous model of Node.js combined with its V8 engine compilation capability delivers exceptional performance for applications that depend on real-time handling. The V8 engine readies JavaScript for machine code compilation to ensure rapid execution. PHP Task execution through PHP happens in a blocking sequence by default because it applies a synchronous model to its I/O operations.