02/06/2010
0
This JavaScript article lists some comparisons between two popular web programming languages in the world of open source: JavaScript and PHP. The comparisons in this JavaScript tutorial focus on Variables, Object and Array, Control Structures; from this list, the web coders (programmers) have a look about them more accurate, and may give the appropriative solutions for the requirements of their tasks.
- Demo
- Enlarge
- Reload
- New window
Generate your business videos by AI with voice or just text
Your first FREE AI Video App! Automate Your First AI Video. Create Your Professional Video In 5 Minutes By AI No Equipment Or Video Editing Skill Requred. Effortless Video Production For Content Marketers.
This is a basic comparison between PHP and JavaScript. It's intended for users familiar with PHP and looking for JavaScript equivalents.
JavaScript and PHP Comparisons:
Variables
Variable Scope
PHP and JavaScript take two very different approaches to declaring variables. In PHP, all variables are local in scope unless declared as global. JavaScript is opposite, and all variables are global unless declared with the var keyword.
PHP
<?php
function foo() {
$variable_a = 'value'; // Local variable declaration.
}
function bar() {
print $variable_a; // Prints nothing.
}
function foo() {
global $variable_b; // Global variable declaration.
$variable_b = 'value';
}
function bar() {
global $variable_b;
print $variable_b; // Prints 'value'.
}
?>JavaScript
function foo() {
var variableA = 'value'; // Local variable with use of "var".
}
function bar() {
alert(variableA); // Variable not defined error.
}
function foo() {
variableB = 'value'; // Global variable, no "var" declaration.
}
function bar() {
alert(variableB); // alert('value')
}An interesting twist is JavaScript also allows scoping within functions. When using the "var" declaration, variables are available for everything in the current function or any sub-functions.
PHP
function foo() {
$variable_a = 'value'; // Local variable declaration.
function bar() {
print $variable_a; // Prints nothing.
}
}JavaScript
function foo() {
var variableA = 'value'; // Local variable with use of "var".
function bar() {
alert(variableA); // alert('value');
}
}Variable Types
Both PHP and JavaScript are loosely typed, meaning a variable can be of any type, and change from one type to another. However both PHP and JavaScript keep track of the type of variables, and you can check this type.
PHP
<?php
$foo = 3;
is_int($foo); // TRUE
$foo = '3';
is_int($foo); // FALSE
is_string($foo); // TRUE
?>JavaScript
var foo = 3;
type_of(foo); // 'number'
foo = '3';
type_of(foo); // 'string'Casting Variables
Every now and then you might need to cast variables to a specific
type. This is extremely important when dealing with JavaScript's + operator, which is used for both string concatenation and for numeric addition.
PHP
In PHP, variables may be cast to certain type by using parenthesis. String concatenation is done with "." and addition with "+".
<?php
$foo = '3.5 kg';
$bar = (float)$foo; // 3.5
$bar = (int)$foo; // 3
$baz = (string)$foo; // '3.5 kg'
print $bar + $baz; // 6
print $bar . $baz; // '33'
?>JavaScript
JavaScript has functions specifically for casting variables to numbers.
Both string concatenation and addition is done with "+". If mixing a
string and a number with "+", concatenation will take precedence over
addition.
var foo = '3.5 kg';
var bar = parseFloat(foo); // 3.5
bar = parseInt(foo); // 3
var baz = '3';
alert(bar + baz); // '33'
alert(bar + parseInt(baz)); // 6 Checking for NULL or empty() values
Variables in PHP don't have to be defined for you to use them, though if you're working with E_ALL compliance on (not the default of most PHP installs), your script will throw a notice if you try to use an undeclared variable. JavaScript is a bit mixed concerning undeclared variables, if you attempt to modify or compare with an undeclared variable, the script will break entirely, but you can check the variable status using typeof() or in conditional statements containing only that variable.
PHP
<?php
// Check if a variable is declared at all.
if (!isset($foo)) {
$foo = TRUE;
}
// Or check if a variable has a value that equates to FALSE.
// This includes variables that have not been declared.
if (empty($bar)) {
$bar = TRUE;
}
?>JavaScript
// Check if a variable is declared at all.
if (typeof(foo) == 'undefined') {
var foo = true;
}
// Or check if a variable has a value that equates to false.
// This includes variables that have not been declared.
if (!bar) {
var bar = true;
}
// However an undeclared variable can't be used in comparisons.
if (baz == false) { // Variable undefined error.
var baz = true;
}Boolean Variables
A simple but important thing to remember is that JavaScript only recognizes the keyword true in all lowercase. PHP accepts both uppercase and lowercase.
PHP
<?php
is_boolean(TRUE); // TRUE
is_boolean(true); // TRUE
is_boolean(True); // TRUE
?>JavaScript
typeof(true); // 'boolean'
typeof(TRUE); // 'undefined'
typeof(True); // 'undefined'Case Sensitivity
Both JavaScript and PHP are case sensitive in their variables. PHP is not case-sensitive in function or class declarations, but JavaScript is case sensitive for these also.
PHP
<?php
// Variable case:
$foo = 'bar';
print $foo; // Prints 'bar'.
print $Foo; // Prints nothing.
// Function case:
function foo() {
print 'bar';
}
foo(); // Prints 'bar'.
Foo(); // Prints 'bar'.
?>JavaScript
// Variable case:
var foo = 'bar';
alert(foo); // alert('bar')
alert(Foo); // Variable not defined error.
// Function case:
function foo() {
alert('bar');
}
foo(); // alert('bar')
Foo(); // Function not defined error.
by Preview- Sent (0)
- New
Author:
Previews:
Comment:
Votes:
Sent:
Size:
Rank:
Nate Haug [more]
54,218
0
0
0
32.75 KBytes
0 votes / 54,218 previews / 0 comment
02/06/2010
This JavaScript article lists some comparisons between two popular web programming languages in the world of open source...JavaScript and PHP - Comparisons to Learn - JavaScript and PHP - Comparisons to Learn
