What is difference between ASP and PHP ?

ASP is a programmed to run on a windows based server.

PHP is programmed to run on a linux based server

That is the differences in a nutshell.

Fred

PHP is more idiot-proof, has more user-friendly error messages.

ASP is also a very poisonous snake in other parts of the world

hi Ibcontact,

When building any web site, ASP and PHP are the two most popular languages around. Both ASP and PHP are languages used to build Dynamic Web sites that can interact with Databases and exchange information. ASP (Active Server Pages) is from Microsoft and is used with IIS (Internet Information Server) that runs on Microsoft Servers. PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) is from Rasmus Lerdorf, who originally designed this parsing language which was later modified by different people. It runs on Unix and Linux servers and it also has an NT server version.
There are a lot of differences between ASP and PHP.


Cost
To run ASP programs one needs IIS installed on a Windows platform server, which is not free. PHP programs run on Linux, which is free. Even the connectivity of the database is expensive in the case of ASP as MS-SQL is a product of Microsoft that needs to be purchased. PHP generally uses MySQL, which is freely available.


Speed
If we compare the speed of ASP and PHP then PHP has an upper hand. PHP code runs faster than ASP. ASP is built on COM based architecture, which is an overhead for the server whereas PHP code runs in its own memory space.


Platform Compatibility
PHP programs can run on various platforms like Linux, Unix, Windows and Solaris whereas ASP is mainly associated with Windows platforms. However, ASP can run on a Linux platform with ASP-Apache installed on the server.


Additional Costs
Many of the tools used in PHP are free of cost and since PHP is open source a lot of code can be found in open source forums. PHP has inbuilt features like ftp, email from a web page or even encryption mechanisms but in ASP such features are not built in and some additional components are required. Therefore an additional cost is incurred for such components.

Base Language
PHP is based on C++ language and the syntax used in PHP is quite similar to C/C++. C/C++ is still considered the best programming language by many programmers and people who love this language would surely feel more comfortable with the syntax of PHP. ASP on the other hand has a more Visual Basic kind of syntax that again is closely related to only Microsoft products. So, it depends on a person-to-person which language he or she is comfortable

Database Connectivity
PHP, being extremely flexible, can connect to various databases, the most popular being MySQL. ASP mainly uses MS-SQL.

Conclusion
Both languages have their advantages specific to users. Some would argue that both the languages have their own importance and depending on the user's requirements the language and the platform can be chosen. If we talk about developing a discussion board then ASP is equally capable but many feel the best discussion boards are developed in PHP. If a user is looking for some e-commerce application development then many would call ASP the ideal choice. This does not mean that PHP cannot provide e-commerce solutions, only that many people choose ASP.
From my perspective, PHP is an all around better choice than ASP.

hope this helps you to understand the difference between the two.

As a programmer who uses both languages, here is in a nutshell:

1. Syntax:
ASP is a Microsoft product based on the very ackward Visual Basic syntax
(Example: If / End If).
PHP is a C-Like, very compact and well organized. Some ackwardness.

2. Hosting:
ASP works better on Microsoft servers. There is a possibility to run ASP on
Linux and BSD but I would not recommend, because of the fact that ASP relies
a lot on external components that often come in the form of DLLs that you
need to physically register on the server.
PHP works fine on both environments but a Linux/BSD server will run your
scripts faster than a Windows box because of the overhead (or lack thereof).

3. Out the box solutions:
Both languages are popular but PHP for some reason has more Open License
solutions that you can implement for free or for a donation if you are a
good guy (usually if your project makes you richer, you are supposed to give
back).

4. Toolbox:
PHP can be easily installed with a very large number of tools such as image
manipulation, upload, email, etc...
ASP requires the registration of components to do that and very ackward
object declarations. Most of these components are not free.

5. Speed:
ASP is very slow. Darn slow. Not suitable for traffics of thousands a day.
Many ASP Web sites evolved towards either PHP or Dot Net when they became
popular.
PHP is way faster. Dot Net (ASPx) is now faster but really not popular.

6. Database connectivity:
ASP works better with SQL Server and Access. I have not used it with MySQL,
because it does not make sense.
PHP works very very well with MySQL (PostGreSQL as well, but I know nobody
who uses it). It works fine with SQL Server and Access if you really really
want to use these database systems, but Access is slow. SQL Server is
costly.

7. Simply put:
If you have to use a Microsoft server, then use ASP/SQL Server.
If you have to use a Linux or BSD Server (or anything Unix), then use
PHP/MySQL.

Not much. PHP is open source and give lot of prebuilt scripts while development is slow for ASP.

If you want a slow commercial language, try ASP (Quite frankly, I don't
even know why this is still available - Sadly, it will be around for a long,
long time!). IF you are looking for quickness, then PHP all the way!

ASP is the short term for Active Server Pages, a type of program that works with Microsoft alongside IIS or Internet Information Server. ASP needs a Microsoft Server for the website to work. On the other, PHP or Hypertext Preprocessor, runs using Linux or Unix server. The more updated PHP programs can now run on an NT server.
PHP programs can also run in Windows, Solaris, Unix and Linux while ASP can only work with Window-based platforms. Just recently, ASP can now run on a Linux platform given that there is an ASP-Apache program installed on its server.

ASP is comes under the .net framework.Where PHP is a open source software.

Both PHP and ASP are great solutions for most projects that need the server power and capabilities available with them. Both ASP and PHP have several tools and available options with their GUI options.PHP is capable of being installed quickly and easily with many tools server side which can include image manipulation, uploading, email systems and much more. ASP is designed to require registration of components and modules to make each tool possible. ASP will usually require paying for each component upgrade as well.