PHP and ASP are two very popular languages in existence today. They are used by programmers who have a particular affinity to the features available in each language. It is easy to ramble on about each language but choosing between them is a much tougher job.
Hypertext Preprocessor or as it is better known as PHP, is a server side language. Its widespread use in web forms is due to its ability to capture data and process it on the server before returning feedback to the user. PHP is not restricted only to the web; it can also be installed as an extension to your operating system enabling it to function in command line processing. PHP is also very strong in handling databases, which makes it a popular choice in online work.
Active Server Pages (ASP) is also a server side language. It is not a language that is limited to IIS (Internet Information Services) servers as most people think. However, this perception is somewhat justified as ASP’s full potential can only be realized on an IIS server.
Cost wise, PHP is free while ASP is not. But those who do buy IIS do it for integration purposes which more than justifies the cost. Resource wise, it is difficult to make a call on either language, as they handle memory in very different ways. PHP allocates and reserves a certain amount of space whether it is being used or not, whereas ASP is similar to a normal application loading and using memory. The only clear advantage that PHP has, other than its cost, is its compatibility. Unlike ASP, PHP can run on any operating system and is an open source programming language. This means that it has much bigger resources to draw from, in terms of development.
However, even with all these factors in mind, it is still a difficult call to make on which language is better. It really boils down to the individual user or team and the requirements. To offer an analogy, it is similar to choosing between a Sedan and a 4WD jeep – it depends on what you want to use it for. So if you are torn between the two, take a look again at your requirements and choose the one that best fits your needs.