PHP vs PHP-FPM: What are the differences?

Introduction

PHP and PHP-FPM are both server-side scripting languages used for web development. While PHP is the scripting language itself, PHP-FPM (FastCGI Process Manager) is an alternative PHP FastCGI implementation. In this article, we will explore the key differences between PHP and PHP-FPM.

1. Execution Method:

PHP uses a synchronous execution model where each request is handled one at a time by the web server. On the other hand, PHP-FPM uses a multi-threaded approach that allows simultaneous processing of multiple requests.

2. Performance:

PHP-FPM is known to have better performance compared to PHP alone. This is because PHP-FPM utilizes a process pool manager, which allows faster and more efficient handling of incoming requests.

3. Scalability:

PHP-FPM is more scalable compared to PHP due to its ability to manage multiple worker processes. This allows PHP-FPM to handle a larger number of concurrent requests, making it suitable for high-traffic websites.

4. Resource Consumption:

As PHP-FPM uses a process pool manager, it consumes more system resources compared to PHP. This is because each worker process requires memory and CPU resources to handle requests. However, the tradeoff is better performance and scalability.

5. Configuration:

PHP-FPM has its own configuration file separate from PHP. This allows fine-tuning of various parameters such as the number of worker processes, maximum requests per worker, and resource limits. PHP, on the other hand, relies on configuration settings within the web server.

6. Integration:

PHP is often bundled with web servers like Apache or Nginx, requiring the server to load and interpret PHP scripts for each request. PHP-FPM, on the other hand, uses a separate process manager and can integrate with various web servers through FastCGI, providing greater flexibility and control.

In Summary, PHP and PHP-FPM differ in their execution method, performance, scalability, resource consumption, configuration, and integration.