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Despite being a hugely popular server-side scripting language, PHP is also used widely by developers in non-scripting context. As the PHP code can be seamlessly integrated into the HTML code, the developer can avoid writing additional code by using web frameworks and templating engines. However, it is also important for the PHP developers to understand and follow a number of good practices to optimize the performance of their PHP apps.
Simple Tips to Make Your PHP Application More Efficient
1. Use Native PHP Functions: Often programmers write their own functions to accomplish a specific task. But they can always save their time by using native functions. The native functions will further help them in writing only the code that will be reused multiple times in the script. Likewise, they also need to avoid creating classes and methods unless there is real requirement.
2. Disable Debugging Messages: The speed and performance of the PHP app can be impacted by file operations. Also, file operations can increase the load on the web server. So before pushing the code for production, a programmer must identify and remove the custom functions written to log errors and warning during the process. Once the custom functions are removed, the speed of the application will increase.
3. Use Caching Techniques: A programmer can avail several benefits by using the right cache techniques. In addition to script compilation, the caching technique will further reduce the load of database operations. He also has option to reduce the database load by using memcache and optimize the intermediate code by using APC for opcode.
4. Avoid Deep Nesting: While writing PHP code, a developer must avoid using unnecessary deep nesting to make his application more efficient. The deep nesting makes it difficult to debug the code effectively. So the people reviewing the application will find it daunting to debug the app smoothly. A developer can easily avoid unnecessary deep nesting by using conditions in the most logical way.
5. Access Web Services with JSON: While working with web services, a PHP developer has option to choose both XML and JSON. But he must use JSON to avail the benefits of fast native PHP functions like json_encode() and json_decode(). If the application requires him to use XML form of data, he must parse the data regular expression instead of using DOM manipulation techniques.
6. Avoid Using Double Quotes: It is important for each PHP developer to understand the key differences between single quoted and double quoted strings. Normally, the double quotes check if the variable is present or not. While parsing the double quoted strings, the PHP interpreter takes additional execution time. Thus, you can use single strings to make the execution of your code faster.
7. Use an IDE: A developer can always save his time and efforts by using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for PHP. He also has option to choose from several commercial and open source IDEs for PHP including NetBeans, phpStorm, phpDesigner and phpEdit. Each IDE comes with useful features like code completion, navigation, syntax highlighting, debugging and documentation. These features will make it easier for the programmers to make his code structured and flawless.
8. Prevent Cross-Site Scripting: Nowadays, cross-site scripting (XSS) is used widely by attackers to cause damage to a web application by executing client-side code. Normally, the code is injected into the website through the comment form, but the code will be executed whenever a user loads the page. So the user-submitted data must be sanitized by using the function htmlspecialchars. The PHP function will prevent XSS by converting the special characters into their corresponding HTML entities.
It is also important for the developers to optimize their PHP code in the early stages of development. When the script is structured and maintained properly, it will be easier for them to use these good practices to optimize the efficiency of their PHP apps. This would help you leverage the benefits of PHP application development.
We provide PHP website development services. All of our developers have cleared industry certifications in PHP. If you would like to hire PHP developers from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.
