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Node.js vs PHP: catalog facts
Node.js	PHP
Free Free and open source under the MIT licence, governed by the OpenJS Foundation.	Free Free and open source.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line	Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
The largest package ecosystem of any language through npm Predictable release schedule with clearly marked long-term support versions	Several supported release branches with frequent bug fix releases Well suited to server-side web development
Single-threaded by default, so CPU-heavy work needs worker threads or another process The size and churn of the npm ecosystem is itself a supply chain risk	Official downloads for Linux and macOS are source releases; binaries usually come from package managers Older branches require upgrades as they reach end of life
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: MIT	License: PHP-3.01
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

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