php and cgi do the same thing but php is faster than cgi or the other way around i don't know?? But the main question is why is one faster than the other if they do the same??

: php and cgi do the same thing but php is faster than cgi or the other way around i don't know?? But the main question is why is one faster than the other if they do the same??
:
A CGI application would be faster because it is compiled code, whereas PHP code needs to be run through a parser and interpreted line by line. Also, because a CGI program can be written in any language, and so can be optimised.

Cheers,

James.

: A CGI application would be faster because it is compiled code,
: whereas PHP code needs to be run through a parser and interpreted
: line by line. Also, because a CGI program can be written in any
: language, and so can be optimised.

wrong! as of version 4 a PHP script is compiled by the Zend engine before it is executed, resulting in faster execution times for all but the most trivial scripts.

And while CGI programs in theory can indeed be written in any language methinks about 90% is written using Perl & shell scripting. In other words: many CGI's are not compiled at all but run in scripted form, and are interpreted line by line.

: : A CGI application would be faster because it is compiled code,
: : whereas PHP code needs to be run through a parser and interpreted
: : line by line. Also, because a CGI program can be written in any
: : language, and so can be optimised.
:
: wrong! as of version 4 a PHP script is compiled by the Zend engine before it is executed, resulting in faster execution times for all but the most trivial scripts.
:
: And while CGI programs in theory can indeed be written in any language methinks about 90% is written using Perl & shell scripting. In other words: many CGI's are not compiled at all but run in scripted form, and are interpreted line by line.


That's nice. Try getting out more...