PHP vs JavaScript

[brucemc777]

I am cramming info on webdesign, and presently studying php for need of online forms, having to maintain a server database of that info and to email formfields (CGI).

My next topic of study is presently contemplated to be JavaScript, but in my studies I started to wonder when is one used vs. the other, and if overlapping, the advantage/disadvantages of each.

Any good resources to learn from, or can anyone put it in a nutshell for me?

 

[ronaldroe]

Php is server-side script. JS is client side, for the most part. Very little overlap.

 

[brucemc777]

I can see that I would use php to process form inputs and maintaining the server side database; what does one normally specifically use JS for? I am sorry if that is a stoooopid question, but the answer will help lay the foundation for my studies-

Ohhhh, btw, many years ago I went to OCU!

 

[chrishirst]

javascript is used to modify or manipulate what the end user sees without the process requiring a round trip to the server.

Such as selecting/deselecting a group of checkboxes, switching tabs

Validating user input etc. etc.

 

[brucemc777]

So we basically have speed and efficiency of presentation with JS, and PHP gives us storage and ways to make user action permanent, if I am grasping the concepts-

 

[chrishirst]

Yeah, something like that

 

[brucemc777]

Alright guys.... cut me some slack, I'm learning as fast as I can!

 

[ronaldroe]

Ohhhh, btw, many years ago I went to OCU!

And a number of years ago, I lived in Colorado Springs. Crazy...

 

[Edge]

... and Javascript relies on the browser capabilities whereas PHP doesn't. Sometimes it's handy to do stuff with a form before it's sent to a server i.e. some form of validation to minimise server overheads. There used to be an accessibility issue about using JavaScript as early versions of screenreaders used by visually impaired had trouble with it. Modern screenreaders don't have issues with JavaScript now unless it's Ajaxian and is being used to pull content onto the page which wasn't there before. However you still find some companies and organisations who still think JS is an accessibility issue however it's implemented.