It might seem strange at first glance — the majority of websites today are built with WordPress, which runs on PHP, yet when you look at college curriculums or online learning platforms like Udacity, Coursera, or edX, they rarely teach PHP. Instead, they focus on Python or JavaScript.
Let’s explore why this paradox exists and what it reveals about the evolution of web technology.
🧩 1. WordPress’s Dominance Comes from History, Not Current Trends
WordPress powers over 40% of all websites worldwide. Its success began in the early 2000s, when PHP offered the easiest and most affordable way to build dynamic web pages.
Back then:
- PHP was free and worked seamlessly with cheap shared hosting.
- WordPress made website creation accessible to everyone with themes and plugins.
So, while PHP remains widespread, its dominance is largely historical, not due to modern innovation. It’s like COBOL in banking — deeply embedded, but not where new ideas start.
🧠 2. Why Universities Prefer Python
Academic and professional programs like CS50x or Udacity Nanodegrees choose Python because it is:
- Simple and readable, making it ideal for teaching coding fundamentals.
- Versatile, used for web apps (Flask, Django), AI, data science, and automation.
- Highly relevant, since modern tech companies (Google, Netflix, and Meta) use it in production systems.
Universities teach concepts and adaptability, not just tools. And Python helps students think computationally — a key skill for any programming career.
🧰 3. PHP Is a Tool for Production, Not for Research
While PHP is great for building websites or running online stores, it’s rarely used for:
- Machine learning or data analysis
- Cloud and microservices architecture
- Scientific computing or automation
These are the fast-growing fields driving the future — and they all rely heavily on Python.
🚀 4. Different Goals, Different Languages
| Purpose | Common Language | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching fundamentals & AI/data | Python | Clean syntax, wide applications, modern jobs |
| Building quick websites | PHP (WordPress) | Easy setup, plugins, no-code support |
| Frontend development | JavaScript/TypeScript | Runs in all browsers, essential for interactivity |
Education focuses on learning to think and build anything, while WordPress focuses on publishing quickly.
🧭 In Summary
It’s not strange after all:
WordPress and PHP dominate the web’s infrastructure, while Python dominates the web’s future.
- PHP helps non-developers publish and manage websites easily.
- Python empowers developers to innovate, analyze data, and automate systems.
So, while PHP quietly powers millions of websites, Python powers the next generation of developers and digital transformation.
✅ In short: PHP runs much of today’s internet — Python trains the people who will build tomorrow’s.