#chayacooper

Quora Response by Chaya Cooper:

If you really need to limit yourself to one or the other: When I'd recommend Javascript... 1) If you're simply interested in the front-end of a website, and 2) are primarily focused on the design itself (as opposed to building complex functionality), then Javascript is definitely the better option of the two because it lends itself more readily to graphical interfaces and has a wealth of free and very easy-to-use plugins and widgets (i.e. jQuery). Of course that assumes that you're at least relatively familiar with HTML and CSS, which you will definitely need regardless ;-) When I'd recommend PHP... If you have any need for processing anything on the backend (i.e. submit or fetch any information to/from a database, adding security measures, etc.), then you'll need to use a server side language such as PHP - with or without  a client side language (HTML, Javascript, etc.) My honest recommendation however is that you learn both. I personally found it easier to get started in Javascript initially because it's a very simple transition from HTML (relatively similar syntax early on that you can intersperse within HTML, you can learn how to do the basics in almost no time, avoiding and finding your mistakes is far simpler, and there's no need to install anything (although I'd recommend downloading one of the libraries once you've gotten your feet wet because they'll save you an enormous amount of time - I'm a huge fan of jQuery's library and UI). I would however recommend you learning PHP once you're somewhat comfortable with Javascript because once I got over the initial hump with PHP I found it inordinately easier to write all but the most basic scripts in PHP. If I had to sum it up I'd say that the basics are much simpler to pick up in Javascript, and I generally found it much easier to figure out intermediate/advanced coding in PHP.

People see the external blurred by their own perceptions,

never really seeing what's inside another person. 

    Seeing and yet not seeing.  

  To see my reality,

my struggles, my pain, my joy,  

look in me not at me.

  Listen for the clues, feel my vulnerability, look into my eyes and