What is the PHP/Java Bridge?

The PHP/Java Bridge is an implementation of a streaming, XML-based network protocol, which can be used to connect a native script engine, for example PHP, Scheme or Python, with a Java or ECMA 335 virtual machine. It is up to 50 times faster than local RPC via SOAP, requires less resources on the web-server side. It is faster and more reliable than direct communication via the Java Native Interface, and it requires no additional components to invoke Java procedures from PHP or PHP procedures from Java.

J2EE back end clustering and Apache load balancing are supported as well as running PHP scripts within JSP, JSF or other frameworks.

The bridge uses "continuation passing" to invoke procedures/methods from each environment. Although this may be unusual, it is a fast and reliable mechanism to connect different script environments.

Unlike other, experimental attempts, which used to use the Java JNI interface or try to emulate a specific PHP version entirely in Java or .NET, the bridge uses standard PHP executables and standard Java servlets.