Using a PHP framework can enhance your development pipeline and simplify the maintenance of websites or web apps by supporting the model-view-controller (MVC) architecture. Additionally, it helps developers of all skill levels eliminate repetitive coding, effectively doubling the development process speed.
PHP is the most popular server-side programming language on the web, holding a market share of 76.2%.
Among PHP frameworks, Laravel stands out as a leader, ranking in the top 5 with a notable market share of 35.87%.
What is the framework?
A framework is a platform that helps developers create software applications by providing a library of files with basic functions and predefined classes.
It can process input, interact with hardware, and manage devices, offering all the essentials to build programs from scratch, whether it’s a website or an application. While similar to an API, a framework includes an API and sets the foundation for software development.
It encompasses code libraries, compilers, and tools that streamline development.
What is a PHP framework?
PHP stands for Personal Home Page. It is an open-source language.
A PHP framework is a platform that allows a web developer to develop web applications using PHP. It provides a structured way to build web applications by offering libraries, tools, and components that simplify the development process.
PHP frameworks are designed to speed up and standardize the development process, reducing the amount of original code that needs to be written from scratch. They provide a basic foundation for the development of web applications in PHP, making it easier for developers to build robust and efficient applications
Developers rely on PHP for desktop applications, games, command-line scripting, automation services, and more. These frameworks streamline the learning process by offering pre-built software, rules, and platforms for building your software.
Why choose a PHP framework?
PHP framework lays the platform for the development of web applications. Here are other benefits.
- Saves time – reusing the same code throughout the process saves time.
- It speeds up web development and software development processes.
- The framework is very easy to maintain.
- PHP framework makes the application developed more secure.
PHP Framework Comparison
| Features | Laravel | Symfony | Yii 2 | CakePHP | CodeIgniter | Laminas |
| Release Year | 2011 | 2005 | 2006 | 2008 | 2005 | 2006 |
| ORM | Eloquent | Doctrine ORM | Built-in ORM (Active Record) | Yii ORM | CakePHP ORM | does not have a built-in ORM |
| Code Generation | Artisan CLI | Symfony Maker | Yes | Gii | Bake Console(CLI) | Zend Code Generator & Laminas Code Generator |
| Template Engine |
Blade | Twig | Yii’s templating system | PHP-based views | CakePHP’s view system | Twig, Smarty, & Mustache |
| Security | Hashing, Authentication Middleware, CSRF Protection, Encryption | Authentication, Authorization, Encryption, CSRF Protection | Authentication, Authorization, Role-based Access Control, | CSRF Protection, XSS Filtering, Input Data Validation | Role-based Access Control, CSRF Protection | Input validation, data encryption, and secure password storage |
Top 5 PHP framework
- Laravel
- Symfony
- Yii2
- CakePHP
- CodeIgniter
- Laminas (Zend Framework)
1. Laravel
Laravel uses MVC architecture to build complex web applications from scratch. The software is designed to ease simple tasks such as caching, authentication, session, and routing.
Laravel comes with security features to protect against SQL injection and Cross-Site Forgery Requests (CSRF). You also get workflow tools like asset compilers and a command-line interface (CLI).
This framework aims to enhance workflow efficiency, making it a valuable tool for your team. However, the additional features can make it slightly more challenging to learn.
Latest Version: v11.x
Features
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Authentication
Laravel is often the top choice for PHP frameworks because of its built-in authentication system. It simplifies the process of setting up authentication codes for web applications, requiring developers to only configure models, views, and controllers.
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In-built command line
Laravel’s built-in command line, Artisan, eliminates the need for developers to rewrite the same code repeatedly. It handles repetitive programming tasks, saving time and energy. Developers can even create their codes and MVC files using this command line.
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Effective object-relation mapping (ORM)
Laravel includes an ORM with active record implementation, making it easier for developers to query databases. The built-in ORM facilitates seamless integration with databases, eliminating the need for developers to write SQL code.
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Unique unit testing
Laravel allows users to perform unit testing on any changes they make to the website. This unique unit testing by Laravel ensures that any changes made to the website application do not break anything on the site. A developer can also create a test case using Laravel.
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Database Migration System
Laravel’s Database migration system lets you expand the database structure without recreating it, reducing the risk of data loss. It allows changes to the database structure and enables the use of PHP code instead of SQL.
The Schema Builder helps create database tables and insert indices or columns easily.
2. Symfony
Symfony is a powerful and flexible PHP framework used for creating web applications, APIs, and microservices. It is known for its wide range of features and uses reusable components to make development faster and more efficient. Supporting the model-view-controller (MVC) architecture, Symfony makes it easier to maintain and grow applications.
It follows best practices and industry standards, making it a great choice for both experienced developers and large-scale projects. Symfony also has a supportive community and excellent documentation, solidifying its place as a top PHP framework.
Latest Version: v7.0
Features
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Modular Component System
Symfony’s modular design lets developers use only the components they need, making it flexible and scalable.
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Professional Support
Symfony offers professional support services, giving developers access to help and guidance when needed.
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Doctrine ORM
It integrates smoothly with Doctrine ORM, providing powerful tools for managing databases and object-relational mapping.
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Twig Templating Engine
With Twig, Symfony’s templating engine, developers can easily create dynamic and reusable templates for applications.
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LTS Releases
Symfony provides Long-Term Support (LTS) releases, ensuring updates and support for a set period, ideal for enterprise stability.
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Comprehensive Testing
Symfony includes built-in unit testing, making it easy for developers to ensure their applications are reliable and high-quality.
3. Yii 2
Yii 2 is a high-performance PHP framework designed for developing modern web applications. It is known for its efficiency, flexibility, and scalability, making it suitable for a wide range of projects from small startups to large enterprise systems.
Yii 2 follows the model-view-controller (MVC) architecture, which helps in organizing code logically and maintaining a clean separation between logic and presentation.
Current version: 2.0.35
Features
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MVC Architecture
Yii follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, organizing application logic into three interconnected components for better organization, code reusability, and easier maintenance.
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Supports Caching
Yii includes built-in caching to enhance performance by storing frequently accessed data, reducing database queries, and improving application responsiveness.
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High Performance and Security
Yii is optimized for speed and efficiency, making it ideal for high-traffic, resource-intensive applications. It also offers robust security features to protect against common web vulnerabilities.
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Multiple Database Support
Yii supports various databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and Oracle, allowing seamless integration using ActiveRecord ORM and query-building capabilities.
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Run Third-Party Code
Yii enables integration of third-party libraries, extensions, and plugins, enhancing functionality and leveraging existing solutions without reinventing the wheel.
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Gii
Gii is Yii’s code generation tool that automates the creation of models, controllers, forms, and other components, speeding up development by generating boilerplate code from database tables.
4. CakePHP
CakePHP follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, providing a structured approach to organizing code and separating business logic from presentation layers.
CakePHP emphasizes convention over configuration, reducing the need for repetitive coding and allowing developers to focus more on application logic.
It includes built-in features such as scaffolding, CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations, and ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) capabilities through CakePHP’s own ORM called CakePHP ORM.
Known for its security features and ease of use, CakePHP offers comprehensive documentation and an active community, making it an excellent choice for developing scalable and maintainable web applications.
Latest Version: CakePHP 4.x
Features
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Flexible and Extensible Architecture
Developers can extend CakePHP’s functionality with third-party libraries and custom components, facilitating scalable and modular application development.
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Active and Supportive Community
CakePHP benefits from an engaged community that offers support, shares knowledge, and contributes to ongoing framework enhancements.
This community-driven environment provides resources and forums for troubleshooting and collaboration.
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Built-in ORM for Database Abstraction
CakePHP includes a robust Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) system that streamlines database interactions, simplifies SQL queries and integrates validation and authentication for efficient development.
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Built-in Security Features
CakePHP incorporates essential security measures such as input validation, CSRF protection, and session management directly into applications, promoting secure development practices and reducing implementation time and effort.
5. CodeIgniter
CodeIgniter is a powerful PHP framework with a small footprint, ideal for developers seeking a simple, elegant toolkit for full-featured web applications.
It’s designed for quick startup and minimal asset overhead, resulting in fast setup and better runtime speeds. Despite its small size, CodeIgniter is highly extendable and offers security features, promoting the MVC architecture.
Latest version: 4.0.3
Features
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MVC Based Architecture
CodeIgniter follows a model view controller architecture, which separates the logic and presentation of a website. All the database action is conducted through the model and output is displayed through the views thanks to the controller of the architecture.
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Extensive Built-in Library
It comes with a very rich built-in library. The library holds all the required tasks like database, routing, sending emails, and manipulating images.
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Error Handling
CodeIgniter is designed with a simple interface that helps the developer detect and handle appropriately all the errors that may occur during web application building.
The interface will show all the PHP errors in the application you are building. It provides instructions to an error logging class that allows debugging messages to be saved as text files.
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SEO Friendly
The PHP software generates SEO-friendly URLs that are optimized for search engines. CodeIgniter uses a segment-based approach rather than a standard-based approach, like most PHP frameworks.
6. Zend
Zend framework, now known as Laminas Project, is an open-source, object-oriented web application framework implemented in PHP.
It has evolved into a robust platform for developing scalable and secure web applications. It follows the principle of simplicity, and object-oriented best practices, and uses PHP’s object-oriented features like interfaces and inheritance extensively.
It supports various databases through its robust ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) capabilities and provides built-in features for authentication, authorization, and session management.
The framework emphasizes flexibility and extensibility, enabling developers to integrate third-party libraries seamlessly and customize functionality as needed.
Latest version: Laminas Framework 3.x
Features
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Strong Backend Support
Zend has remarkable supporters including companies like Google and Microsoft that have contributed remarkable features to the framework.
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MOVE Support
It supports MVC as well as MOVE (models, operations, views, and events) architecture. MOVE is an update of MVC, which makes the framework more reliable and secure.
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Secure
Zend is very safe and secure. It’s designed and updated with the BSD license that protects the software against breach from third-party and malware.
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Scalability
Zend is great for building apps that need to be scalable. You can use it with lots of other open-source apps to create powerful platforms. Plus, it’s simple to use, which makes things easier for developers.
Conclusion
We have covered the top 5 PHP frameworks that you can use to develop a website or app. All the frameworks we have covered are very beginner-friendly. The PHP framework you choose depends on the needs of your business.
