Did you know that the various apps that are making your lives entertaining and simple are developed with the use of various frameworks of technical language? I’m guessing not. As a layman, you probably have nothing to do with the development of the apps and websites.
Well, it’s OK! This article is going to introduce you to the top eight frameworks used in PHP. But before jumping in, we would like to give a brief introduction to PHP frameworks.
What PHP frameworks stand for?
PHP is known as the world’s most famous web programming language of which various PHP developers are making use. According to W3tech survey Stat, PHP is used by 82% of the majority web server.
If we talk about the world of custom software development, there are various libraries of files including some of the basic functions are actually known as “frameworks”.
These frameworks serve as a base for you to develop your project more efficiently and effectively. In order to implement these frameworks, you are required to note down the various functions of that particular framework and then start coding from scratch.
Let’s look at a comparative example from your kitchen. Suppose you plan to cook a dish; for that, you know that you will be needing various ingredients to cook that particular dish. These various ingredients can be considered as the frameworks of that particular language.
Now, before needing those ingredients, you would be needing some utensils and knives to start. These basic utensils could be considered as the functions of those frameworks which empower those frameworks in order to start the coding process.
Let’s start discussing the various frameworks of PHP language and its various function, features, and specifications.
Laravel
Laravel is the most famous PHP framework which was introduced in 2011. It is known as an open source framework. It is flexible enough to handle difficult web applications in less time when compared to other frameworks.
Laravel is capable enough to simplify the custom web app development process as it can make common tasks like routing, sessions, caching and authentication.
Laravel is also compatible with other third-party platforms and libraries. A good example of this is Amazon Web services (AWS), which is able to develop highly-scalable applications. A laravel developer can create feature-packed web application in a very less time.
Key Features
Laravel is known for developing applications which are based on complex backend requirements, which can be small or large — it does not matter. The good part is that with the introduction of Homestead, a prepackaged box, the installation of Laravel has been made easy.
Laravel is highly flexible and expressive. Laravel is very suitable for those developers who want to build B2B or enterprise websites that usually change with changing web trends.
Codeigniter
Codeigniter works with Model view controller (MVC) architecture, Codeigniter is also one of the PHP frameworks which means that with the help of different components, it is able to handle particular development tasks.
This approach of this framework is well-liked by the custom software developers because it allows you to create highly featured web applications.
Key Features
A lightweight framework is being used by it with accurate performance in mind. It excels in performance as it gets started quickly. As it also uses MVC-based architecture, it is able to develop scalable apps.
Symfony
Symfony has been around for the longest time and was launched in 2005. This framework is liked by millions of custom web developers owing to its various benefits and advantages. This framework can create web applications fast.
Key features
With the help of Symfony, large-scale enterprise projects could be developed, and you can install and configure it on most of the platforms.
Symfony is flexible, so it is able to get compatible with the bigger projects like Drupal. There are various similarities between Symfony and Laravel, so it is a little difficult to decide which framework is better.
Yii 2
Yii 2, also an old framework, is considered to be one of the competitors to Symfony 2 albeit with an easier learning curve.
Custom app developers usually make use of this framework when they need quick results as Yii 2 is known for amazing features. It is designed in a way that makes it capable enough to work well with AJAX as it has powerful caching support.
Key Features
- Handle errors well
- Support for AJAX
- A framework which is developed and backed by a community
- No chances of hassle in integration with third-party components
Phalcon
Phalcon is an odd one as it is written in C. So, it could be considered that it is the extension of PHP. Because of this, it sounds little odd, but if look towards its applications, the results are awesome and it became one of the fastest frameworks of PHP.
Key Features
- Makes use a PHP framework that’s based on C
- Capable of fantastic performance
- Use only the modules and libraries you are required
CakePHP
CakePHP was one of the first frameworks of PHP which was based on MVC and came into existence in the early 2000s.
Gradually there came improvements in the newer version of the CakePHP and we are introduced with lots of features and components.
Key Features
- Take advantage of a wide set of components
- Use CakePHP’s conventions to code projects
Zend
Zend is known as an object-oriented framework. It is an extendable framework as it is based on features such as interfaces and inheritance. Using this framework, you can deliver high-quality applications as it is based on agile methodology and this can the enterprise clients in various ways.
Zend is also compatible for those developers who aim to add project-specific functionalities.
Key Features
Zend framework is highly beneficial for projects that are specially meant for complex and enterprise level. Apart from this, this framework is so compatible with IT departments and banks.
It is also available with some more key features such as MVC components, simple cloud API, data encryption, and session management.
FuelPHP
FuelPHP is also one of the frameworks of PHP which is known for its flexibility. Yes, it is a full stack PHP framework which was released in the year 2011. It is known for supporting the MVC design pattern, but apart from this, it is available with its own version which is known as hierarchical model view controller (HMVC).
Key Features
With the help of the FuelPHP framework, developers can make themselves to provide the solutions fully-fledged that are big in size and complexities.
Key features include HMVC implementation, RESTful implementation, a URL routing system, vulnerability protection, and a caching system.
Final words
Hopefully, the above-given article has helped introduce you to the top 8 frameworks of PHP, along with their features and functionalities. Ultimately, you should pick the one which is best suited to your requirements.
I suggest you to first go for software consulting services before choosing the right framework for your business. Please mention in the comment box your favorite PHP framework.
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