PHP frameworks are platforms for building PHP web applications. The PHP framework provides libraries for commonly used functions, which make it easier for developers to write less original code from scratch.

A PHP framework provides the building blocks for the development of web applications in PHP. Frameworks are useful for speeding up and standardising the development process, which reduces doubts about how to begin constructing an application.

Table of Contents

Why should you use a PHP framework?

There are several reasons to use PHP frameworks instead of coding from scratch:

Thanks to the built-in libraries and tools, development takes much less time.
A framework’s quality and performance are thoroughly tested, so a PHP framework can help businesses meet their performance needs.
Reduced code – Using frameworks reduces the amount of original code that needs to be written.
There are several repetitive tasks that programmers need to perform when building applications, such as data cleansing, validation, and CRUD operations. Frameworks provide built-in functionality for performing such common tasks.
Following best practises – PHP frameworks usually follow best practises, for example, they organise code cleanly and maintainable, and they use the right naming conventions.
PHP frameworks are more secure since they minimise the possibility of exploits such as cross-site scripting and SQL injection. Thanks to PHP’s built-in defences, frameworks are protected from such common threats.
Use frameworks to enable teamwork – Frameworks define clear rules for projects, allowing developers to pick them up quickly and collaborate effectively.
Better maintainability – PHP frameworks enable you to create leaner and more maintainable codebases. Furthermore, the developers of the framework are responsible for maintaining the core framework itself.

Frameworks for PHP that are the most effective

Listed below are some of the most popular and rapid application development-friendly PHP frameworks:

Laravel

Laravel was launched in 2011 and has quickly become the most popular free, open-source PHP framework. The framework is capable of handling complex applications securely and much faster than other frameworks.

What are the benefits of Laravel?

Laravel Homestead, a pre-packaged Vagrant box that provides a virtual development environment without the need for PHP, web server software, or any other server software, is simple to set up.
A number of features make it possible to customise and configure complex applications – authentication, authorization, encryption, hashing, password reset, data migration, routing, MVC architecture support, to name a few.
Laravel Artisan Console automates repetitive tasks and generates boilerplate code to speed up development.
Laravel is a powerful, fast, and secure framework that is very expressive. Laravel is also very flexible and is as up-to-date as the latest trends in web development.

The disadvantages of Laravel

To manage and edit content in this framework, it is necessary to create a separate administration panel. A CMS could be a better option if a variety of stakeholders need access to the settings of the web application.

Symfony

Web applications that require scalability are well suited to Symfony. In addition to its many features, its modular component system is incredibly flexible and gives developers the option to pick and choose the components they need for their projects.

What are the benefits of Symfony?

Developing enterprise-level applications is easy with Symfony because it is easy to install and configure on most platforms.
PHP components can be reused, database engine independence, stability, following most web best practises and design patterns are a few of its key features.
In addition to being highly flexible, Symfony can be integrated with other vendor libraries.

Symfony’s disadvantages

Laravel focuses more on simplicity and is easy to use even for beginners or intermediate developers. In contrast, Symfony is aimed at advanced developers and can be more difficult to learn.
It is somewhat difficult to use the Symfony security mechanism. Due to its feature-rich nature, it can also be a bitower than other frameworks.

CodeIgniter

A popular choice for developing dynamic websites due to its speed and small footprint (about 2 MB including documentation). Numerous modules are available for constructing reusable and robust components.

What are the benefits of using CodeIgniter?

CodeIgniter encourages developers to use MVC architecture, but they can also use other architectural paradigms.
Compared to other frameworks, CodeIgniter is a lightweight PHP framework that is simple to set up and install.
Security – CodeIgniter has built-in defenses against cross-site request forgery and cross-site scripting attacks, as well as context-sensitive escaping and a Content Security Policy.
Easy to learn – CodeIgniter is easy to learn compared to other frameworks and allows a great deal of customization. Beginners will appreciate its detailed documentation.

Disadvantages of CodeIgniter

It might not be the most suitable option for an application that requires regular updates to maintain security because CodeIgniter releases are somewhat irregular.

CakePHP

CakePHP is an open-source PHP framework that is built on the MVC architecture and helps developers quickly create web applications.

What are the benefits of CakePHP?

Easy to install – You will only need a web server and the framework to get started.
The CakePHP ORM is built-in and managed by CakePHP itself.
It is a good choice for building enterprise-level applications because of the security features it provides, such as encryption, password hashing, SQL injection prevention, input validation, CSRF, and XSS protection.
Another key feature is a modern framework, validation, comprehensive documentation, and premium support.

CakePHP’s disadvantages

CakePHP is a bit restrictive due to its strict adherence to conventions, so this may not be the best option for developers who like to bend the rules or ship quickly.

Yii

The Yii PHP framework is a simple-to-use, high-performance, and component-based framework for developing modern web applications. A universal web development framework, Yii can be used for any type of web application.

What are the benefits of Yii?

Installing and setting up Yii is easy. The documentation is well written and easy to understand.
Secure projects such as eCommerce, CMS, forums, and eCommerce Services are suited to its robust security features such as Bcrypt password hashing, encryption, and authentication.
YII is a great choice for developers who want to create highly optimized web applications due to its excellent performance, caching support, and code-generator tools.
Support is easy to find thanks to its core developer team, experienced experts, and large user community.
Developers can easily customise every aspect of Yii’s core code thanks to Yii’s extensible nature.

Yii’s disadvantages

Beginners may find it difficult to get started with Yii due to its steep learning curve. It also requires more attention during development because even a small mistake in the code can cause problems throughout the entire application.

How Do PHP Frameworks Work for The Development of a Website?