PHP is a general-purpose scripting language suitable for server-side web development. Very popular – almost 80% of all websites use PHP as of October 2018.
So how do we know which PHP framework is the right choice for us?
This article will list the top 5 PHP frameworks to help you choose.
Why should you use a PHP framework?
The PHP framework provides a basic structure to facilitate the development of web applications. We use them because they speed up the development process.
Above all, the responsiveness of websites and applications built using PHP frameworks helps businesses meet their performance needs. So, there is no doubt that PHP frameworks will continue to gain attention and popularity in 2020.
1. Laravel
Launched in June 2011, Laravel is a free, open source PHP web framework created by Taylor Otwell. Designed for the development of web applications based on the model-view-controller architectural pattern and Symfony. Laravel's features include a modular packaging system with a dedicated dependency manager, various ways to access relational databases, and utilities that help deploy and maintain the application.
It is cross-platform with the source code hosted on GitHub and is licensed under the terms of the MIT License. Key design points include, but are not limited to: Bundles, Eloquent ROM, Query Builder, Application Logic, Reverse Routing, Restful Controllers, Class Auto Loading.
2. CodeIgniter
Released on February 28, 2006, licensed under the MIT license, CodeIgniter is an open source web framework used for building dynamic websites with PHP. Additionally, CodeIgniter is more flexible than other PHP frameworks and can be modified to use the Hierarchical Model View Controller, which allows developers to provide Controller, Model, and View module groupings organized in a subfolder format.
3. Zend
Zend was launched on March 3, 2006. is an open-source, object-oriented web application framework implemented in PHP 7 and licensed under the New BSD license. The Zend framework is primarily a collection of professional PHP-based packages. This framework uses various packages that use Composer as part of their package dependency managers. Zend frameworks provide users with Model View Controller (MVC) support along with Front Controller solution.
Zend Framework features include:
CakePHP is an open source web framework written in PHP that follows the model-view-control (MVC) approach and was released in April 2005. Modeled after the concepts of Ruby on Rails and distributed under the MIT license. The convention over configuration uses well-known software engineering concepts and software design patterns such as model-view-controller, active logging, join data mapping, and front-end controller.
CakePHP started in 2005 when a Polish programmer, Michal Tatarynowicz, wrote a minimal version of a rapid application development in PHP called Cake. He then released the framework open source under the MIT license and opened it up to an online community of developers. In December 2005, L. Masters and GJ Woodworth founded the Cake Software Foundation to expand development related to CakePHP.
5. Symfony
Symfony is a PHP web application framework. A collection of reusable PHP components or libraries. Symfony was released as free software on October 18, 2005 and is licensed under the MIT license. Symfony aims to speed up the development and maintenance of web applications.
Also, Symfony aims to build robust applications in an enterprise context and also aims to provide developers with full control over configuration, from folder structure to external libraries. To accommodate enterprise development guidelines, Symfony is equipped with additional tools to help developers test, debug, and document projects.
Conclusion
In general, all PHP frameworks are of great help in web development. All of these (frameworks) have beauties and complexities that programmers must explore. Although not as popular as these five, YII and Phalcon are also preferred frameworks by developers.
So how do we know which PHP framework is the right choice for us?
This article will list the top 5 PHP frameworks to help you choose.
Why should you use a PHP framework?
The PHP framework provides a basic structure to facilitate the development of web applications. We use them because they speed up the development process.
Above all, the responsiveness of websites and applications built using PHP frameworks helps businesses meet their performance needs. So, there is no doubt that PHP frameworks will continue to gain attention and popularity in 2020.
1. Laravel
Launched in June 2011, Laravel is a free, open source PHP web framework created by Taylor Otwell. Designed for the development of web applications based on the model-view-controller architectural pattern and Symfony. Laravel's features include a modular packaging system with a dedicated dependency manager, various ways to access relational databases, and utilities that help deploy and maintain the application.
It is cross-platform with the source code hosted on GitHub and is licensed under the terms of the MIT License. Key design points include, but are not limited to: Bundles, Eloquent ROM, Query Builder, Application Logic, Reverse Routing, Restful Controllers, Class Auto Loading.
2. CodeIgniter
Released on February 28, 2006, licensed under the MIT license, CodeIgniter is an open source web framework used for building dynamic websites with PHP. Additionally, CodeIgniter is more flexible than other PHP frameworks and can be modified to use the Hierarchical Model View Controller, which allows developers to provide Controller, Model, and View module groupings organized in a subfolder format.
3. Zend
Zend was launched on March 3, 2006. is an open-source, object-oriented web application framework implemented in PHP 7 and licensed under the New BSD license. The Zend framework is primarily a collection of professional PHP-based packages. This framework uses various packages that use Composer as part of their package dependency managers. Zend frameworks provide users with Model View Controller (MVC) support along with Front Controller solution.
Zend Framework features include:
- All components are completely object oriented
- A usable architecture with loosely coupled components and minimal interdependencies
- Schemas and PHP-based templates that support MVC extended application
- Database system and vendor support
- Composition and delivery, receipt of e-mail
- With the help of remote procedure call (RPC) and REST (Representational State Transfer) services, Zend Apigility helps API developers to create, validate APIs, document APIs, Easy Modification.
CakePHP is an open source web framework written in PHP that follows the model-view-control (MVC) approach and was released in April 2005. Modeled after the concepts of Ruby on Rails and distributed under the MIT license. The convention over configuration uses well-known software engineering concepts and software design patterns such as model-view-controller, active logging, join data mapping, and front-end controller.
CakePHP started in 2005 when a Polish programmer, Michal Tatarynowicz, wrote a minimal version of a rapid application development in PHP called Cake. He then released the framework open source under the MIT license and opened it up to an online community of developers. In December 2005, L. Masters and GJ Woodworth founded the Cake Software Foundation to expand development related to CakePHP.
5. Symfony
Symfony is a PHP web application framework. A collection of reusable PHP components or libraries. Symfony was released as free software on October 18, 2005 and is licensed under the MIT license. Symfony aims to speed up the development and maintenance of web applications.
Also, Symfony aims to build robust applications in an enterprise context and also aims to provide developers with full control over configuration, from folder structure to external libraries. To accommodate enterprise development guidelines, Symfony is equipped with additional tools to help developers test, debug, and document projects.
Conclusion
In general, all PHP frameworks are of great help in web development. All of these (frameworks) have beauties and complexities that programmers must explore. Although not as popular as these five, YII and Phalcon are also preferred frameworks by developers.