The most popular PHP Frameworks (in 2023)
As we have seen in a previous story, PHP has been, still is, and will be a common programming language for many years, and it is safe to learn it.
This also means it makes sense to learn at least how to use one PHP Framework, as it’s widespread to use such tools to develop robust web applications powered by PHP.
What are the most popular PHP Frameworks?
There are many options available out there, and there will probably be more options in the future, but for now, here are the six most popular PHP frameworks based on their popularity and usage:
Laravel is a comprehensive PHP framework that provides a range of features and tools for building web applications, including routing, database migration, and more. It has a large, active community known for its clean, elegant syntax.
Here are some of its strong points:
- Laravel’s Artisan: Laravel includes a command-line tool called Artisan that can perform various tasks such as generating code, running database migrations, and more.
- Laravel’s Eloquent ORM: Laravel’s Eloquent ORM provides a simple and elegant way to work with databases. It uses an Active Record pattern, which makes it easy to query and manipulate data.
- Laravel’s Blade templating engine: Laravel uses the Blade templating engine, which is simple and easy to use. It allows you to use PHP code in your templates, making it easy to build dynamic views.
- Laravel’s Routing: Laravel provides a simple and flexible routing system that allows you to map URLs to controller actions. It also supports route parameters and wildcards, making it easy to build complex routes.
- Laravel’s Dependency injection: Laravel uses a dependency injection container to manage your application’s dependencies. This makes testing and maintaining your code easier, as you can easily swap out dependencies without changing the code.
- Laravel’s Events: Laravel has an event system that allows you to listen to and respond to events triggered within your application. This can add custom behaviour to your application without modifying the core code.
CodeIgniter is a lightweight PHP framework designed to be simple and fast. It is easy to learn and provides a range of features for building web applications, including support for database access and email sending.
Here are some of its strong points:
- CodeIgniter’s Lightweight: CodeIgniter is a lightweight framework designed to be easy to install and use. It has a small footprint and does not require a lot of configuration, making it a good choice for developers who want to get started quickly.
- CodeIgniter’s MVC architecture: CodeIgniter uses the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, which separates the application logic from the user interface. This makes it easier to develop and maintain large applications.
- CodeIgniter’s Easy to learn: CodeIgniter is easy to learn and understand, particularly for developers familiar with PHP. It has clear, concise documentation and a simple, intuitive API.
- CodeIgniter’s Active record: CodeIgniter includes an Active Record implementation, making it easy to work with databases. It provides a simple and intuitive interface for performing database operations such as inserting, updating, and deleting records.
- CodeIgniter’s Form validation: CodeIgniter provides a powerful form validation system that allows you to validate form data on the server side. It supports a wide range of validation rules and can be customized to meet the needs of your application.
- CodeIgniter’s Security: CodeIgniter provides a range of security features, such as input validation, cross-site scripting (XSS) protection, and cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection, to help you build secure applications.
Symfony is a powerful, robust, flexible PHP framework designed to be scalable and reusable. Many large projects, including the Drupal content management system and Laravel, use Symfony components.
Here are some of its strong points:
- Symfony’s Components: Symfony is built on top of a set of independent components that can be used to build web applications and services. These components include features such as an HTTP foundation, a routing system, a templating engine, and more.
- Symfony’s Bundles: Symfony uses bundles to organize code and resources. Bundles can be considered plug-ins that can be added to a Symfony application to provide additional functionality.
- Symfony’s Configuration: Symfony uses a configuration system that allows you to customize the behaviour of your application without modifying the code. This makes it easy to change your application’s configuration without redeploying it.
- Symfony’s Dependency injection: Symfony uses a dependency injection container to manage your application’s dependencies. This makes testing and maintaining your code easier, as you can easily swap out dependencies without changing the code.
- Symfony’s Event system: Symfony has an event system that allows you to listen to and respond to events triggered within your application. This can add custom behaviour to your application without modifying the core code.
- Symfony’s Console: Symfony has a console tool that can run commands and scripts from the command line. This can be useful for running database migrations or generating code.
CakePHP is a rapid development framework for PHP designed to make it easy to build web applications quickly. It provides a range of features and tools, including support for database access, routing, and more.
Here are some of its strong points:
- CakePHP’s Convention over configuration: CakePHP follows a convention over configuration philosophy, which means that it has a set of conventions for naming and organizing code that you can follow to build your application quickly.
- CakePHP’s ORM: CakePHP includes a built-in ORM that allows you to work with databases using a simple and intuitive interface. It uses an Active Record pattern, which makes it easy to query and manipulate data.
- CakePHP’s Form validation: CakePHP provides a powerful form validation system that allows you to validate form data on the server side. It supports a wide range of validation rules and can be customized to meet the needs of your application.
- CakePHP’s Routing: CakePHP provides a simple and flexible routing system that allows you to map URLs to controller actions. It also supports route parameters and wildcards, making it easy to build complex routes.
- CakePHP’s Caching: CakePHP has a built-in caching system that allows you to cache data, views, and other parts of your application to improve performance.
- CakePHP’s Security: CakePHP provides a range of security features, such as input validation, cross-site scripting (XSS) protection, and cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection, to help you build secure applications.
Yii is a high-performance PHP framework designed to build web applications quickly. It provides a range of features and tools, including support for database access, caching, and more.
Here are some of its strong points:
- Yii’s MVC architecture: Yii uses the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, which separates the application logic from the user interface. This makes it easier to develop and maintain large applications.
- Yii’s Active record: Yii includes an Active Record implementation, which makes it easy to work with databases. It provides a simple and intuitive interface for performing database operations such as inserting, updating, and deleting records.
- Yii’s Query builder: Yii provides a query builder tool that allows you to build complex database queries using a simple, fluent interface.
- Yii’s Form validation: Yii provides a powerful form validation system that allows you to validate form data on the server side. It supports a wide range of validation rules and can be customized to meet the needs of your application.
- Yii’s Caching: Yii has a built-in caching system that allows you to cache data, views, and other parts of your application to improve performance.
- Yii’s Security: Yii provides a range of security features, such as input validation, cross-site scripting (XSS) protection, and cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection, to help you build secure applications.
Zend Framework is a collection of professional PHP packages that can be used to build web applications and services. It is highly extensible and can be used to build many applications.
Here are some of its strong points:
- Zend’s Extensibility: Zend Framework is highly extensible and can be used to build many applications. It includes various components that can be used to build web applications and services, such as an HTTP foundation, a routing system, and a templating engine.
- Zend’s MVC architecture: Zend Framework uses the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, which separates the application logic from the user interface. This makes it easier to develop and maintain large applications.
- Zend’s Security: Zend Framework provides a range of security features, such as input validation, cross-site scripting (XSS) protection, and cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection, to help you build secure applications.
- Zend’s Object-oriented design: Zend Framework follows an object-oriented design, which makes it easier to build modular and reusable code.
- Zend’s Professional support: Zend Framework is backed by Zend Technologies, a professional PHP company which provides commercial support and training for the framework.
- Zend’s Large community: Zend Framework has a large and active community of developers, with several conferences and events focused on the framework.
And what is my recommendation?
It is difficult to recommend a single “best” PHP framework, as your best choice will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Different frameworks are better suited to different projects, and what works well for one developer or project may not be the best fit for another.
That being said, Symfony is my preferred PHP framework and is often considered one of the most popular (if not the best) choices for building enterprise-level, secure and robust web applications.
Another popular and widely-recommended PHP framework is Laravel, as it is a comprehensive framework that provides a range of features and tools for building web applications and has a large and active community of developers.
Ultimately, the best framework for you will depend on your specific needs and goals. It may be helpful to try out a few different frameworks to see which one works best for you.
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Resources
PHP Framework websites:
- https://laravel.com/
- https://codeigniter.com/
- https://symfony.com/
- https://cakephp.org/
- https://www.yiiframework.com/
- https://framework.zend.com/
Images
- https://dartinnovations.com/best-free-php-frameworks-2/
- https://blog.tommyku.com/blog/using-laravel-resource-controller-with-angularjs-ngresource/
- https://www.blogforlearning.com/2019/06/how-to-activate-codeigniter-profiler.html
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Symfony2.svg
- https://cakephp.org/logos
- https://logos-download.com/11369-yii-framework-logo-download.html
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ZendFramework-Logo.png
- https://openwebinars.net/blog/laravel-vs-symfony-que-framework-php-elegir/
