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A Best PHP Frameworks is a base on which PHP web apps can be built. PHP frameworks have libraries for functions that are often used. This makes it easier for writers to write less code from scratch. A PHP framework is a simple building block for making PHP web applications. Frameworks are helpful because they speed up and standardize the development process.
This makes it easier to figure out how to start making an app. There are many frameworks available today to help writers get things done faster, and each one has its own pros and cons. So, how do you figure out which PHP system is the best? We looked into the most popular PHP frameworks for web development in 2023 and put together a list of them so you can choose the one that works best for your project.
Best PHP Frameworks Comparison Table
| Framework | Architecture | Database Support | ORM | Routing | Testing Support | Security Features | Performance | Community |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laravel | Model-View-Controller | Multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.) | Eloquent ORM | Powerful routing | Integrated unit testing | XSS protection, CSRF protection, authentication and authorization | Good performance | Large and active |
| CodeIgniter | Model-View-Controller | Multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.) | No built-in ORM | Simple and flexible | Basic testing support | Input data filtering, XSS protection | Good performance | Active with good docs |
| Symfony | Model-View-Controller | Multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.) | Doctrine ORM | Flexible | Integrated unit testing | Comprehensive security features | Good performance | Large and active |
| CakePHP | Model-View-Controller | Multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.) | CakePHP ORM | Powerful | Integrated testing | Built-in security features | Good performance | Active with good docs |
| Laminas Project | Model-View-Controller | Multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.) | No built-in ORM | Flexible | Testing components | Security features provided | Good performance | Active with good docs |
| Zend Framework | Model-View-Controller | Multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.) | No built-in ORM | Powerful | Testing components | Security features provided | Good performance | Active with good docs |
| Phalcon | Model-View-Controller | Multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.) | Phalcon ORM | Powerful | Testing components | Built-in security features, high performance | High performance | Active community |
Laravel
| Product Name | Laravel |
|---|---|
| Version | Latest version available |
| Architecture | Model-View-Controller (MVC) |
| Database | Supports multiple databases (MySQL, SQLite, PostgreSQL, etc.) |
| Templating | Blade templating engine |
| ORM | Eloquent ORM |
| Routing | Powerful routing system |
| Testing | Integrated unit testing support |
| Security | Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection |
| Community | Large and active community |
Laravel has become the Best PHP Frameworks free, open-source PHP framework in the world since it came out in 2011. Why? Because it can handle safe, complicated web applications much faster than other frameworks. It also has a beautiful syntax and puts a lot of thought into the coder experience.
Laravel makes it easier to build software by making jobs like routing, sessions, caching, and authentication easier. It has a PHP template engine called Blade, but you can also use it with front-end JavaScript tools like Vue.js or React.
The Good
- Beautiful grammar and easy to use
- A rich ecosystem with lots of packages and add-ons
- Authentication, caching, and database management are all built in.
The Bad
- Beginners will have to learn more quickly.
CodeIgniter
| Product Name | CodeIgniter |
|---|---|
| Version | Latest version available |
| Architecture | Model-View-Controller (MVC) |
| Database | Supports multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, etc.) |
| Templating | Custom templating engine |
| ORM | No built-in ORM |
| Routing | Simple and flexible routing system |
| Testing | Basic testing support |
| Security | Input data filtering and XSS protection |
| Community | Active community with good documentation |
CodeIgniter is a Best PHP Frameworks for building dynamic websites. It is known for having a small footprint (including the instructions, it is only about 2 MB in size). It comes with a lot of pre-built pieces that help you make strong and reusable parts.
CodeIgniter is a PHP system that is very simple and light. It is also very easy to set up. It’s great for beginners because it’s easy to set up and the instructions is very clear. The MVC design, top-notch error handling, built-in security tools, and clear and thorough documentation are some of the most important features. You can also make scalable apps with CodeIgniter.
The Good
- Simple and quick framework
- Syntax that is easy to understand
- Minimal configuration required
The Bad
- Compared to other frameworks, it doesn’t have as many features built in.
Symfony
| Product Name | Symfony |
|---|---|
| Version | Latest version available |
| Architecture | Model-View-Controller (MVC) |
| Database | Supports multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, etc.) |
| Templating | Twig templating engine |
| ORM | Doctrine ORM |
| Routing | Flexible routing system |
| Testing | Integrated unit testing support |
| Security | Comprehensive security features |
| Community | Large and active community |
Symfony is a Best PHP Frameworks for web apps that need to be able to grow. It has a lot of features, and its modular component system lets writers pick and choose the parts they need for their projects. Symfony is easy to set up and run on most platforms, which makes it the best choice for making enterprise-level apps.
Some of its most important features are PHP components that can be used more than once, freedom from the database engine, stability, and adherence to most web best practices and design patterns. Symfony is very flexible and can be used with tools from other vendors.
The Good
- Framework that is highly adaptable and scalable
- Full set of parts that can be used over and over
- Strong security features and testing tools built in
The Bad
- The learning curve is pretty steep, especially for beginners.
CakePHP
| Product Name | CakePHP |
|---|---|
| Version | Latest version available |
| Architecture | Model-View-Controller (MVC) |
| Database | Supports multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, etc.) |
| Templating | Custom templating engine |
| ORM | CakePHP ORM |
| Routing | Powerful routing system |
| Testing | Integrated testing framework |
| Security | Built-in security features |
| Community | Active community with good documentation |
CakePHP is a free and open-source Best PHP Frameworks that facilitates rapid development of web applications by adhering to the MVC architectural pattern. It is very easy to use, requires very little setting, and assists in the development of web applications that are both visually appealing and abundant in features.
Security features include techniques for encryption, password hashing, SQL injection prevention, input validation, cross-site request forgery (CSRF), and cross-site scripting (XSS) protection; as a result, it is an excellent option for designing corporate level applications.
The Good
- Convention-over-configuration is a method for fast development.
- Structure and code generation are built in.
- Excellent database support and ORM integration
The Bad
- Compared to some other frameworks, it has less flexibility.
Laminas Project
| Product Name | Laminas Project |
|---|---|
| Version | Latest version available |
| Architecture | Model-View-Controller (MVC) |
| Database | Supports multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, etc.) |
| Templating | Custom templating engine |
| ORM | No built-in ORM |
| Routing | Flexible routing system |
| Testing | Testing components available |
| Security | Security features provided |
| Community | Active community and good documentation |
The Best PHP Frameworks offered by Laminas is an object-oriented and MVC-based framework that gives you the ability to load only the components you require in the form of separate libraries. Additionally, both the components and the MVC framework adhere to the enterprise development principles, which makes them appropriate for the creation of sophisticated web applications.
It is feasible to reuse a lot of code since this strategy and the object-oriented architecture of the framework make it viable to do so. Additionally, the platform’s capability may be easily expanded by integrating it with supplemental third-party libraries, which is a simple process.
The Good
- Framework that is highly modular and flexible
- Extensive collection of reusable components
The Bad
- Needs to know a lot about OOP and design patterns
Zend Framework
| Product Name | Zend Framework |
|---|---|
| Version | Latest version available |
| Architecture | Model-View-Controller (MVC) |
| Database | Supports multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, etc.) |
| Templating | Custom templating engine |
| ORM | No built-in ORM |
| Routing | Powerful routing system |
| Testing | Testing components available |
| Security | Security features provided |
| Community | Active community and good documentation |
Zend is a web application platform that was Best PHP Frameworks and created on March 3, 2006. It is free and can be used by anyone. It is a group of more than 60 packages that can be found on GitHub and loaded with composer. Zend is a completely object-oriented language that was built on the MVC design pattern. The agile method was used to make Zend, which helps the enterprise client get a high-quality program.
Zend has business deals with IBM, Google, Microsoft, and Adobe. Zend Framework version 2 has many features, such as a drag-and-drop editor that works with front-end technologies (HTML, JavaScript, and CSS), a cryptographic coding tool, a PHP Unit testing tool, online debugging that works right away, and a connected database wizard.
The Good
- Framework that’s mature and full of features
- High level of being able to be changed and added to
The Bad
- Can be too much for first-timers and smaller projects.
Phalcon
| Product Name | Phalcon |
|---|---|
| Version | Latest version available |
| Architecture | Model-View-Controller (MVC) |
| Database | Supports multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, etc.) |
| Templating | Custom templating engine |
| ORM | Phalcon ORM |
| Routing | Powerful routing system |
| Testing | Testing components available |
| Security | Built-in security features |
| Performance | High-performance framework |
| Community | Active community and good documentation |
Phalcon is a C-extension that is a full-stack web platform and it is the Best PHP Frameworks. It came out on November 14, 2012, and is covered by the BSD License. Andres Gutierrez and a group of people who work with him make the Phalcon system. Phalcon is a mix of the languages C and PHP, but coders don’t have to know C to use Phalcon.
It uses the MVC (Model View Controller) design style and is free to use. Both relational and non-relational systems can be used with Phalcon. It is the first system to use the ORM method in the C programming language. Phalcon is a system with loose connections.
The Good
- Because it is a C-extension, it works very quickly.
- Low resource consumption
- Syntax that is easy to understand
The Bad
- Compared to frameworks that have been around longer, it has less documentation and learning resources.
FAQs
A: It’s technically possible to use more than one PHP framework at the same time, but it’s usually not a good idea. Each framework has its own design, rules, and patterns, which can cause problems and make things more complicated when they are used together. It’s best to pick a single structure that fits the needs of your project and use its features and abilities.
A: Most PHP platforms are free to use and have open source code. You can download, install, and use them to make web apps without having to pay for a license. But some frameworks have extra features or business editions that may cost extra or require a subscription or license.
A: PHP frameworks are made to be flexible so that coders can add to or change their features. Most frameworks have ways to change different parts of the framework, such as hooks, filters, and extension points. But it’s important to understand the design of the framework and follow best practices to make sure that your custom code is compatible and easy to fix.