PHP stands for hypertext Preprocessor. It is widely used to develop a dynamic website, static websites, and web applications.
PHP provides effective and simple scripting language to build whatever design or application you want to build. PHP offers a wide range of options to run code on various platforms like Windows, Mac OS, Linux, etc. it can compatible with most of the servers and supports a wide range of databases.
Most of the programmer prefers PHP rather than other platforms because it’s easy to learn and runs effectively on the server-side.
PHP codes run on the server-side and returned as plain HTML towards the browser.
It is a free open source and works with different types of frameworks. PHP frameworks help to simplify hard and complex code so a programmer can develop various web designs or applications in the shortest time possible.
Using the right types of PHP framework will save you lots of time and workload. As you know that PHP is ideal for those who want to start a coding career from scratch. PHP frameworks make it easier to develop design without putting so many efforts.
There are several PHP frameworks available in the market. But choosing the right framework is the first step towards your success in the web designing world.
Before we get the idea of which framework is best for web development in PHP, let’s learn some more about PHP frameworks.
What Is a PHP framework?
Whether you want to build a website or web application you need a platform to run code. PHP provides these platforms but it’s hard and time-consuming to work alone with PHP. That’s where PHP frameworks come into play.
PHP framework tends to provide a simple and more effective platform to develop a web application. It allows you to code fast, without producing repetitive code and provides a platform to build applications rapidly (RAD).
Without the PHP framework, you need to produce repetitive codes and it takes lots of time and workloads. You also want to build a connection between the web application and database while developing the application. With the help of the PHP framework, you can establish a connection with ease.
Why Choose a PHP framework?
As we said above the PHP framework simplifies your work. It has also more benefits:
- Boost up customer web design and application development
- Provides simple web application maintenance
- No more producing repetitive codes
- Work with any types of the database more effectively
- Secure your website from attacks
- Easily perform unit testing efficiently
Things to consider when choosing a framework
Nowadays several PHP frameworks come with different features. Before choosing the best PHP framework for Web Development you should look for some of the features.
1) Database Support
The database is of utmost importance for any web application. If you data decrypted or deleted you need database support to encrypt data in CMS. Many PHP frameworks don’t provide database supports so it might be possible that you’ll lose your data forever. While choosing a database for your project you also consider a framework that supports different databases and its type.
2) Community Support
Community supports has a vast impact on development. A community helps you or solve your doubt whenever you need it. While looking for a framework you also things about a strong community. Not in terms of size but in helpfulness and activity. If a framework has a small community but supports is highly impactful than you should choose it rather than the big size of the community where your question or query isn’t able to find the answer.
3) Documentation Support
Documentation helps to keep your updates and provides a guide to learn from it. You should look for a framework which has a vast library of documentation and user guide. Make sure that your framework kept up to date documentation and there are easy to follow. Never choose a framework without any documentation supports or no user guide at all. Documentation also teaches you some tricks and shortcuts to make your work more fast and convenient way.
4) Needs to capture your primary goals
First, consider your web application or website primary goals. It might be an e-commerce portal, blog, social media platform, business website, or anything. Now compare your goals with framework features. For example, a blog website needs themes, various plugins, and inventory to run easily. Choose a PHP framework which reflects these goals and provides all the necessary features and function.
5) Model View Controller Architecture
Never choose a PHP framework without model view controller architecture. Model view controller architecture contains libraries, plug-in, helpers, and extensions. Most of the framework offers these options. It’s good to choose a PHP framework with at least two of these options.
Top 10 Best PHP Frameworks for Web Development
1) Laravel
Laravel is among the best and widely used PHP frameworks. It provides amazing features that done your project rapidly. It allows developers to customize the app according to their needs including data migration, security, and MVC architecture support.
With the help of the Laravel PHP Framework, you can build robust and highly secure web development. It provides a faster pace than any other framework and simplifies web development with ease.
To know more about Laravel you can check our article Why Laravel is the best PHP framework to use in 2023. or Get in touch with our team and develop a better and efficient web application with the Laravel PHP Framework.
2) Symfony
Symfony is one of the earliest PHP frameworks introduced in 2005. For developing a web app and website Symfony is one of the reliable and flexible PHP frameworks. Symfony also is known as a PHP MVC framework that follows all the PHP standards.
Symfony can be easily modified and ideal for developing large scale projects. It is easy to install and configure on most platforms. It allows fast app development with the help of reusable components, a module system, and a small memory space.
Symfony has a built-in testing function to develop a web application without bug. Moreover, it also has great documentation and tutorial for beginners.
3) Codelgniter
Codelgniter PHP framework is ideal for developing a dynamic website and web application. Notably, it offers numerous features and modules which help developers build robust and standard web apps.
It requires little or no coding task and makes your work very easy. Furthermore, Codelgniter enhances your creativity and productivity which leads to better and durable web design.
It depends on the Model View Controller (MVC) architecture. In our opinion, Codelgniter is an excellent choice for beginners who just starting out and looking for a framework easy to learn. Moreover, it also has a bunch of documentation and tutorials to learn from.
4) Zend
Zend PHP framework is an excellent choice for enterprise-level web development and large IT departments and banks. One of the core benefits of Zen, it allows you to focus only on the components and functions you want. It can integrate with external libraries with ease.
Zend is built on agile methodology, design to deliver high-quality applications with a great level of security. Due to use at enterprise levels, it comes with high authentication, services, and more. It takes a long time to build the application, so it’s not an ideal choice for quick app development.
Zend framework tends to learn hard for beginners and takes lots of time to develop a design.
5) Phalcon
Phalcon has originally written in C and C++ programming language. It uses numerous features along with rapid speed to boost up your productivity. Phalcon constantly provides rapid speed and low resources to enhance the credibility of the application.
With Phalcon you get your hand dirty with its custom modules and library selection. While it delivers as a C extension you don’t have to worry about learning C programming language.
Phalcon offers execution speed, assets management, a universal autoloader, and top security. If you want to build a quick website give Phalcon a shot.
6) CakePHP
CakePHP is a free, open-source, and rapid development framework for PHP. Introduce in 2001, it aims to enable rapid structure and manner along with numerous features to build a flexible web application.
It offers code generation and scaffolding features to boost your web application credibility. One of the prominent features of CakePHP, you don’t need to add XML or YAML files. Just add your database and you’re good to go.
Furthermore, it has a set of conventions that guide you through web development. For security, it builds with tools like input validation, CSRF protection, Form tampering protection, SQL injection prevention.
7) Yii
Yii stands for Yes, it is!. It is a faster, more secure, and effective framework for PHP. It uses ‘Gil’ tools which help you to create code quickly. Also allows you to create controllers, modules, extensions, and much more.
It allows developers to organize logical and well-written code base to build web applications. It enables the Don’t Repeat Yourself (DRY) coding concept.
Yii has vast developers teams and communities to contribute to development. If you stuck somewhere you can post your issue in Yii forums.
8) FuelPHP
FuelPHP is a flexible and extendable PHP framework that implemented the Hierarchical Model View Controller HMVC pattern. It offers a great range of documentation for beginners to understand and learn. Also supports MVC along with an enhanced version of MVC.
It comes with voluntary class aka presenter class to hold logic required for the generation of views. It has a unique command-line utility to enhance web application elegancy.
FuelPHP is among the modern and advances PHP framework claims by creators. In web application security is one the core component to look for and FuelPHP just offers that. it has numerous security features and tackles the concern offering modules.
9) PHPixie
PHPixie supports Hierarchical Model-View-Controller (HMVC) just like FuelPHP. It builds with independent components and offers an impressive routing system.
Many developers prefer it instead of FuelPHP because of it’s lightweight and MongoDB supports. It’s an excellent choice for developing social networking sites, customized web applications, and dynamic websites.
PHPixie is easy to learn and allows you to customize your preferred modules and libraries. With PHPixie you can enjoy Linear code flow, Monggodb supports, and more.
10) Slim
Slim is an excellent choice for developing simple but powerful applications. it is a micro PHP framework used for building simple applications without the full-stack framework.
Even it packs with fewer features it has URL routing, session, and cookie encryption, client-side HTTP caching, and the support to ‘flash’ messages across HTTP requests.
Our Choice
We highly recommend the Laravel PHP framework above others. Laravel is an emerging start and not in the mood to stop. It powerful, more secure, flexible and comes with numerous features.
Advantages of Laravel:
- Wide range of documentation and modules & an ideal choice for beginner
- Easily works on advanced MVC architecture
- Allows you to customize the complex application, data migration, routing, view template engine, high authentication, and more
- It’s modern and highly expensive, and an excellent choice for B2B and enterprise-level web development
- For better performance, it runs task asynchronously
- Active community
Related : WordPress Plugin Benefits and Development Process
Which framework is ideal for me?
PHP frameworks are designed to simplify your task and reduce work in developing web applications. Every framework we listed in this guide comes with sets of features along with cons. They have different communities and documentation along with official supports. Therefore, the decision is up to you which framework best suited your requirements and factors like security, scalability, and more. So, before picking a framework, know your requirements and then start to use it.
Final Thought
There are enormous programming languages available in the market but PHP is still an adequate option when it comes to server-side scripting. Using a framework in PHP makes your task easier, flexible, and adds value to your web application. However, if you’re a PHP pro it still recommends using the Laravel PHP framework to develop a standard web application.
Laravel is an Open source PHP Framework, Laravel is designed to simplify your tasks and reduce complexity in developing Web Applications.
