There have been speculations that PHP may have become outdated, but it is important to note that it is still a thriving language.
There is a common misconception among people that PHP may no longer be popular or relevant, but the truth is that it has evolved significantly and remains an essential tool for building websites. In fact, it remains the most widely-used server-side programming language, powering a staggering 79% of all websites across the internet. As a result, developers continue to learn and leverage PHP to create robust and efficient websites.
The rising complexity of websites has made it increasingly crucial to prioritize accessibility, user experience, data security, and streamlined administration. In order to achieve these critical goals, programmers are constantly exploring innovative approaches to meet project deadlines more efficiently. One such approach is the use of frameworks, which have proven to be a powerful tool for enhancing programming efficiency and improving the overall quality of projects.
With the sheer variety of architectures available for achieving a specific goal, it can often be challenging to determine which solution will work best. To aid in this decision-making process, we have compiled a list of the top eight PHP frameworks for web development in 2023.
A web development framework serves as a powerful tool for building websites.
When it comes to software application development, having access to a reliable framework can be enormously helpful for developers. By leveraging a framework, developers can save significant time and effort that would otherwise be spent laying down the groundwork of a project. Instead, they can focus on the vital functionalities of the application without worrying about the nitty-gritty programming aspects. This is especially beneficial for commercial app development, where time is of the essence.
Top PHP Web Frameworks to Watch Out for in 2023
Laravel
Laravel is a powerful open-source PHP framework that is built around the Model View Controller (MVC) architectural design pattern. This framework provides developers with a range of tools and functionalities that enable the streamlined development and management of advanced web applications. With its many benefits and cost-effective nature, Laravel is consistently a top pick among developers looking to simplify and optimize their web development projects.
Regardless of the complexity of a project, developers are often confronted with a range of tedious and time-consuming tasks, such as debugging code and ensuring website security. While these may seem like small issues in isolation, they can quickly add up and cause major problems. Thankfully, Laravel framework provides a host of tools and functionalities that enable developers to simplify and automate these repetitive tasks, freeing them up to focus their attention on more complex and high-level tasks.
Benefits of leveraging the Laravel framework include:
- The framework makes it easier for developers to modify complex applications.
- Laravel enhances the security and performance of web applications.
- Laravel comes equipped with various valuable tools, including Artisan – a powerful built-in command tool that enables developers to automate an array of tedious processes. (Learn more about Artisan and its features in this article on autonomous endpoints in security efforts.)
- Laravel offers a robust database migration technology that allows for secure transfer of data from one platform to another, making it an essential feature for developers.
Yii
When it comes to developing cutting-edge web applications, Yii framework is an outstanding option. Named ‘Yes, It Is!’, Yii is an object-oriented PHP framework that offers high performance and an array of powerful features to help developers build secure, efficient and feature-rich applications. With its intuitive and well-documented API, Yii is effortless to learn and use, making it a top choice for any development project.
Yii framework is an excellent choice for web application development and is particularly well-suited for building secure and reliable applications efficiently. No matter the level of expertise, developers can leverage Yii’s powerful features to create top-quality web applications in a timely manner. With its vast capabilities and functionality, Yii offers a superb platform for building any type of web application with ease and reliability.
Yii framework is an advanced, highly efficient web application framework that is widely known for its Gii code generator tool. With this added functionality, developers have access to a web-based code interface that makes it much easier to create modules and models for their applications. This tool streamlines development, allowing developers fast access to the required code they need to complete their projects.
Benefits of utilizing the Yii framework include:
- Yii enhances the performance and functionality of websites and online applications.
- Developers can easily model database data as objects, eliminating the need to create numerous SQL statements manually.
- The vast community of users makes it easy to seek help while working on a project.
- Yii is an ideal option for online stores, discussion boards, and other public spaces due to its exceptional level of security and effortless setup process.
- Yii provides the flexibility to modify nearly every aspect of its core code, enabling expansions and customization.
Phalcon
Phalcon framework is known for its exceptional speed, which has led to it being compared to Flash if superheroes were real. Initially developed in C and C++ languages, it is now mostly maintained using PHP language. Additionally, Phalcon is distributed as a C-extension, meaning that users do not require prior knowledge of C to utilize this tool.
One of Phalcon’s most notable strengths is its exceptional speed and innovative architecture. It is straightforward to set up and is widely regarded as one of the most reliable frameworks for building complex projects, thanks to the plethora of tools integrated into the framework that are not found in other PHP frameworks. Since its initial release in 2012, Phalcon has continued to evolve, with significant progress in speed, caching, asset management, and other security features.
Advantages of utilizing the Phalcon framework include:
- Phalcon’s efficient memory usage results in optimal performance, allowing for websites that load quickly in practice.
- The setup process is straightforward and easy to follow.
- Frequent updates offer new features while improving existing ones.
- Phalcon boasts numerous features, including expedited loading times, robust asset management, and a global autoloader, among others.
- It can immensely benefit developers working on intricate systems.
- Being built on a modular framework, it can seamlessly adapt to new scenarios.
CakePHP
CakePHP, a well-established PHP framework, has continually proven to be an excellent choice for developers due to its core features including code caching, validation, translation, and database access, which simplify the development process. It is also compatible with older browsers, thereby enabling web designers to create visually appealing websites, which is especially important for commercial websites. Additionally, CakePHP offers robust security measures, including defenses against SQL injection and cross-site scripting.
Benefits offered by utilizing the CakePHP framework:
- As it adheres to the well-established CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) paradigm, it is highly recommended for beginners learning programming basics.
- The setup process is straightforward and user-friendly.
- The security and ability to create visually pleasing elements make it an ideal choice for e-commerce and other business websites.
- The development community offers ample support, and there is abundant documentation available.
Coding with Igniter
CodeIgniter, a lightweight web application framework, weighing only 2MB, is a top choice for developers seeking to increase productivity and optimize their workflow. It provides a comprehensive set of tools for developing complex web applications with pre-built components, efficient error handling, and streamlined security and encryption protocols. Additionally, CodeIgniter incorporates standard libraries utilized by contemporary programmers, making it a comprehensive option for developers.
Here are some benefits offered by utilizing the CodeIgniter framework:
- The simple procedure and thorough instructions make it an ideal choice for beginners.
- The framework features a built-in security mechanism and a multi-versioned binary (MVB) structure.
- CodeIgniter’s speed is especially remarkable when compared to other frameworks because of its small size.
- It generates clean and easy-to-read Uniform Resource Locators (URLs).
Symfony
Symfony is an open-source web development framework that is widely renowned for its ability to create sophisticated enterprise websites. It adheres to the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern and incorporates a set of command-line tools aimed at expediting web development. One of the framework’s primary advantages is its ability to enable developers to produce code with fewer lines, while also exhibiting a 7% faster speed than other frameworks, resulting in seamless app performance.
Additionally, this framework facilitates customization of web programs to suit individual user preferences. On the one hand, the full-stack approach allows for the development of complex web products with an array of features. On the other hand, it is also feasible to build web applications with limited functionality using the step-by-step Brick by Brick approach.
Here are some advantages of utilizing the Symfony framework:
- Easy setup and management.
- The framework comprises PHP libraries and components that can be reused.
- Excellent flexibility.
- Symfony components are utilized in content management systems like Drupal.
- A large number of individuals ready and willing to lend a hand and offer support.
Zend
Using Zend, an object-oriented PHP framework that has been downloaded over 570 million times, developers can create professional websites. Thanks to its implementation of object-oriented principles such as inheritance and interfaces, Zend components are highly extensible, enabling programmers to make necessary modifications. One of the framework’s notable advantages is its suitability for use in Agile Application Development, owing to its efficient development process, strong security, comprehensive documentation, easy installation, and minimal setup requirements. In other words, technology teams using the Agile approach can effectively implement this framework.
Here are some benefits of the Zend framework:
- The framework contains top-of-the-line features such as MVC components and encrypted data storage.
- The framework allows access to third-party libraries.
- Zend components streamline the task of creating new tasks with services, forms, and authentication being among the components provided.
- With a large community and comprehensive documentation, the framework is well-supported.
Fuel
FuelPHP is a framework that developers should seriously consider due to its utilization of HMVC (Hierarchical Model View Controller) and other significant features that help save time and resources. The framework’s output encoding and URI filtering are noteworthy for ensuring a secure system, and its architecture has proven to be an effective solution for platforms of various sizes.
Here are some benefits of the FuelPHP framework:
- FuelPHP boasts various useful features, including RESTful implementation, URL routing system, vulnerability prevention, and a caching mechanism.
- Setting up and using it as a user is trouble-free.
- The framework’s vast user base results in the continuous development and release of new and updated packages and add-ons.
- FuelPHP’s Auth package comprises numerous modules capable of performing various authentication and authorization tasks.
Using frameworks to assist in website development has been proven advantageous for software developers. We recommend exploring the available frameworks to choose the most suitable one for your web application project.
When it comes to web design, aesthetics are only one aspect to consider. For elements that require technical knowledge, it’s best to hire a competent remote PHP developer to manage your website, freeing you to focus on running your business. Our team can assist you in finding the ideal developer for the job, capable of crafting an innovative website. This is no exaggeration, but a reality. If interested, please do not hesitate to contact us.
