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9-best-php-framework
  • Industry: PHP Development
  • Timeline: Feb 22, 2017
  • Writer: Saima Naz

9 Best PHP Frameworks For Modern Web Developers in 2017

PHP is a stand-out among the most widely used web programming languages and is utilized to build complex websites and web application development services. The top PHP frameworks include CakePHP, Laravel, CodeIgniter, Symfony, and several others that have become essential tools for modern developers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Modern PHP frameworks provide developers with powerful tools to help them build applications faster while keeping the code organized and reliable.
  • Popular frameworks such as Laravel, CodeIgniter, Symfony, CakePHP, and Yii offer tools that simplify application development and maintenance.
  • Choosing the right PHP framework can help you develop a website faster, more efficiently, and more easily.

What is PHP and why do we use PHP Frameworks?

PHP is a free, open-source, server-side scripting language. It is a very popular, secure, and stable scripting language.

The usage of PHP frameworks is increasing day by day. PHP frameworks let developers initiate innovative modern website development practices.

Here are some top reasons for developers to adopt the best PHP frameworks and see how these top PHP frameworks can level up the development process:

  •         Rapid speed development
  •         Gives well-organized, reusable, and maintainable code.
  •         The web apps that run on PHP frameworks are scalable.
  •         High level of security for your PHP site.
  •         MVC pattern ensures the separation of presentation and logic.
  •         Promote modern web development practices such as OOP.

We are sharing below a list of the most popular and best 2017 PHP web development frameworks.

Laravel

Laravel is the most prominent and best PHP framework in comparison with the other frameworks. Although it is a relatively new framework, it has become the most important PHP framework because of its fantastic features, which are helpful for the rapid application development process.

Laravel supports a wide range of databases. Laravel provides an immense ecosystem with an instant hosting and deployment platform. Laravel’s lightweight templating engine called “BLADE” helps with repetitive tasks such as:

  •         Authentication
  •         Sessions
  •         Caching
  •         Queuing
  •         RESTful Routing

Latest Version: The latest version of Laravel is Laravel 5.4

CodeIgniter

CodeIgniter is a lightweight PHP framework with a very straightforward installation process and requires minimal configuration. The framework has some attractive features and functionalities and is an ideal choice for PHP developers.

This second-best PHP framework can work on all shared and dedicated hosting platforms. The framework, CodeIgniter, gives great freedom to PHP developers because it is not strictly based on the MVC development pattern. Third-party plugins can also be added in this framework for more complicated functionalities. The CodeIgniter framework has numerous components such as easy error handling, no PHP adaptation struggle, and simple security and encryption steps.

Latest Version: CodeIgniter 4 is the new upcoming and latest version of this Framework.

Cake PHP

CakePHP is another famous PHP framework. It offers fast and reliable development solutions. The latest version of CakePHP is 3.0, with enhanced session management, improved modularity, and the ability to create more standalone libraries.

It is considered the best PHP framework as it provides a high level of security to web apps with its built-in security features such as SQL injection prevention, XSS (cross-site scripting) prevention, and CSRF(cross-site request forgery) protection. This framework of PHP has kept its popularity intact among the other PHP frameworks.

Latest Version: The latest version of CakePHP is CakePHP 3.4

Symfony

Among the fantastic frameworks of PHP, Symfony is one of them. It is an adaptable, versatile, and intense PHP framework for MVC applications. The developer community of Symfony is very large.

PHP libraries of Symfony are reusable and can complete different tasks with it, such as form creation, object configuration, routing, authentication, templating, and much more. There’s a portfolio section available in the web application to get an insight of the finished projects of this framework.

Latest Version: Symfony version 3.2.3 is the recommended version of this PHP Framework.

Zend

Zend Framework is scalable, making it famous because of the web-based training and accreditation. Big business associations utilize the framework. This Zend framework is highly not recommended for smaller projects and is an excellent one for complex ones. Zend is partnered with Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Adobe and possesses many cool features such as cryptographic coding tools, an easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor to support front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Latest Version: The current and latest version of Zend is Zend Framework 3, which is PHP 7 optimized.

Yii Framework

Yii Framework is a highly popular PHP framework for large-scale website development. The framework is very extensible, and it fits your requirements.

The features offered by this framework include faster performance in comparison with other frameworks, integrated with jQuery & AJAX features. The framework consists a powerful class code generator called Gii which supports OOP concepts, rapid prototyping and provides a web-based interface to easily generate the code you desired.

Latest Version: The latest version of the Yii framework is Yii 2, which was released on 1st Feb 2017.

Slim

Slim, a lightweight micro framework of PHP, is suitable for small to medium PHP websites. Slim was created in an inspiration of the Ruby microframework called “Sinatra”

The framework is used for the development of RESTFul API’s and services. The good features of this framework include Client-side HTTP Caching, URL routing, session and cookie routing, and support for flash messages across HTTP requests.

Latest Version: The latest version of the Slim framework is 4.0

Phalcon

Phalcon PHP framework is fast in performance because it is written in C and C++ and can get the highest level of performance optimization with it. It’s a well-documented and easy-to-use framework.

The standard features of this framework include Universal Auto Loader, Asset Management, Security, Translation, and Caching. Phalcon decreases resource usage and boosts execution speeds.

Latest Version: The latest version of Phalcon is 5.3

FuelPHP

FuelPHP, a flexible, full-stack PHP framework, supports not only the MVC pattern but also the evolved version HMVC (Hierarchical Model-View-Controller) at the architecture level. The framework comes with detailed and comprehensive documentation.

The framework is modular and extendable, taking care of all the security concerns with its features like input and URI filtering and output encoding.

Latest Version: The latest version of the FuelPHP framework is 5.3.3

Conclusion:

PHP frameworks continue to play a vital role in modern web development by improving productivity, security, and application performance. The right framework simplifies development and supports future growth.

Connect with Arpatech to explore custom PHP development solutions customized for your business requirements. If you’re ready to upgrade your online presence, let’s create something better together.