One of the types of software that’s important for a web developer is the web framework. A framework “is a code library that makes a developer’s life easier when building reliable, scalable, and maintainable web applications” by providing reusable code or extensions for common operations. By saving development time, developers can concentrate on application logic rather than mundane elements.
A web framework offers the developer a choice about how to solve a specific problem. By using a framework, a developer lets the framework control portions of their application. While it’s perfectly possible to code a web application without using a framework, it’s more practical to use one.
PHP has been at the helm of the web for many years. It’s an extremely popular, interpreted scripting language that is ideally suited for web development in part because it has an approachable syntax and supports different operating systems. This language powers millions of web sites on the net and is extremely well supported by its user community.
When it comes to web development, there are a wide range of PHP frameworks to choose. The choice depends on finding the right tool for the job at hand. Here’s our pick of the finest PHP web frameworks.
Let’s explore the 17 PHP web frameworks. For each program we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, together with links to relevant resources.
| PHP Web Frameworks | |
|---|---|
| Laravel | Web application framework with expressive, elegant syntax |
| Phalcon | High performance, full-stack PHP framework delivered as a C extension |
| CakePHP | MVC rapid application development framework |
| Symfony | Full-stack PHP framework built on reusable components |
| CodeIgniter | Powerful framework with a very small footprint |
| Yii | High-performance component-based framework |
| Tempest | Modern PHP framework for building full-stack web applications |
| Fat-Free | Powerful micro-framework to build dynamic and robust Web applications |
| Mako | Lightweight and easy to use PHP framework |
| Pop PHP | Toolkit for rapid application development |
| Spiral Framework | High-performance, full-stack PHP framework |
| SilverStripe | CMS and PHP web application framework |
| Smart Framework | PHP and JavaScript web framework |
| Nette Framework | Family of mature and stand-alone PHP components |
| Laminas | Enterprise-ready PHP components and middleware tools |
| PHPixie | Modern component based PHP framework |
| Koseven | Object-oriented HMVC framework for PHP |
This article has been updated to reflect the changes outlined in our recent announcement.
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