8 Best PHP Frameworks for Web Developers

Developing an app or a web site from scratch involves tons of work. In many cases, you’ll get to recreate functions that have already been made thousands of times, which is about as efficient as reinventing the wheel. Software frameworks can assist you to circumvent this problem, by providing you with a foundation, you'll repose on.

In this article, PHP developer in USA assist you to find the simplest PHP framework for your development work, by introducing you to eight of the highest options.

We’ll mention each framework’s pros and cons, its technical specifications, and more. Let’s get to it!

8 of the simplest PHP Frameworks for Web Development

1. Laravel

2. CodeIgniter

3. Symfony

4. Zend

5. Phalcon

6. CakePHP

7. Yii

8. FuelPHP

If you’ve ever used frameworks before, then you’ll know that every tool is extremely unique. Thereupon in mind, we’re getting to do our greatest to supply all the knowledge you’ll get to pick the simplest PHP framework for you. All of those options are free and open-source, so you'll try whichever ones spark your interest.

The best PHP frameworks bellow are ordered by their popularity, technical specifications, and therefore the ability to extend development efficiency:

1. Laravel

When people mention PHP frameworks, one among the names that tend to crop up most frequently is Laravel. This particular framework is renowned for its elegant syntax, which is simple to know and a pleasure to figure with.

Web developer in USA suggest with Lavarel, you'll get to figure on your projects rapidly. You’ll even be ready to skip tons of groundwork since you get access to functions like user authentication, session management, and caching. Overall, Laravel packs all the functionality you’ll got to build a contemporary PHP application, which is saying tons.

If you’re curious about the technical reasons that using Laravel are often good idea, we will sum those up easily. First, Laravel core is solid from a performance standpoint, and you'll extend the framework employing a lot of add-ons.

Laravel also integrates beautifully with other third-party libraries and platforms, like Amazon Web Services (AWS), which enables you to create highly-scalable applications. For long-running tasks, you'll queue them to run asynchronously within the background, which helps to enhance performance even further.

Key Features:

Use a framework that prides itself on elegant syntax

Extend Laravel’s core functionality using add-ons

Use built-in functions to handle routing, user management, caching, and many more

Integrate Laravel with third-party libraries and platforms like AWS

Run tasks asynchronously within the background to enhance performance

Finally, Laravel boasts a highly-active community, which suggests finding help or tutorials isn't a challenge. If this is often your first time employing a framework, that creates Laravel a good better option.

2. CodeIgniter

CodeIgniter may be a PHP framework that uses a Model View Controller (MVC) architecture. In layman’s terms, meaning CodeIgniter uses different components to handle specific development tasks. This approach is well-liked among developers because it enables you to create highly-scalable web applications with a smaller footprint.

If you’re new PHP frameworks, CodeIgniter are often a wonderful choice, because it’s rather easy to find out and obtain started with. Plus, the platform boasts excellent documentation, which suggests you shouldn’t have an excessive amount of trouble learning the fundamentals. CodeIgniter also offers solid performance, which suggests it’s perfect if you would like to create lightweight applications that run well on modest servers.

Key Features:

Use a light-weight framework built with performance in mind

Get started quickly, because of the framework’s simplicity and excellent documentation

Create scalable apps using the framework’s MVC-based architecture

There are tons of pros to using CodeIgniter. However, we’re wary about calling it the simplest PHP framework, because it also comes with some downsides. For instance, its releases are somewhat irregular, so it's going to not be the highest option for applications that need high-level security standards.

3. Symfony

If there have been a contest for the simplest PHP framework, Symfony would be right up there with CodeIgniter and Laravel in terms of recognition. Once you begin digging into the framework, it becomes easy to ascertain why.

Along with having a cool name, Symfony is very flexible. It features a bundle and component system that permits you to cherry-pick the PHP functions you would like, or just use the whole framework.

To ensure that your applications run as they ought to, the framework also includes built-in testing functionality. In our experience, however, applications built using Symfony often don’t have the simplest performance. Plus, the framework features a very steep learning curve in comparison to the opposite options we’ve seen thus far.

Key Features:

Use a highly flexible framework that permits you to line up individual components

Take advantage of the framework’s built-in testing functionality

Learn how to use the platform through its excellent documentation

Symfony are often a robust option if you care about modularity. you'll just use the components you would like rather than a full library, which may make this the simplest PHP framework if you simply need a touch help.

4. Zend

A lot of individuals ask Zend as a ‘glue’ framework, which may be a way of pertaining to its component-based nature. Zend is an object-oriented, MVC-based framework that permits you to load only the components you would like as individual libraries.

To put it differently, Zend enables you to focus only on the components and functions you would like , and ignore everything else. Because of this approach and also the framework’s object-oriented nature, you must be ready to reuse tons of the code you write, which is usually great news. Additionally, it’s quite easy to integrate the platform with external libraries to increase its functionality even further.

Key Features:

Use a PHP object-oriented framework with an MVC architecture

Re-use your code because of the platform’s design

Integrate Zend with external libraries easily

Use only the components you would like, and ignore everything else

However, there are a couple of downsides to using Zend. The platform is fairly complex to select up, as an example. In our experience, if you’re moving from a tool like Laravel to Zend, the jump are often quite challenging, and it are often somewhat intimidating if it’s your first framework. Still, Zend are often the simplest PHP framework if you've got development experience and you wish object-oriented coding.

5. Phalcon

Phalcon may be a little bit of an oddity when it involves PHP frameworks. Its source code is written in C, so it’s basically a C extension of PHP. This sounds odd, but in practice, it leads to one among the fastest frameworks we’ve had the pleasure of using.

When it involves performance, Phalcon lives up to its name, and it consistently delivers results that are near the highest of the pack. Phalcon is additionally Very light on resources, and it uses an MVC architecture. Plus, it’s unique therein the framework itself has almost no files once you put in it. Instead, you only add the modules and libraries you would like once you need them, which makes for a really uncluttered development process.

Key Features:

Use a PHP framework that’s supported C

Take advantage of Phalcon’s fantastic performance and low resource overhead

Professional website developer in USA suggest using only the modules and libraries you would like.

So far, Phalcon must be sounding pretty good. We’re big fans of this framework, but it’s worth noting that since we’re talking a few less the popular tool, its documentation isn’t up to par with giants like Laravel. Finding help with bugs also can take more work. However, Phalcon comes pretty on the brink of being the simplest PHP framework, you'll use, especially if performance is what you’re trying to find.

6. CakePHP

In the early 2000s, CakePHP was the primary PHP MVC framework to hit the market. Some time past it had been a revelation, and it’s still one among the simplest PHP frameworks you'll use (and one among the foremost popular).

Newer versions of CakePHP have improved in performance over time and added many new components. However, where CakePHP really shines is within the way it approaches convention in coding. This suggests that with CakePHP, once you master its set of conventions, you'll specialize in the development and obtain more work done faster.

Along with that, CakePHP offers an exquisite set of libraries that include tons of helpful components (as every PHP framework should). During our tests, we found that CakePHP offers one among the foremost thorough sets of components you'll find, so it’s an excellent option if you would like to implement hard-to-find features.

Key Features:

Take advantage of a broad set of components

Use CakePHP’s conventions to code projects faster

Of course, CakePHP is often a touch restrictive because of its love of conventions. If you wish to code by the seat of your pants and to be as creative as possible, CakePHP won't be the simplest option for you. Still, it’s a robust pick for several developers.

7. Yii

Yii is another strong entry in our roundup of the simplest PHP frameworks, and it’s a worthy competitor. directly, we will tell you that Yii shines thanks to how easy it's to line up. Alongside that, the framework is true up there with Phalcon when it involves performance, which may be a huge point.

Just like the opposite PHP frameworks we’ve seen thus far, Yii offers a strong set of components you'll use to hurry up web application development. However, it stands out because of its robust set of security measures, which you'll use to create highly secure projects.

Key Features:

Excellent speed and performance

Use the default setup or customize it to satisfy your precise needs

Create secure websites and applications

As for its downsides, Yii is often a touch tough to select up if it’s your first framework. It’s a top competitor for the title of best PHP framework, but if you’re new the language, there are other more beginner-friendly options you'll use.