Top 4 PHP Frameworks 2024 for Developing Web Applications

Summary

The landscape of web development continues to evolve rapidly, with PHP maintaining its position as a cornerstone of this dynamic environment. When we talk about web development, PHP is one of the most popular programming languages that comes to mind. 

Its ease of use, versatility, scalability, security, and open-source nature are some of the reasons why it is preferred by many. Even so, it is not ideal for creating complex or large-scale applications as it is a dynamically typed language. 

Therefore, managing the code gets more complex with PHP. There may arise issues with code reliability and maintainability and PHP may get replaced with other modern technologies. However, PHP web frameworks change the scenario altogether. 

With their static-typing, built-in features, standardized coding practices, and rapid development capabilities, PHP web frameworks can facilitate in the development and maintenance of robust and secure applications. 

In this blog post, we will explore the various best PHP frameworks that can give your project the much-needed competitive edge you seek in 2024. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, understanding the nuances of these frameworks is key to making informed decisions for your web development projects. 

So, it’s time to get started!

What is a PHP Framework?

A PHP framework is a platform that helps you build PHP-based web applications while improving the software development lifecycle. You can develop PHP applications much faster as redundant coding tasks are reduced and various common tasks like form handling, session management, database maintenance, etc. are simplified. 

Initially developed as a procedural language, PHP lacked the flexibility and accuracy of object-oriented technologies. By keeping in mind the immense preference for OOP concepts, the latest versions of PHP are all made to be object-oriented. 

Thus, knowledge of object-oriented PHP has become a necessary skill for developers in the industry.

Why Use a PHP Framework?

Using a PHP framework for web development offers several significant advantages, which can lead to more efficient, secure, and successful project outcomes. Here are a few notable reasons for using PHP web app frameworks. 

• MVC Architecture: Unlike PHP scripting language, code management is not an issue with PHP frameworks. Its MVC (Model View Controller) architecture separates data handling, UI, and business logic, thereby improving code organization. 

• Rapid Development: With various solutions for routine or repetitive tasks, you don’t have to code everything from scratch. It improves the development speed. 

• Improved Database Management: The Object-relational mapping in frameworks enables simplified interaction with the database using the object-oriented language. You don’t have to use SQL for it. 

• Clean and Maintainable Code: When working with a framework, you have to follow certain coding standards and practices. It assures clean and maintainable code that is easy to work with. 

• Testing and Debugging: Frameworks often have tools and features that make it easier to test and debug code, ensuring the application runs smoothly and reducing the likelihood of bugs in production.

• Security: Built-in security features of the PHP frameworks protect you from common security breaches and vulnerabilities like cross-site scripting (XSS), Cross-site request forgery (CSRF), SQL injection attacks, etc. 

• Built-In Libraries: Frameworks come with pre-built libraries for performing tasks like sending emails, managing sessions, and form validation, which can save time and effort.

• Community Support: Besides the already available PHP community, every PHP framework boasts a huge community. It shows you have access to extensive knowledge documentation, user groups, forums, etc. 

The PHP web application frameworks offer a plethora of benefits right from rapid development to building secure applications. A leading PHP development company can further But with exposure to so many PHP frameworks, you may find yourself more puzzled than before. 

Thus, this list of the best PHP frameworks of 2024 may help you greatly. Let’s check the features, advantages, and disadvantages to compare and decide the best one for your specific needs.

The Top 4 PHP Frameworks of 2024

1.Laravel

The open-source PHP framework was created and released by Taylor Otwell in 2011. Its powerful ecosystem, elegant syntax, and robust features set it apart from other frameworks. The MVC architecture pattern for Laravel ensures seamless code maintenance. 

Features of Laravel: 

• The Eloquent ORM in Laravel helps you handle simple database queries using object-oriented language only instead of SQL. 
• A lightweight yet powerful Blade templating engine helps with clean and intuitive designing of Views. 
• The in-built authentication and authorization system in Laravel elevates the security of your application. 
• The Artisan CLI comes with a set of useful features that make coding easier for you. 
• You don’t need a task scheduler setup or cron for task scheduling. 

Benefits of Laravel: 

• Rapid development 
• Highly scalable 
• Elevated security 
• Clean and readable code 
• Strong community 

Drawbacks of Laravel: 

• With a plethora of advanced features added to Laravel, you may experience some performance lags compared to other competitor framework web PHP. 
• Steep learning curve. Developers not familiar with OOP and MVC may find Laravel difficult to learn. 
• Upgrading to major Laravel updates can be a complex task and may require the assistance of expert Laravel developers. 

Best Applications of Laravel: 

• Projects with complex backend logic 
• Projects that demand scalability and high-level customization 
• Rapid development and deployment projects 
• Suitable for projects where readability and long-term maintenance are required 
• For developing Restful APIs, content management systems, and eCommerce platforms

2.Symphony

This open-source PHP web framework was released in 2005 under the MIT license. Known for its robust performance, flexibility, and reusable PHP components, Symfony is capable of developing complex web applications seamlessly. 

Features of Symfony: 

• Symfony uses Doctrine ORM for simplifying database interactions. 
• The bundle system of Symfony results in easy modularization of applications, making it adaptable to multiple business needs. 
• Twig templating engine is secure, fast, and allows cleaner and coincide coding. 
• Event dispatcher helps in creating decoupled systems with its event handling mechanism.
• Symfony includes a web debug toolbar and a profiler for efficient debugging.

Benefits of Symfony: 

• Scalable 
• Highly flexible 
• Interoperability 
• Long-term support 
• Huge community 

Drawbacks of Symfony: 

• Steep learning curve with its advanced capabilities. 
• There may arise situations of performance overhead. 
• Complexity 

Best Applications of Symfony: 

• Large-scale enterprise projects 
• Highly customizable projects 
• Projects where you need integration with 3rd-party libraries and databases

3.CakePHP

CakePHP is a rapid development framework for PHP, known for its simplicity and elegance. It follows the principles of convention over configuration, meaning developers can work smarter, not harder. It’s an excellent tool for building web applications quickly without losing flexibility and is built after the logic of Ruby on Rails. 

Features of CakePHP: 

• It follows the MVC architecture which separates the View from Logic, making code management easier. 
• The built-in ORM makes database interactions between incompatible systems more intuitive and easy. 
• With out-of-the-box support for caching, CakePHP application performance is elevated. 
• CakePHP provides a simple way for beginners to start building their applications, offering basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) functionalities right out of the box. 
• You can create multi-language applications with CakePHP easily. 

Benefits of CakePHP: 

• Easy to use 
• CRUD scaffolding 
• Doesn’t require any configuration with XML or YAML files 
• Active community 

Drawbacks of CakePHP: 

• You may detect a performance issue in CakePHP applications with complexity. However, you can seek help from a CakePHP Development Company and optimize the application for elevated performance. 
• In terms of other PHP framework comparisons, CakePHP can be less modular and flexible which affects its customization capabilities. 

Best Applications of CakePHP: 

• Small to medium web applications 
• Good for building prototypes or MVPs 
• Development of content management systems 
• Projects with quick turnaround time 
• Businesses looking for technologies with ease earning curve

4.CodeIgniter

Released in 2006, CodeIgniter is an open-source PHP framework designed for developers who need a simple and elegant toolkit to create full-featured web applications. Known for its nearly zero-configuration requirement, it’s favored for its simplicity and performance. 

Features of CodeIgniter: 

• The lightweight framework is best known for its minimalistic approach. The small size helps with the faster performance of CodeIgniter applications. 
• Support for MVC architecture helps organize code. 
• The support for database caching in CodeIgniter helps reduce server load and improve application performance.
• CodeIgniter offers easy-to-use form validation, simplifying the process of securing and processing form data.
• The customization flexibility enables developers to build new libraries or integrate their scripts. 
• CodeIgniter showcases elaborate and easy-to-understand documentation that makes it easier for new developers to learn to work with the platform. 

Benefits of CodeIgniter: 

• Exceptional performance 
• Easy to learn 
• Lightweight 
• Flexibility 

Drawbacks of CodeIgniter: 

• Less modern compared to other PHP frameworks like Laravel or Symfony 
• Limited built-in libraries compared to other PHP frameworks. Thus, you may have to rely on manual coding. 
• No built-in ORM 

Best Applications of CodeIgniter: 

• Small to medium-sized web apps 
• API development 
• Custom web apps with high performance and speed 
• Applications where out-of-the-box features aren’t necessary 

These are some of the most popular PHP frameworks of 2024 that you can find useful. Check out the features and weigh the pros and cons to decide if the chosen PHP framework is most suitable for your project or not. 

In this pursuit, if you need help from professional PHP developers, BiztechCS can help you with that. Our pre-vetted talent pool consists of skilled PHP programmers experienced in various PHP frameworks. Connect with the developers for consultation, migration, development, support & maintenance.

Conclusion

Choosing the right PHP framework in 2024 depends on several factors, including the specific requirements of the project, the expertise of the development team, and the desired balance between performance and built-in functionalities. Whether it’s a small, dynamic website or a large-scale enterprise application, these frameworks provide the tools and features necessary to create efficient, secure, and scalable web applications. 

This list of best PHP frameworks alongside its features, benefits, and drawbacks should give you the desired insight for your project. So, decide wisely!