Top PHP Framework List 2017 – Best Choice for Web Developers

PHP is the most widely used language for server-side programming, the majority of the websites run on PHP coding. It is most popular among developers due to its abundance of benefits such as affordability, quicker turnaround time and greater security etc. However, using raw PHP code to build complex websites and apps from the bottom up can be a hectic and time-consuming task. PHP frameworks offer a solution for this problem and in this post, we’ll review the best PHP framework list for 2017.

PHP frameworks come in a vast verity according to the requirements with each one having its own unique ecosystem. They are capable of creating a more well-formed, secure and comprehensive application/website in a shorter amount of time.

PHP Framework List –  Reasons to Opt for

The reason behind why PHP frameworks are a popular choice among developers is speed development along with the systematic, reusable and maintainable code.  Another perk that makes them so appealing is enhanced security and capacity for growth.  Some other aspects that PHP framework features are Model-View-Controller pattern (view and controller logic), object-oriented programming tools, libraries, implement file and code structure etc.

Choosing the right framework that works accordingly with your needs can be a perplexing task. Most popular and useful PHP frameworks for modern-day web development have been compiled below. These frameworks contain the components required to develop from simple to the most complex websites and web applications.

PHP Framework List 2017-  5 Best Choices

Laravel

Laravell is considered to be one of the top PHP frameworks and an all-time developer favorite. Although it is relatively new in the market, it has been quick to gain popularity due to its diverse and practical features. Laravel is an elaborate framework capable of promptly developing web applications using the MVC architecture. Laracasts, which are video tutorials and instructions, are readily available on Laravel’s office website, dedicated to helping out those developers who have just started using Laravel or PHP development.

 

Laravel itself is a vast ecosystem with an active hosting and easy deployment platform. It features its very own templating engine called “Blade” due to which no performance issues arise. Other Laravel features include elegant syntax, caching, restful routing and ORM.

Homestead (a packaged Vagrant box), a key Laravel feature, allows for the start of development without the installation of PHP, HHVM etc. on your server.  Another recent launch by Laravel is a micro PHP framework designed to build APIs at a faster rate called “Lumen”.

Phalcon

Phalcon is another name that comes up often when discussing PHP frameworks. It has made quite a reputation for itself owing to its quick speed. What intrigues developers most about this framework is that it a PHP extension written in C and C++ yet it is an MVC framework. That means that no prior knowledge C language is required since functionality has been represented as PHP classes. It offers the most recent features available in the market such as query language, controllers, asset management, routing, ORM, caching etc.

Phalcon has been quick to find success in a relatively short amount of time. It is easy to learn and simple with all the hottest new features around needed to build from a simple to complex application.

Symfony

Symfony is the choice of framework for skilled developers looking to build enterprise-level, complex applications on a PHP platform. Initially released back in 2005, it has managed to gain a significant following in the developer community. One of the features which has made it so successful is the reusable PHP libraries because of which a ton of complex tasks such as templating, routing, form configuration, object configuration, validation etc. can be easily carried out. With the use of Composer PHP reliance supervisor, any component can be introduced.

The fact that some of the largest projects such as PHPBB, Durpal, OROCRM and even Laravel depend on Symfony speaks volumes. Although Laravel is often thought to be the king of PHP frameworks, Symfony is considered to be a better suit for large and complex enterprise application development. Symfony’s official site boasts many great projects that designers have completed with the help of this PHP framework.

Codeigniter

Following its initial release in 2006, Codeigniter has been around for a little more than 10 years. It is light weighted and incredibly simple to learn which makes it a viable option for developers. It is compatible with all hosting platforms, has no extensive libraries, no need for template language and no restrictive coding rules. It also allows for third-party plugins to be used in case more complex functionalities are required.

Where Codeigniter offers simplicity and ease, it also means that this framework is unable to take on large-scale complex projects. Codeigniter does not have MVC architecture but it does give developers a certain flexibility with open model and views so that developers are able to apply their own coding and naming traditions. Although it is faster and easier to learn than the other modern-day PHP frameworks, due to lack of certain features it is often overlooked for other frameworks such as Phalcon, Laravel, Symfont etc., which are more appealing to the modern PHP developers.

Yii 2

Yii 2 is a lightweight, modern PHP framework that is easy to install, has an active community and is overall considered an ideal technology for rapidly developing enterprise-grade web applications. As one of the faster PHP frameworks, Yii 2 is known to significantly improve site performance since it relies on the lazy loading technique. It features a powerful code generator (known as Gii), that provides an environment for object-oriented programming and implementation of the DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) coding concept. Hence, it sets up a pretty neat foundation for clean and logical code development.

The framework stands out due to certain features, such as jQurey integration, which enables a set of AJAX widgets. It is easier for front-end programmers to adapt to the Yii 2 since the framework implements a user-friendly skinning and theming mechanism, which is an especially useful feature for newbies. Yii 2 also has good documentation and a lot of useful tutorials online.

When it comes to building multitenant, powerful caching applications (such as CMS and CRM) with a complex flow of data and high-security requirements, Yii 2 and Symfony are most developers’ top two choices.

Conclusion:

PHP frameworks are among the oldest web development technologies, but their ease-of-use and reliability make them a staple resource for developers looking to build from feature-rich, large-scale projects to the most basic web apps. However, due to a large number of PHP frameworks and different sets of features as well methodology offered by each, it can be hard to choose one. It will be up to the developer to make the right pick based on their own skill level, the underlying project requirements such as speed, scalability, documentation and hosting resources, etc.