Coding can get really tiresome. Lines upon lines of codes have to be laid down sometimes, and it can prove to be quite a task. This is where frameworks come into play.

Frameworks provide a basic structure upon which PHP coders can develop web applications. It makes the entire coding process faster and more streamlined. Coding can get monotonous and repetitive and frameworks provide some comfort. 

Frameworks are not recommended if you are working on a simple, static website. Some developers consider the use of frameworks for simpler websites to be a hassle. Frameworks are usually used for dynamic websites with a lot of things going on. 

The general working behind a PHP Framework is referred to as MVC. But before we move on to explaining what an MVC is, if you need any help with web development and design, we’re here to help. Talk to us today.

What is an MVC?

An MVC or a model view controller is an architectural pattern that separates an application’s business logic and its UI. A business logic manages the communication between an end-user interface and a database. It has 3 components. The Model, View, and Controller. Each component handles specific tasks. 

The View component handles all the user interface side of the application. This includes all the text boxes, buttons, dropdown menus, etc that the user interacts with. The Model component handles all the data related logic that a user works with. And finally, the Controller acts as the interface between Model and View components. For example, it will manage all the customer interactions and update the database as well.

Let us now take a look into some of the top frameworks used by PHP developers. 

Laravel

This is the go-to framework for people who want to create beautiful web designs using PHP. Laravel is a relatively new framework. What sets it apart is its ease of use and the fact that there is virtually no learning curve. Laravel has a ton of features that enable rapid web application development.

Click here if you want to try Laravel for yourself.

Symfony

Symfony is another popular framework that makes PHP coding much easier. It has a large community of over 300,000 developers. They even offer training courses in multiple languages. Symfony also has an informative blog that is regularly updated. They boast of having an average of 48 million downloads per month.

Symfony was created by SensioLabs, a web agency formed 20 years ago. They assure you of a community bustling with questions and discussions. Symfony also has efficient customer support. It is the only known framework that follows PHP and web standards completely. 

Click here to know more about Symfony. 

CodeIgniter

This is a tiny PHP framework that does not compromise on performance. And by tiny, we mean it’s just 2.6 MB! CodeIgniter contains many libraries which have very simple interfaces and requires logical structure to access. You can even create your own libraries. It lets the programmer focus more on the creative part of the web application. CodeIgniter also offers many prebuilt modules that help with constructing robust and reusable components. Unlike other frameworks, CodeIgniter is easy to install.

• Better error handling & URL handling 
• Easy migration from local hosting to server hosting
• Simple configuration of files 

Click here to check out CodeIgniter.

CakePHP

CakePHP is a simple and elegant tool that is used to create visually impressive and feature-packed websites. It is one of the easiest frameworks to learn. Ever since its inception in 2000, CakePHP has grown in popularity and features.

Check out CakePHP.

Yii

Yii is a universal web programming framework. It can be used for developing all kinds of web applications. Since Yii is component-based, it is especially suitable for the development of large-scale applications like portals, forums, content management systems etc.

Learn more about Yii here.

Zend Framework

Zend Framework is a collection of PHP packages with more than 480 million installations. Of all the frameworks mentioned here, Zend is the most difficult one to learn. It is, however, ideal for complex dynamic websites as it offers a ton of configuration options. It does contain a lot of features that make building web applications easier, including drag and drop editor, instant debugging tools, cryptographic coding tools, etc. Zend also has an amazing community of coders who are always willing to answer any questions you might have. 

Check out Zend Framework.

These are some of the numerous PHP frameworks you can find online. We hope this gives you enough information to dive into the world of frameworks. Now get busy experimenting and find one that works for you! And as always, talk to us if you need any help with website design and development.