Best PHP Frameworks in 2022

PHP is one of the most widely used server-side scripting languages when it comes to making dynamic websites, reading and writing web files, and keeping track of sessions.

Creating a PHP script from scratch, though, can be difficult. It can be tedious to have to rewrite the same methods over and over again.

PHP Web Application Development requires a platform known as a PHP framework. PHP frameworks make available code libraries that contain often-used functions, hence reducing the amount of unique code that the developer must write.

Why You Should Use PHP Frameworks

Some of the features that make PHP the best are,

• Quick development
• Lesser code to write
• Vast libraries
• Good coding practice
• Better security
• Easier to maintain

How We Chose the Best PHP Frameworks

Here are some things you need to consider when choosing the best PHP framework for your project.

First, the learning curve for a PHP framework shouldn't be too steep for someone who is just getting started with the language. Spending time studying a framework is a serious commitment, so you want to make sure it's not too complicated. In a fortunate turn of events, PHP is often regarded as an excellent language for beginners to study.

Secondly, you want a framework that is easy to use and saves you time.

Your technical needs for a project should be met by the PHP framework you choose. Most frameworks will work with at least a certain version of PHP and a set of PHP extensions.

To make the most of your PHP framework, it is crucial to have access to help documentation and assistance.

Best PHP Frameworks for Web Development

The availability of a comprehensive catalog of PHP frameworks is limited. There are likely much more than the 37 PHP frameworks listed on Wikipedia, some of which are more accurately classified as content management systems. Here are some of the best PHP frameworks listed.

1. Laravel

Laravel is a PHP framework that tries to make development more fun while keeping the quality high. It is software made by Taylor Otwell that is free and open source. It came out in June 2011. In February 2018, Laravel 5.6 was made public. It is a popular and well-known PHP Framework. Laravel is known for following the MVC (Model View Controller) design pattern, which is another reason why its syntax is beautiful and easy to read.

Because of its large library ecosystem and built-in features, Laravel makes it unnecessary to build many commonly used features from scratch in order to make web apps. Laravel is a safe and reliable option for building custom web applications.

Features:

• Laravel functionality packages
• Built-in functions
• Effective ORM
• A highly active programming community

2. Symfony

Symfony is a PHP framework and provider of PHP web development components that may be reused. Fabien Potencier creates Symfony in October 2005 under the MIT license. Because Symfony is open-source, it may be tailored to match the specific needs of each coder by developing any required module. That is precisely how it operates. Due to the size and support of the Symfony community, every user has access to the same quantity of choices. In any case, you can always integrate bespoke components into your framework if you can't find what you're looking for here.

When using the in-built toolbar, debugging a Symfony project is a breeze. For its templating engine, Symfony relies on the popular, quick, and secure Twig. More than four thousand Symfony packages are available for usage and download on Packagist.

Features:

• Individual components settings
• Built-in debugging
• Twig template engine
• Excellent documentation

3. CodeIgniter

CodeIgniter is widely used as a framework for creating web-based applications. When it comes to using PHP to build dynamic websites, CodeIgniter is among the greatest frameworks available. It's a well-known open-source framework that many developers rely on. The CodeIgniter PHP framework is small in size, easy to use, and aesthetically pleasing. CodeIgniter is also based on the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design paradigm, which ensures that logic and presentation are kept completely separate.

Coding in CodeIgniter is simple, and the framework's rock-solid performance makes it ideal for fast, lightweight web apps that can run on cheap PHP hosting. There is a wealth of information available to make learning CodeIgniter a piece of the cake.

Features:

• Lightweight framework
• Excellent documentation
• MVC architecture support
• Built-in security features

4. Yii

When creating a website, developers often turn to the open-source Yii framework. This PHP framework is built on the Model-View-Controller architectural pattern and features object-oriented programming. Among Yii's many strengths is its CRUD-generating functionality. Commonly used chunks of code are generated by Yii's custom code generator tool, Gii, which has both a web-based and command-line interface. This aids in the rapid creation and operation of the software.

Yii is a well-organized framework that, despite lacking Laravel's rich documentation, still gets the job done. On top of that, it does not have a steep learning curve. You shouldn't have any trouble with beginner-level coding if you read and follow the documentation carefully.

Features:

• Customizable setup
• Support to various extensions
• Gii code generator
• Built-in security measures

5. CakePHP

CakePHP is a free, open-source PHP framework designed for rapid development. It gives developers a foundation upon which to construct websites and web apps. Their main purpose is to help you work more successfully and efficiently without restricting your autonomy. The Model–View–Controller structure is one of its strongest selling points. By using CakePHP, building a website is an enjoyable experience rather than a tedious one. They equip you with everything you need to begin writing the code for what you really need to achieve, which is the logic unique to your application. Instead of starting from scratch with every new project, you can just grab a copy of CakePHP and jump right into building the meat of your app.

Features for security include encryption, password hashing, protecting form data, and cross-site request forgery (CSRF) shielding. CakePHP's Components and Helpers cut down on repetitive, mundane work throughout development.

Features:

• CakePHP’s coding conventions
• A broad set of components
• Multiple support channels

Conclusion

Make sure you have a firm grasp of PHP and familiarity with object-oriented syntax, databases, object-relational mapping, and the command line in order to get the most out of a PHP framework and avoid becoming frustrated.

Your choice of the framework should be made in light of the kind of app you're making. With plenty of popular PHP frameworks available and each of them unique, picking one that’s right for your project can be difficult.

It's worth noting that all of the PHP frameworks discussed here are completely open-source and free to use. As a result, you have the freedom to experiment with all of them before settling on the best option for your work.