List of top 5 PHP Frameworks of 2017
Before beginning the list of top 5 PHP frameworks of 2017, PHP is one of the most favored server-side scripting languages known for its simplicity, PHP frameworks complement PHP, by providing developers with some pre-built modules, a platform to create robust, reusable components, and by enabling faster development cycles.
PHP frameworks give the users a basic structure, with some pre-built modules to develop robust web applications faster. These frameworks enforce coding standards and development guidelines hence standardizing the process and stabilizing the product.
PHP frameworks use Model View Controller(MVC) architecture, where the development of the business logic is independent of both the underlying data and the overlaying presentation view. MVC helps developers to focus on their specific areas without worrying if their code will adversely affecting the development of the other modules or not. This breaking up of the development process into independent modules increases the speed of the entire development process and improves the stability and quality of the product.
Advantages of using frameworks
- Rapid development using the libraries and tools provided by the framework
- Easy to upgrade and maintain the developed applications
- Excellent community support
- Security features such as Input filtering and Output encoding
Top 5 PHP frameworks of 2017
There are a wide variety of PHP frameworks, many of them are open source frameworks. The most popular open-source PHP frameworks are:
- Laravel
As far as frameworks go, Laravel takes the cake with the most number of personal and professional users. The 2015’s Sitepoint survey indicates that excellent documentation, solid features and a thriving, growing support community has made Laravel a clear winner in the space of PHP framework. Google trends on PHP frameworks show similar results.
- Symfony
One of the older players, Symfony is considered to be a stable base for many other newer frameworks including Laravel. The quick adaptability and widely used documentation of Symfony makes it one of the most dependable PHP frameworks.
- CodeIgniter
A simple, powerful PHP framework, CodeIgniter is known for its flexibility and hassle-free installation. CodeIgniter is supposed to have an easy learning curve thus making it the best choice for beginners.
- CakePHP
One of the oldest frameworks, CakePHP has retained its strong user base and has continued to grow. It also boasts of an impressive portfolio consisting of brands such as BMW and Express.
- Zend Framework
Zend is considered to be a very stable and robust framework recommended for big, enterprise-level projects. It has a wide variety of features which facilitates the development of quality applications for enterprise clients.
