Here Are The Top PHP Frameworks The Pros Use for Web Development

by Keith WalkerMarch 4th, 2025

Too Long; Didn't Read

The process through which web developers create websites and applications is highly influenced by the PHP frameworks. The selection of the right framework is significant for better performance, maintainability, and scalability of web projects. In this blog, I will be explaining 10 top PHP frameworks with examples of how they can be utilized in different tasks of web development projects.

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The process through which web developers create websites and applications is highly influenced by the PHP frameworks. The selection of the right framework is significant for better performance, maintainability, and scalability of web projects be it a startup project or large-scale web applications. In this blog, I will be explaining 10 top PHP frameworks with examples of how they can be utilized in different tasks of web development projects.

1- Laravel

Still in 2025, Laravel remains as one of the best PHP frameworks in tech market. Its dynamic set of features, nice syntax, and a vast ecosystem of packages, extensions, and tools such as Laravel Mix, Eloquent ORM, and the Blade templating engine offers a seamless user experience.

I mostly use this command to define control in the Laravel PHP framework:

php artisan make: controller GreetingController 

php 

<?php 

namespace App\Http\Controllers; 

use Illuminate\Http\Request 

class GreetingController extends Controller 

{
    public function greet($name) 
    { 
       return view(‘greet’,[‘name’ => $name]); 
  } 

}

After designing the controller, it results in view this way:

 < !Doctype html > 

< html lang =  “en” > 

<head> 

< meta charset = “uft-8” > 

    <title>Greeting</title> 

</head> 

<body> 

    <h1>Hello, {{$name}}! </h1> 

</body> 

</html>

2- Symfony

One of the most popular PHP frameworks for large-scale applications is Symfony. For creating large web applications such as enterprise software solutions, content management systems, and eCommerce platforms developers at big companies opt for Symfony. Moreover, its flexibility makes it a perfect fit.

I mostly prefer this command to create a controller in the Symfony framework:

<?php 

Namespace app\controller; 

Use Symfony \ component \ httpfoundation\ response; 

class GreetingController 

{ 
    public function greet($name) 

    { 
        return new Response(“<h1>Hello, $name! </h1>”); 
  } 

}

After creating a controller, templates can be rendered in controllers through Twig:

Return 4 this- > render (‘greet. html. twig’, [‘name’ = > $name]);

< ! Doctype html > 

< html lang = “en” > 

<head>   

    <meta charset = “utf- 8” > 

    <title>Greeting</title> 

</head> 

<body> 

    < h1> hello, {{name}}! <h1> 

</body> 

</html>

3- CodeIgniter

For medium-sized applications, CodeIgniter is a simple and fast solution still in 2025. Even if I compare Laravel vs CodeIgniter I would recommend CodeIgniter for new developers due to its user-friendly documentation and minimalist approach. In contrast to Laravel, it avoids the need for a command line interface making it suitable for lightweight applications.

For instance, to design a controller in CodeIgniter I may use this approach:

<?php 

defined(‘BASEPATH’)OR exit(‘No direct script access allowed’); 
 
class Greeting extends CI_Controller { 

      public function greet($name) 

    { 
        $data[‘name’]=$name; 

       $this->load->view(‘greet’,$data); 

    } 
}

4- Yii2

The fast speed and high performance of Yii2 make it one of the most efficient PHP MVC frameworks in 2025. Mostly APIs and large web applications that require performance optimization opt for Yii2.

For setting up routes in Yii2 this given command is used:

‘urlManager’ => [ 

    ‘enablePrettyUrl’ => true 

    ‘ShowScriptName’ => false, 

    ‘rules’ => [ 
        ‘greet/<name>’ => ‘site/greet’ 

    ], 
],

Moreover, this PHP framework is an ideal choice for performance-intensive web applications as it supports caching.

5- Zend

Now known as Laminas, the Zend framework is mostly useful for applications requiring extensive customization. Also, suitable for designing enterprise-level scalable web applications and adding only those components that are required. It also backs integrations with multiple databases and third-party applications.

In Zend, for designing a controller I use this way:

<?php 

namespace Application\Controller;

Use zend \mvc\controller\AbstractactionController 

Use zend \view\model\ViewModel; 

class GreetingController extends AbstractActionController 

{ 
    public function greetAction() 

    { 

     $name = $this->params()->fromRoute(‘name’, ‘Guest’); 

     return new ViewModel([‘name’ => $name}); 

    } 
}

6- Phalcon

This one was built as a C extension, making it one of the incredibly fast PHP web frameworks. Web developers select Phalcon when they do not want to compromise on advanced features for performance optimization.

For setting up routes in this framework this command can be adopted:

$router = di->getRouter(); 

$router->add(‘/greet/{name}’, [ 

    ‘controller’ => ‘greeting’, 

    ‘action’     => ‘greet’, 

]); 
 
$router->handle();

This framework also observes MVC patterns and includes query builder and ORM making database interactions easier.

7- Slim

The Slim framework is a go-to option for building microservices and simple API. It is a minimalistic yet powerful framework to create RESTful APIs. Let’s see how a Basic route in the Slim framework can be established:

require ‘vendor/ autoload.php’; 

$app= new\slim\app; 

$app->get (‘/greet/ {name}’ , function ($request, $response, $args) { 

Return $response - > getbody () - > write (Hello, ‘ .  $args [ ‘name’]); 

}); 

$app->run();

This framework also offers a flexible middleware system to modify requests and respond to the object.

8- FuelPHP

This one is a full-stack PHP framework and follows the Hierarchal Model View Controller design pattern. The FuelPHP framework with its built-in authentication features is suitable for highly customizable web projects.

For example:

Controller in FuelPHP can be created this way:

<?php 

class Controller_Greeting extends Controller 

{ 
    public function action_greet($name) 
    { 
        return Response::forge(View::forge(‘greet’, [‘name’ => $name])); 
    } 
}

9- Lumen

The creators of Laravel have also designed another PHP framework called Lumen. It mostly utilizes the same components as Laravel but it's comparatively lightweight and best for designing high performance APIs and microservices.

Set up and define routes in Lumen in the routes/ web.php file just like the given example:

$router->get(‘/greet/{name)’,function $name) { 

    return “Hello, $name!”; 

});

10- CakePHP

Another top PHP framework is the CakePHP focusing on convention over configuration for web development tasks. It offers a set of built-in dynamic tools suitable for fast paced web development projects.

To define a route in CakePHP I prefer this command:

Router::connect(‘/greet/*,array (‘controller’=>'greetings’, ‘action ‘= > ‘greet’ ));

If I need to design a controller, I mostly use this command in CakePHP:

$router->get(‘/greet/{name}’, function ($name) { 

    return “Hello, $name!”; 

});

Conclusion

For your web development projects selection of the best PHP framework is crucial. It’s important to keep requirements, complexity, timeline, and future growth, and project size in mind as well. The top PHP frameworks discussed above in the blog be it Laravel, Symfony, Phalcon, CodeIgniter or others are suitable for different web projects depending upon the needs. The right framework assists in achieving better security, fast development, and enhanced user experience no matter what.