What is a Framework?
In computer programming, a software framework is an abstraction in which software, providing generic functionality, can be selectively changed by additional user-written code, thus providing application-specific software. It provides a standard way to build and deploy applications and is a universal, reusable software environment that provides particular functionality as part of a larger software platform to facilitate the development of software applications, products and solutions.
A PHP framework is a pre-built platform that provides a foundation and tools for building web applications with PHP programming language. These frameworks aim to streamline development by offering standardized conventions, reusable components, and a modular architecture.
Top 5 PHP Frameworks for Web Development
In the following article, we will talk about the best php frameworks that should be in the top 5 for 2025.
1. Symfony
Symfony is a free and open-source PHP web application framework and a set of reusable PHP component libraries. It was published as free software on October 18, 2005, and released under the MIT License.
https://symfony.com
Features
50+ decoupled components easily installable using Composer.
Supports a diverse set of databases - MySql, Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server, and SAP Sybase.
Twig templating engine for handling views.
Provides a command-line interface (CLI) called Symfony Console to create custom commands to perform various tasks, such as generating code, running migrations, and more.
Integrates with the Doctrine Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) system to use PHP objects with databases.
Highly flexible and customizable.
Mature ecosystem with a large developer community.
Supports testing through PHPUnit.
Symfony, High Performance PHP Framework for Web Development
Symfony is a set of reusable PHP components and a PHP framework to build web applications, APIs, microservices and web…symfony.com
2. Laravel
Laravel is a web application framework with expressive, elegant syntax. We've already laid the foundation - freeing you to create without sweating the small things.
https://laravel.com
Features
Built-in access management.
Integrate with popular email services like Amazon SES, sendmail, etc.
Built-in Eloquent ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) to convert data between incompatible type systems.
Middleware to filter HTTP requests entering the application.
Routing that allows developers to map HTTP requests to specific controller actions.
Reverse routing to generate URLs dynamically on the basis of their route name.
Blade templating engine for designing templates.
RESTful controllers for request handling.
Built-in PHPUnit Testing.
Real-Time broadcasting with Laravel Echo for building features like live chat, notifications, and other real-time updates.
3. Laminas
Laminas Project (formerly Zend Framework or ZF) is an open source, object-oriented web application framework implemented in PHP 7 and licensed under the New BSD License.[3] The framework is basically a collection of professional PHP[4]-based packages.[5] The framework uses various packages by the use of Composer as part of its package dependency managers; some of them are PHPUnit for testing all packages, Travis CI for continuous Integration Services. Laminas provides to users a support of the model–view–controller (MVC) in combination with Front Controller solution.[6] MVC implementation in Laminas has five main areas. The router and dispatcher functions to decide which controller to run based on data from URL, and controller functions in combination with the model and view to develop and create the final web page.[5]
On 17 April 2019 it was announced[7] that the framework is transitioning into an open source project hosted by the Linux Foundation to be known as Laminas.
https://laminas.dev
Features
Event-driven flexible MVC framework for building scalable PHP applications.
Extensive databases include MySQL, MS SQL Server, Oracle, MariaDB, IBMDB2, PostgreSQL, etc.
Provides better security.
Provides components for dependency injection, caching, form validations, PubSubHubbub(WebSub) interactions, logging, routing, pagination, session management, diagnostic tests, event dispatchers, feed parsers, etc.
Some noteworthy components apart from the usual ones are:
'Laminas-log' - is a PSR-3 compliant logger with support for filtering and formatting.
'Laminas-form' for implementing complex forms, casting them into business objects.
'Laminas-math' for generating cryptographic numbers.
'Laminas-session' for object-oriented interface to session & storage.
'Laminas-cache' for caching implementations and codified caching storage strategies for callbacks.
'Laminas-db' is used for database abstraction and SQL operations.
'Laminas-xml2json' is used to convert XML documents to JSON format.
'Laminas-SOAP' is used to create SOAP applications and interact with them.
4. Mezzio
The beauty of Mezzio is we designed it around PHP-FIG, the framework interop group, their standard recommendations that they have put out. So it's using the standard HTTP messages, standard middleware, standard HTTP message factories - and anything else you want to put in there. While we provide dependency injection container integration, you can use any dependency injection container you want - whether it's one from Symfony, one we produce with our service manager, or even PHPDI.
You can do the same for templating, logging, and all of that. The great thing is that it doesn't lock you in to any one framework, and allows you to develop exactly the application you need to deliver value with your business.
Mezzio is a really nice tool for writing microservices because you can design exactly the workflows you need, and make them as lean as you want them. This makes them an ideal candidate for APIs, which microservices essentially are, so they're going to be very fast, simple to write, and they're going to give you all the tools you need in order to do the exact workflow you need for that particular service.
https://docs.mezzio.dev/
Features
Easy to Use and Modern Architecture
PSR15 Middlewares
Routing
i18n Support
PSR-11 Container
Flexible Templating
Modularity
Error Handling
Extensive databases include MySQL, MS SQL Server, Oracle, MariaDB, IBMDB2, PostgreSQL, etc.
Provides better security.
Provides components for dependency injection, caching, form validations, PubSubHubbub(WebSub) interactions, logging, routing, pagination, session management, diagnostic tests, event dispatchers, feed parsers, etc.
Best choose for Microservices.
5. Olobase
Olobase is an Open Source full-stack developer framework designed to create fast and easy web applications using Vue.js - Php technologies with allows extensive customizations.
The framework contains Vue 3 + Vuetify + PHP + MYSQL + Redis tech stacks.
If you want an architecture-ready framework, you should check out this full-featured solution combined with Vue and PHP.
https://oloma.dev
Features
Integration Ready Vue.js / Vuetify.js Components
Mezzio PHP Rest API for Backend
Built in JWT Authentication
Built in Roles & Permission Management for Authorization
Layouts
Plugins
Input and Fields
Data Providers
Built in Data Grid Colum Filters
i18n Support
Authentication Providers
Resource Management
Community and Ticket Support
Top comments (9)
Symfony number one looks like obvious but it seems your ranking criteria got lost in a generic information list like you just copied from the Wikipedia, so could you please elaborate the pros and cons, egg why Symfony is better than Mezzio? What was your experience working with Mezzio? which projects did you use it for and how did you like it?
I think which framework is best depends on the project. If you are looking for a framework for smaller functional and microservices, you should choose frameworks like Mezzio. If it is a project where larger teams will work and you like tools such as ORM, you can choose Symfony or Laravel.
I use Mezzio for the following reasons:
You can also install it as high performance, simple and modular.
docs.mezzio.dev/mezzio/v3/features...
I’m sort of surprised Slim didn’t make this list. Slim is my go to for making lightweight APIs and full-blown web apps when I combine it with just the Symfony components needed for the project I’m building instead of having to bring in the entire framework.
I think Slim and Mezzio are similar frameworks. We can still add it.
I would recommend Laravel because it's powerful, has great documentation, and allows you to create web apps quickly. It also has a great community and a large number of third party packages. Things like Livewire even allow you to avoid javascript all together if you want.
What do you recommend for Javascript developers?
Vue.js with Vuetify.
Thanks, I'll try it. 👍
Neos Flow is missing :-)
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