- PHP Tutorial
- PHP - Home
- PHP - Introduction
- PHP - Installation
- PHP - History
- PHP - Syntax
- PHP - Hello World
- PHP - Comments
- PHP - Variables
- PHP - Echo/Print
- PHP - var_dump
- PHP - $ and $$ Variables
- PHP - Constants
- PHP - Magic Constants
- PHP - Data Types
- PHP - Type Casting
- PHP - Type Juggling
- PHP - Strings
- PHP - Boolean
- PHP - Integers
- PHP - Files & I/O
- PHP - Maths Functions
- PHP - Heredoc & Nowdoc
- PHP - Compound Types
- PHP - File Include
- PHP - Date & Time
- PHP - Scalar Type Declarations
- PHP - Return Type Declarations
- PHP Operators
- PHP - Operators
- PHP - Arithmatic Operators
- PHP - Comparison Operators
- PHP - Logical Operators
- PHP - Assignment Operators
- PHP - String Operators
- PHP - Array Operators
- PHP - Conditional Operators
- PHP - Spread Operator
- PHP - Null Coalescing Operator
- PHP - Spaceship Operator
- PHP Control Statements
- PHP - Decision Making
- PHP - If…Else Statement
- PHP - Switch Statement
- PHP - For Loop
- PHP - Foreach Loop
- PHP - While Loop
- PHP - Do…While Loop
- PHP - Break Statement
- PHP - Continue Statement
- PHP Arrays
- PHP - Arrays
- PHP - Indexed Array
- PHP - Associative Array
- PHP - Multidimensional Array
- PHP - Array Functions
- PHP - Constant Arrays
- PHP Functions
- PHP - Functions
- PHP - Function Parameters
- PHP - Call by value
- PHP - Call by Reference
- PHP - Default Arguments
- PHP - Named Arguments
- PHP - Variable Arguments
- PHP - Returning Values
- PHP - Passing Functions
- PHP - Recursive Functions
- PHP - Type Hints
- PHP - Variable Scope
- PHP - Strict Typing
- PHP - Anonymous Functions
- PHP - Arrow Functions
- PHP - Variable Functions
- PHP - Local Variables
- PHP - Global Variables
- PHP Superglobals
- PHP - Superglobals
- PHP - $GLOBALS
- PHP - $_SERVER
- PHP - $_REQUEST
- PHP - $_POST
- PHP - $_GET
- PHP - $_FILES
- PHP - $_ENV
- PHP - $_COOKIE
- PHP - $_SESSION
- PHP File Handling
- PHP - File Handling
- PHP - Open File
- PHP - Read File
- PHP - Write File
- PHP - File Existence
- PHP - Download File
- PHP - Copy File
- PHP - Append File
- PHP - Delete File
- PHP - Handle CSV File
- PHP - File Permissions
- PHP - Create Directory
- PHP - Listing Files
- Object Oriented PHP
- PHP - Object Oriented Programming
- PHP - Classes and Objects
- PHP - Constructor and Destructor
- PHP - Access Modifiers
- PHP - Inheritance
- PHP - Class Constants
- PHP - Abstract Classes
- PHP - Interfaces
- PHP - Traits
- PHP - Static Methods
- PHP - Static Properties
- PHP - Namespaces
- PHP - Object Iteration
- PHP - Encapsulation
- PHP - Final Keyword
- PHP - Overloading
- PHP - Cloning Objects
- PHP - Anonymous Classes
- PHP Web Development
- PHP - Web Concepts
- PHP - Form Handling
- PHP - Form Validation
- PHP - Form Email/URL
- PHP - Complete Form
- PHP - File Inclusion
- PHP - GET & POST
- PHP - File Uploading
- PHP - Cookies
- PHP - Sessions
- PHP - Session Options
- PHP - Sending Emails
- PHP - Sanitize Input
- PHP - Post-Redirect-Get (PRG)
- PHP - Flash Messages
- PHP AJAX
- PHP - AJAX Introduction
- PHP - AJAX Search
- PHP - AJAX XML Parser
- PHP - AJAX Auto Complete Search
- PHP - AJAX RSS Feed Example
- PHP XML
- PHP - XML Introduction
- PHP - Simple XML Parser
- PHP - SAX Parser Example
- PHP - DOM Parser Example
- PHP Login Example
- PHP - Login Example
- PHP - Facebook Login
- PHP - Paypal Integration
- PHP - MySQL Login
- PHP Advanced
- PHP - MySQL
- PHP.INI File Configuration
- PHP - Array Destructuring
- PHP - Coding Standard
- PHP - Regular Expression
- PHP - Error Handling
- PHP - Try…Catch
- PHP - Bugs Debugging
- PHP - For C Developers
- PHP - For PERL Developers
- PHP - Frameworks
- PHP - Core PHP vs Frame Works
- PHP - Design Patterns
- PHP - Filters
- PHP - JSON
- PHP - Exceptions
- PHP - Special Types
- PHP - Hashing
- PHP - Encryption
- PHP - is_null() Function
- PHP - System Calls
- PHP - HTTP Authentication
- PHP - Swapping Variables
- PHP - Closure::call()
- PHP - Filtered unserialize()
- PHP - IntlChar
- PHP - CSPRNG
- PHP - Expectations
- PHP - Use Statement
- PHP - Integer Division
- PHP - Deprecated Features
- PHP - Removed Extensions & SAPIs
- PHP - PEAR
- PHP - CSRF
- PHP - FastCGI Process
- PHP - PDO Extension
- PHP - Built-In Functions
- PHP Useful Resources
- PHP - Questions & Answers
- PHP - Useful Resources
- PHP - Discussion
Core PHP vs Frameworks
PHP is by far the most popular server-side programming language for web application development, with nearly 75% of websites using PHP either in its core form or one of the PHP frameworks available. To make a choice between using "core PHP" or frameworks for web development, we need to understand the pros and cons of both.
To give a simple analogy, developing a web application purely with core PHP is like solving a mathematical problem manually by writing down each step on the paper. On the other hand, using a framework is similar to using tools such as a calculator to solve a problem. Just as a calculator, the frameworks are useful tools for rapid application development.
Core PHP vs Frameworks – Pros and Cons
A web framework, especially a PHP framework is a collection of one or more PHP libraries and classes. It provides a generic functionality that allows the developer to concentrate more on the application logic, rather than writing code scratch. It provides a reusable software environment that quickly builds a minimal working template application.
Developing a web application purely in core PHP has its own advantages and disadvantages −
It gives the developer better control and flexibility.
At the same time, for a larger application developed with core PHP only can become unwieldy, difficult to manage and maintain.
Now, let's turn to pros and cons of using PHP Frameworks −
A PHP framework such as Symfony, Laravel or Yii offers a more standardized approach towards web application development. With most of the routine and repetitive part handled by the framework, the developer can concentrate more on the application logic. Hence, there is lesser time wasted in debugging.
On the other hand, a framework is not as flexible compared to core PHP. The skeleton template of the application is readily made available by the framework, leaving the developer to customize the functionality only within the scope defined by the framework.
The MVC Architecture
Most of the web application frameworks employ the MVC (Model, View and Controller) architecture, which makes it a lot easier to write quality, robust code, by separating the logic from the style.
If you wish to use the core PHP features for your application development, you are free to adopt an object oriented approach or a modular approach, whichever suits you.
Built-in Security Measures
PHP frameworks offer built-in security measures to be incorporated in a web applications.
If you choose to develop an application with core PHP, you will have to provide the security measures explicitly.
Most of the frameworks however have a few external dependencies, which may leave the application rather vulnerable, as compared to a core PHP application which is a self-contained solution.
A framework-based application may be a little slow when it comes to performance, as compared to core PHP application, especially for a smaller application.
Comparison: Core PHP vs Frameworks
The comparison between the two can be summarized as follows −
For smaller applications, core PHP is preferrable over framework.
Framework offers rapid development and code reusability.
Frameworks are less flexible.
Using core PHP features, the developer has complete control.
For large applications, the MVC architecture is helpful.
Frameworks offer integrated authorization and authentication support. In a core PHP application, the security rules need to be explicitly defined.