Laravel is the go-to framework for developers to create unique websites. It makes building PHP web apps faster and easier by offering a library of pre-written code for common tasks.
Among many frameworks like CakePHP, Phalcon, and Symfony, Laravel stands out because of its flexibility and rich features.
It remains the top choice for MVC-based PHP frameworks. Its popularity is clear on GitHub, where it has over 40,000 stars, showing just how many developers trust and use it.
In this article, I will discuss more reasons why is Laravel the most preferred PHP framework for web development.
What is the Laravel Framework?
Laravel is a popular web development framework known for its elegant syntax, that makes web development faster and easier. It simplifies complex coding and streamlines tasks like authentication, sessions, caching, and routing, so that developers can focus on creating great apps.
With its 3rd version, Laravel became even more popular for its new features such as a command prompt tool and better support for databases. It also offers a feature called bundles that helps in organizing and managing code more efficiently.
Why is Laravel the Most Preferred PHP Framework ?
Let’s explore the reasons why Laravel is the most popular PHP framework for creating websites.
1. MVC Architectural Pattern :
Laravel enforces the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, keeping your code clean, maintainable, and easier to work with by different developers. Laravel keeps your code clean and easy to manage by separating it into three parts: Models handle data, Views display information, and Controllers handle user interactions. This separation allows you to:
- Focus on Specific Tasks: Developers can concentrate on building data models (Models), designing user interfaces (Views), and handling user interactions (Controllers) without worrying about interdependencies.
- Improved Code Reusability: Code within Models and Controllers can often be reused across different Views, saving development time.
- Simplified Maintenance: Changes to a specific part of your application (like a data model) are less likely to break other parts (like user interfaces).
2. Command-line Interface(CLI) :
Laravel’s Artisan command-line interface (CLI) is a developer’s best friend. It lets you:
- Automate Repetitive Tasks: Generate controllers, models, migrations (database schema changes), and more, saving you countless hours of writing boilerplate code.
- Effortless Setup: Quickly create the basic structure for common features like user authentication and CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) with just a few commands.
- Database Management: Perform database migrations, seeding (adding initial data), and other database-related tasks efficiently from the command line.
3. ORM and Database Management :
Laravel’s built-in Eloquent ORM (Object-Relational Mapper) acts as a bridge between your PHP code and the database. This means you can interact with your database using plain English-like syntax:
- Intuitive Data Queries: Write queries to retrieve, update, and delete data using a natural flow that feels like working with objects in your code. Think of it like writing instructions in a way the database understands, but with a more human touch.
- Reduced Code Complexity: Eloquent simplifies complex database interactions, reducing the amount of raw SQL code you need to write, making your code cleaner and easier to maintain.
- Relationships Made Simple: Eloquent elegantly handles relationships between different data models (like users and posts), that saves your time and effort in modeling complex data structures.
4. Scalability and Performance :
Laravel is designed to handle applications of all sizes, from small projects to large-scale enterprise solutions.
The framework’s scalability is supported by features like queue management, which allows developers to defer time-consuming tasks for later processing, improving application performance.
Laravel also offers support for caching, optimizing resource utilization and reducing server load.
5. Framework Routing :
Laravel’s robust routing system takes care of directing users to the appropriate parts of your website based on the URL they request. It provides features like:
- RESTful Routing: Easily define routes that follow the RESTful architectural style (a standard way of structuring web APIs), which makes your application more predictable and easier to integrate with other systems.
- Route Groups: Organize related routes efficiently under a common prefix, to keep your routing configuration clean and scalable.
- Middleware Integration: Using middleware to carry out actions before or after a request reaches a controller, allowing you to include features like user authentication, authorization, or logging throughout your application.
6. Object-oriented Libraries :
The Laravel framework has a clear and easy-to-understand syntax, that makes it object-oriented. It includes over 20 pre-installed libraries and tools needed to create web applications.
It also helps you use the latest PHP language principles for building flexible and responsive websites. The unique modules in Laravel set it apart from other PHP frameworks.
With Laravel, you can secure your database using features like CSRF protection and encryption.
7. Open Source :
Laravel is an open-source framework, meaning it’s free to use and modify.
- Cost-Effective Development: There are no licensing fees associated with using Laravel, making it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes.
- Vast Ecosystem of Packages: A thriving community of developers has contributed a wide range of packages that extend Laravel’s functionality. You can find packages for almost any imaginable task, saving you time and effort in reinventing the wheel.
- Active Support and Learning Resources: The Laravel community is highly active and provides extensive documentation, tutorials, and forums where you can find answers to your questions and learn from other developers.
8. Security in the Framework :
Laravel prioritizes security from the ground up, helping you build applications that are resistant to common web vulnerabilities. Key security features include:
- CSRF Protection: Prevents Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks that could trick users into performing unintended actions on your website.
- SQL Injection Prevention: Protects your application from attacks that inject malicious code into database queries.
- Secure Password Hashing: Stores user passwords securely using industry-standard hashing algorithms.
9. Templating Engine :
Laravel’s Blade templating engine provides a powerful yet easy-to-use way to combine design and code within your views. It offers features like:
- Template Inheritance: Create reusable layout templates and extend them with view-specific content, reducing code duplication and improving maintainability.
- Conditionals and Loops: Dynamically control the content displayed in your templates based on data or conditions, making your views more interactive.
- Content Sections: Easily define sections within your layout template that can be overridden in individual views, that allows for greater flexibility in customizing the presentation of your application.
10. Test-Driven Development (TDD) Support
Laravel encourages best practices like Test-Driven Development (TDD) by providing robust testing tools out of the box. The framework includes PHP unit for unit testing and offers convenient methods for testing routes, database interactions, and user interactions.
This emphasis on testing ensures that Laravel applications are reliable, maintainable, and free of critical bugs.
Final Thoughts
Laravel the most preferred PHP framework is the top choice for web development due to its elegant syntax, robust features, and strong community support. Its MVC architecture, powerful tools, and comprehensive security make development efficient and scalable.
Looking to build a modern website? Hire skilled Laravel developers to leverage the framework’s full potential and deliver exceptional results.
