Symfony vs. Laravel - which is the better PHP framework?

A PHP framework significantly contributes to simplifying the programming of a website and avoiding or eliminating common errors and security vulnerabilities. For this reason, suitable frameworks are almost exclusively used in more complex and professional projects today to optimise workflow and improve collaboration between different teams and developers. In addition to other popular solutions like Zend, Symfony and Laravel stand out as two of the most popular and commonly used frameworks, each distinguished by their own features. To choose between the two, advantages and disadvantages should be weighed against each other, and the specific characteristics of a project should also be taken into account.

What is the PHP framework Symfony?
What characterises the PHP framework Laravel?
How do Symfony and Laravel compare directly?

What is the PHP framework Symfony?

The developers released the first version of Symfony in 2005 under an open-source MIT license, allowing free use as open-source software without license fees. At that time, there was no multifunctional PHP framework following the Model View Controller (MVC) principle, as had been released about a year earlier with Ruby on Rails for Ruby. Symfony uses a highly modular structure, where tasks or procedures are completely contained in a functional unit - the so-called bundles. Bundles can build on each other, integrate other bundles, or form a group.

Symfony is considered very versatile and allows for the realisation of complex and distributed projects, but is also known to require a more extensive familiarisation. Due to the multitude of possible options, it is recommended to use comprehensive version control like GIT when using it. It also allows for the embedding of external procedures such as in JavaScript. Its advantages also include:

• Large community and extensive documentation along with learning platforms
• Special versions with Long Time Support (LTS) for long-term use
• Ongoing development with quick response times for bug fixes and patches
• Universal and functional use with numerous available bundles
• Rapid development of professional applications through Rapid Deployment
• Support for numerous, sometimes exotic databases like Oracle, Drizzle, or SAP SQL Anywhere
• Easy reuse of existing bundles in new environments
• Structured setup with support for team collaboration

Due to its advantages, Symfony has established itself as the preferred PHP framework for complex projects in many web agencies that use specialised Symfony web hosting for their development. However, due to its complexity, it is only limitedly suitable for simple projects that, for example, individual programmers as freelancers or interested amateurs undertake for private purposes.

What characterises the PHP framework Laravel?

In 2011, programmer Taylor Otwell released Laravel in its first version 1.0. It aimed to create an alternative to the popular PHP framework CodeIgniter, which includes some additional features such as integrated and secure user authentication and authorisation. Within just two years, the project rapidly evolved, with the version number rising to Laravel 4 with the codename "Illuminate". Due to its versatility and user-friendliness, a large community formed around the new PHP framework, making it one of the most popular alternatives among professional developers and amateurs despite its relatively young history. Additionally, there is now a comprehensive ecosystem around Laravel, which includes suitable environments as Software as a Service (SaaS), payment systems, development and debugging tools, or tools for the administration of individual virtual or dedicated servers and clusters.

Laravel is also subject to the MIT Open Source License, just like Symfony. However, the responsible developers offer a long-term LTS version, but unlike most competitors, they do not provide commercial support for professional users. In practical use, the PHP framework stands out for its ease of use and aims to develop clean, robust, and easily maintainable code. Some of its other characteristics include:

• Modular design for the entire framework and its extensions
• Numerous and extensive options for customising the program structure
• Easy integration of external code, for example in JavaScript
• Simple creation of a custom application programming interface (API) for external software
• Rapid and uncomplicated development of complex projects
• High adaptability and scalability of the environment for maximum cost efficiency
• Simple and extensive extension of the basic framework to meet individual requirements
• Active and helpful community, understandable documentation, and numerous tutorials

Due to its focus, Laravel has an excellent reputation among beginners and hobby programmers, but it is also well-suited for complex projects and collaboration in distributed teams. Some of the advantages include clarity and short development cycles, which allow for quick successes without compromising the security, stability, or performance of the code.

How do Symfony and Laravel compare directly?

Although Symfony and Laravel pursue the same goal - to create secure, stable, clear, and efficient code, they use a different approach, which also stems from their origins. Symfony is the older PHP framework that has established itself over time as the standard in many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to its high professionalism and universal approach. In contrast, despite more than ten years of development, Laravel still has the reputation of being a "young" and "innovative" PHP framework. However, this also has the advantage that it could adopt and integrate new trends and concepts more quickly and easily - some observers and industry journalists attribute to Laravel the fact that it has freed PHP from its somewhat outdated reputation and has once again become a true alternative to "more modern" programming languages such as Python 3 or Ruby on Rails. It is still considered a PHP framework primarily suited for rapid and simple programming with high demands, but it now demonstrates a potential that can indeed be compared to Symfony.

On the other hand, Symfony is a proven PHP framework known for its security and capabilities, especially used by many extensive websites and e-commerce systems, proving to be a versatile tool for projects of any kind in the hands of a professional and experienced programmer or team. However, it has a significantly steeper learning curve than Laravel, requiring a longer onboarding process and being less intuitive to use. With its bundles, which are a combination of PHP scripts, assets, styles, and JavaScript, it can be extended almost infinitely and builds continuously on existing experiences and uses. Users can also integrate external code, such as on a GIT server. The many options, however, mean a complexity that can be a greater challenge for inexperienced programmers, while experienced programmers can draw on a broad base of knowledge.

In every case, specialised Laravel or Symfony web hosting is recommended so that users can fully utilise all options and encounter no compatibility issues between the routines used and the environment. Due to the widespread use of both systems, this is rarely a hurdle or difficulty - in addition to international providers, more and more European and German providers are also focusing on this service and offering corresponding environments as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) or Platform as a Service (PaaS).

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