There are so many PHP frameworks released open source. This provides an almost limitless options for PHP developers. However, a lot of PHP developers are mostly looking for a PHP framework with a lot of fanbase and community support. The primary reason is that a popular PHP framework will have a lot of followers which can help in answering other technical questions relating to that PHP framework.
In less popular PHP framework, the only technical expert is the author of the framework itself which may not devote all of his/her entire time in answering framework related questions. This makes support for less popular framework to be really slow which can affect the user if they are using the framework actively in their website development.
To solve this problem, I have conducted indepth research on the most widely used PHP framework. This is the popular top 7 list for the year 2011. Bear in mind that this list only by popularity and nothing else. If you are looking for the best framework in general, or the fastest PHP framework that you can use for your website then this “popular list” may not provide the answer.
The source of the data is Google keyword tool that basically provides the amount of searches for that PHP framework in a one month time frame worldwide. The higher the searches for that framework in Google, the more popular will be the PHP framework.
Results: Based on the results, the most popular framework is the Zend framework with around 74.2% of the searches. This is a very popular due to the following facts:
a.) Zend framework is started by Andi Gutmans and Zeev Suraski, one of the most influential persons that started PHP 3.
b.) Magento which is the most popular e-commerce platform is based on the Zend framework.
c.) McAffee and IBM are very popular websites/companies that are built using the Zend framework.
d.) Zend framework is currently one of the oldest PHP frameworks to exist. So essentially it already earns a lot of reputation.
Another popular framework next to the Zend framework is the Codeigniter. Comparing with the Zend framework, Codeigniter popularity is very small. Cogniter has similar popularity with Symfony and Yii PHP frameworks.
The bottom of the popularity list are: Kohana, Prado and CakePHP. In the past years up to now, this is how the trend looks like:
Although Google trends are using approximations, at least you can deduce some information. It says:
1.) Zend framework popularity starting from year 2007 up to now is somewhat “flat”.
2.) Codeigniter popularity is “consistently” increasing.
3.) Other fast rising PHP frameworks is the yii framework (look at the slope of the trend in green color).
4.) Kohana popularity is somewhat “flat” also.
hi
I would be interested how did you get that 75% zend framework result.
“Comparing with the Zend framework, Codeigniter popularity is very small. Cogniter has similar popularity with Symfony and Yii PHP frameworks.”
I would guess that Symfony should be either ahead of ZF, or closely following it.
your google trend results also shows that both symfony and codeigniter is most frequently searched than ZF:
http://www.google.com/trends?q=zend+framework%2C+codeigniter%2C+symfony%2C+yii%2C+kohana&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0
http://www.google.com/trends?q=zend+framework%2C+codeigniter%2C+symfony%2C+yii%2C+kohana&ctab=0&geo=all&date=2011&sort=0
Tyrael
Hi Tyrael,
Jesus Christ! I have lost the Excel file that I used in computing the pie chart! Anyway I have mentioned that “The source of the data is Google keyword tool that basically provides the amount of searches for that PHP framework in a one month time frame worldwide. The higher the searches for that framework in Google, the more popular will be the PHP framework.”
So basically what I did is mine some data using this Google Keyword tool: https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal
For example comparing the EXACT match of popularity (in searches) between Symfony and Zend framework. It clearly shows Zend framework is ahead in terms of exact match queries (exact means that it is the exact word being inputted in the Google search box), see screenshot:
Yup. I am also wondering how you did your math?!
1.54 symfony
1.32 zend framework
1.00 codeigniter (base)
0.24 yii
0.22 kohana
Also, if you are going to talk about 2011 trends, then use a 2011 TREND statistical data!
Hi John,
I strongly believe and 100% sure that I did my math correctly. Yup that is the latest data I am talking about. Remember that data in Google trends are dynamic, what I just mined MAY NOT BE exactly the same as I have! However those the data and results, the results would speak for themselves.
Thanks for your concern.
Cheers,
Codex
hello everyone,
I’m working on CakePHP framework now. Can any of you tell me which is the best PHP framework?
Or does it depend on the project we’ll be working on?
Thanks and Kind Regards.
Kevin
kevin-yonathan.blogspot.com
Hi Kevin,
Well best is relative. As to what perspective, speed? performance? community support? I suggest to spend some time with CakePHP framework first and decide whether it will answer ALL of your website technical needs. If you are not happy with its performance, get back to me and I will help you find a better framework that suits your needs. Thanks for the feedback.
Cheers,
Codex
CodeIgniter popularity will from now on steadily decrease because they are doing a license change to OSL and they just declared that their current and future license is incompatible to any GPL software or library.
Talk about sawing on the branch you are sitting on.
The codeigniter searches may be increased recently but that may be just a followup to the debacle around the license issue.
Yup I agree, CodeIgniter could take on the future. Their un-greedy decisions could take them to high places in terms of PHP framework.
hi.,
Im a PHP developer, I want to learn a framework in php. I’m in confusion of which one to select? Zend or codeigniter or…? which one is best for my future? can you please give me your suggestion?
Try the lightest of them: Rain Framework: http://www.rainframework.com/
Spend at most a week learning the very basics. I am sure you will be impressed with the results.
I recommend the lightest and fastest framework because you are still a student and I bet you need everything to run as simple and straightforward as possible.
The support is also very helpful.
This doesn’t indicate anything other than search trends.
One framework may have far better documentation than another so web searches for answers are less frequent.
Likewise one framework may be harder to learn than another, requiring more searches for answers to basic questions.
To equate web searches to popularity is meaningless. The only realistic measure of popularity would be installed instances of each framework.
I disagree, web searches do equate popularity. In real life, popular entities do have high amount of web searches. Think about celebrities like Justin Bieber and other buzz on this planet. They have high web searches also. This is why I mined the web searches data to correlate with the popularity.
Although if you can give me data about the installed instances of each framework then I would surely be grateful. It is because until now, I find it challenging where to look at that data. Yeah you are right that installed instances correlate to a much more meaningful popularity. But you cannot rule out web searches too.
Thank you for your article it really guided me, i’ll begin to use rain framework for my site… (Saludos desde Chile, Latinamerica)
I agree web searches in no way reflect popularity in software frameworks. Celebrity name searches do not have anything to do with a software framework. If a user cannot find good info on a topic relating to a framework then they try again.. And again… And again.
Maybe try a combination approach, total framework downloads, your web search stats, Alexa stats…. Such things
Till then this page is not only useless but misleading
Andrew, thanks for dropping by. I heartily disagree with you.To say that the analysis on this page is useless is the same as saying searches data from Google are worthless. The backbone data of this research comes from Google which is not a joke. Whether you hate Justin Bieber or a big fan of the Kardashians- I don’t really care. This post is written with the intention to inform (of course subject to my disclaimer).
You can perform your own research and publish it somewhere then we can happily read it too. Till then your accusation that this page is useless is not only untrue but rather also misleading