Laravel vs Symfony In 2024: A Detailed Comparison

Introduction

Using the correct PHP framework is crucial when developing reliable and effective online apps in today’s ever-changing web development landscape. In 2023, developers are still debating which framework is superior, Laravel or Symfony. These frameworks have dominated the PHP environment for years due to their reputation for speed, security, and ease. Laravel and Symfony have high ratings in the GitHub user community, with Laravel having 73.6k stars and Symfony having 28.4k stars, respectively. 

However, the question remains: which should you pick for your next project? The blog post compares two popular web development frameworks, Laravel and Symfony, to clarify your choice between them. The in-depth comparison of Laravel vs Symfony will reveal their benefits and drawbacks, allowing you to choose the best framework for your project.

Choosing between these two frameworks can pose a challenge, given the numerous advantages associated with each. This guide conducts a detailed examination of the PHP Laravel framework and Symfony, elucidating their distinct use cases. By delving into a comprehensive comparison of Laravel vs Symfony, this article aims to furnish valuable insights to assist in making a well-informed decision.

What is Laravel? Introduction & Features

Laravel is a highly regarded open-source PHP framework that employs a novel and attractive syntax in service of the MVC design pattern. As a well-known and feature-rich web application framework, Laravel offers rapid programming and minimal settings.

Since the introduction of version 10, Laravel has become a popular framework. Nevertheless, Laravel is designed to use parts of other frameworks to create web apps. This coding method is not only lightweight and automated but also enables you to easily separate the business logic code from the display code while you’re still developing the application.

Features of Laravel: 

The top Laravel features for smooth web development are listed below: 

Quick Authentication: 

One of the most important aspects of building a web project is authentication, and Laravel development makes it quick and simple. Software developers need to configure controllers and models as part of the Laravel workflow’s inbuilt authentication mechanism to guarantee the flawless operation of their projects.

Blade Template Engine:

The Blade templating engine is a powerful component of the Laravel framework. The syntax for creating code is simplified, and the template engine may be used with little effort. The blade template engine provides a variety of constructs, including conditional statements and sequences. To make a blade template, create a new view file and save it as.blade.php rather than.php. 

Effective Application Security: 

In any Laravel web development project, application security is a top priority. Various methods of application security need various actions from developers. In addition, Laravel deploys robust security using the Bcrypt Hashing Algorithm.

Superior Unit Tests: 

Laravel is the best framework for doing unit tests. This popular PHP framework is easy on developers, so users can run many tests to find security flaws rapidly. Choosing Laravel development helps save costs and improves website efficiency.

Excellent Object Relational Mapping: 

Laravel’s built-in ORM (Object Relational Mapping) allows programmers to use standard PHP syntax when issuing database queries. This eliminates the need for developers to create custom SQL. Integration between Laravel developers and database tables is a breeze with the help of Laravel’s workflow.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Laravel:

Advantages of Laravel:

1. Excellent Documentation: 

Laravel’s comprehensive documentation is a major reason for the framework’s popularity among programmers. Laravel’s extensive documentation covers its many features in detail, from its many methods and classes to its various coding conventions.

2. Packages and tools are readily available:

Laravel package development supports Bower and NPM (Node Package Manager) packages via integration with Gulp and Elixir. It is very useful for revising assets and resources. Plus, when used with Composer, it makes it easier to sort out which components need to be updated. Because of this, it is the most reliable package source in the PHP era.

3. Supports the latest PHP versions:

Laravel facilitates the use of any recent PHP enhancements. Very few other backend frameworks are compatible with such requirements. Laravel 5.1 introduces several new PHP features, like anonymous methods, namespace, simpler array syntax, overloading, and interfaces, which businesses may use.

4. Email Service Integration: 

Users of a web app need to be kept up-to-date on its newest features, deals, and specials via two-way communication. Instead of the SwiftMailer tool, the Laravel system comprises an API. It also includes PHP’s “mail” operators.

Disadvantages of Laravel: 

Laravel web development has a few drawbacks, including the ones listed below: 

1. Incompetent Composer

Developers may need help working with Laravel since it is a complex framework. In comparison to Python’s PIP, Ruby on Rails’ Ruby Gems, and Node.js’ NPM, Laravel’s Composer is slow and inefficient.

2. Updates can be complicated. 

The issue of upgrading occurs not just with Laravel but with any PHP framework whenever a new version is released. Therefore, end-users must be careful while updating the version.

3. Growth Opportunity: 

The Laravel framework may be popular, but competing frameworks are expanding and improving faster.

4. Legacy System Migration Problems: 

A significant drawback to using Laravel is when moving data from older systems. Even if you are familiar with other technologies, this procedure may take time and effort. Laravel could be more user-friendly for individuals working with large legacy codebases since it might be difficult to adapt previous systems to fit inside its framework.

What is Symfony? Introduction & Features

The Symfony framework comprises three PHP parts that work together: a web application system, an idea, and a community. Symfony is an established and trustworthy platform due to its reusable PHP components and reliance on the MVC design, making it a good fit for difficult corporate projects. It speeds up development and eliminates mistakes in the code.

The most common applications of the Symfony framework are CMSes, microservices, blogs, reports, bots, eCommerce platforms, and accounting systems. This framework’s main purpose is to facilitate the rapid development of custom software that answers specific customer requirements.

Features of Symfony: 

Some of the greatest aspects of Symfony that aid in productive Symfony development are as follows:

Important Reliability: 

Symfony is often considered the most trustworthy framework available, which is why most web developers use it.

Superior Documentation: 

The lack of comprehensive documentation for several PHP frameworks is a major hurdle for programmers. However, the Symfony framework stands out because of its superior documentation. Symfony’s workflow is well-organized and simple to use for developers.

Excellent Scalability: 

It is unnecessary to update or modify the framework while working with the Symfony PHP framework; instead, developers need to tweak the bundle to meet the requirements of their projects.

Easy Development:

Symfony relieves developers of the burden of worrying about low-priority tasks and features. It works well for construction endeavors of any size as it is built on a Bundle-based structure.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Symfony

Advantages of Symfony: 

Using Symfony development for your next project has several benefits, including those listed below:

1. Quick App Development: 

The speed at which Symfony can be implemented is a major benefit. It helps you create apps rapidly and easily. With its significant use of reusable components and module frameworks, Symfony achieved its main goal of allowing Hire PHP developers to build apps quickly. 

2. Interoperability: 

Symfony workflows promote uniformity by embracing the most recent versions of PHPUnit and naming conventions (or classes). It allows the web developer to deploy many parts of the software development process, including the dependency injector, translation management, and administration of the product itself.

3. Managing the Cache: 

Since the MySQL database controls every read query executed by the Symfony framework, the framework must employ a cache management strategy. Since every statement is reserved in MySQL, it’s simple to use.

4. Reusable Components Utilization: 

Symfony is a PHP framework built on the Model-View-Controller architecture. PHP applications are built using the MVC (Model View Controller) paradigm. Symfony framework is widely recognized as the most modular since it operates on reusable components. Because the people who make the software use reusable parts, Symfony development goes as planned, which makes business owners happy because it takes so little time to get the product to market.

Disadvantages of Symfony: 

Some major drawbacks of Symfony development are as follows:

1. Requires Consistency: 

Symfony requires a greater time commitment than other PHP frameworks. The time and energy needed to master it is more than average.

2. Performance: 

The Symfony web app might have performance difficulties at times. How come? The slow speed and the need to load real-time web applications fast are the primary causes. When the website or program is very popular, this may occur.

3. Parsing Issues: 

The Symfony framework makes it difficult to access parser and lever routines, which increases the difficulty for your specialized development team in testing these programs on time.

4. Difficult to Master: 

Symfony PHP framework’s difficult principles need more time and dedication to understand and master the framework.

Laravel vs Symfony: Key Differences

Web developers in 2023 face a key dilemma when choosing between Laravel and Symfony. Let’s take a look at the key differences between Laravel and Symfony: 

1. Popularity

• Laravel: Laravel has a big and active user base because of its widespread appeal. It has a wealth of information assets, including forums, tutorials, and online documentation.
• Symfony: While Symfony is widely used, its community is far smaller than Laravel’s. Help is only available via the website’s official documentation page.

2. Usage Statistics and Market Share

• Laravel: The top one million websites worldwide are powered by Laravel, making it a major player. Lavrael boasts over 136,179 websites under 96,243 different domains. The IT sector has the highest percentage (5.38%) of industry adoption, followed by Science & Education (3.22%), Arts & Entertainment (2.17%), and Law & Government (2.15%).
• Symfony: Symfony powers 10,121 websites over 6,933 domains. Its primary markets are the scientific and educational (9.04%), information technology (3.66%), automotive (3.93%), and medical (2.51%) sectors. With 1,607 sites, the United States is the top country using Symfony.

3. Performance

• Laravel: Compared to other frameworks, Laravel’s 60-ms response time makes it a top performer. It has very low memory requirements and a high processing speed.
• Symfony: Symfony has a slower response time than most other frameworks, clocking in at about 250 milliseconds. When it comes to memory consumption and processing speed, however, it still provides decent performance.

4. Architecture

• Laravel: The Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern is a well-known and commonly implemented method, and Laravel bases its structure on this pattern.
• Symfony: Symfony goes beyond the Model-View-Controller architectural pattern to include the Model-View-Controller-Entity (MVCE), providing developers with additional options for creating sophisticated online apps.

5. Scalability and Modularity

• Laravel: Using strategies like load balancing and route caching, Laravel’s scalability may be increased with the help of the Artisan command-line tool. While its design is monolithic, it does allow for some customization.
• Symfony: Symfony is a great option for projects with unique needs due to its flexible architecture that allows for high scalability and adaptability.

6. Database Support

• Laravel: Laravel uses the Eloquent ORM for managing databases and is compatible with PostgreSQL, SQLServer, MySQL, and SQLite.
• Symfony: Unlike other frameworks, Symfony uses Doctrine for Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) and is compatible with more backend DBMSs, including MySQL, Drizzle, SAP Sybase SQL, and Oracle.

7. Code Structure

• Laravel: Laravel’s “convention over configuration” strategy makes it easy to understand code. Since it’s so simple to use, it’s a great option for inexperienced programmers just starting.
• Symfony: The coding structure of Symfony divides components more clearly, which might make the learning curve higher. But it’s quite flexible in terms of how you can use it.

8. Learning Curve

• Laravel: When comparing learning curves, Laravel comes out on top. Developers of various skill levels may use its user-friendly APIs, comprehensive documentation, and video tutorials.
• Symfony: Despite its complexity for newcomers, Symfony’s modular structure allows you to pick and choose the components you need for your project. Complete records help study.

9. Templating Engine

• Laravel: The Blade templating engine, which Laravel uses, is noted for its simplicity and reliability.
• Symfony: Symfony uses the Twig templating engine, and it’s quite user-friendly. Both engines have advantages, so choosing one may come down to your preferences.

10. Security

• Laravel: Laravel has a built-in encryption method for protecting sensitive information.
• Symfony: Symfony’s comprehensive permission system and extensive security options go above and beyond what other frameworks provide. It’s a great option for projects that need high security.

11. Scaffolding Tools: 

• Laravel: Artisan, a component of Laravel, is a robust scaffolding tool that facilitates the development of models, database migrations, and test controllers. For even more utility, it has built-in authentication methods.
• Symfony: MakerBundle is Symfony’s scaffolding tool, and it has several useful features, including testing, database migration, and security. Symfony is a powerful framework for building websites because it has generators for constructing entities and forms.

12. Speed

• Laravel: Laravel’s feature-rich tools, especially the Artisan command-line interface, speed up web development. It simplifies the creation procedure.
• Symfony: Symfony’s support for microservices and routing systems makes development more efficient. However, higher-level complexity may be needed to achieve optimal performance.

Finally, whether you should choose Laravel or Symfony is determined by the requirements of your project and your degree of familiarity with each framework. Though Symfony is better suited for large-scale applications, Laravel is ideal for novice developers and quick-start projects.

Case Study: Top Real-World Examples of Both the Frameworks

Real-world examples are helpful when deciding on a PHP framework for a web development project. This case study will examine how many well-known companies and websites have used Laravel and Symfony.

Laravel Framework Examples: 

1. Alison

• Overview: Alison is a major participant in the e-learning business, with a wide variety of free online courses available to everyone interested in learning. It’s an online resource aiming to democratize access to higher education.
• Laravel in Action: Laravel powers Alison’s website, which serves a population of almost 21 million pupils. Delivering a consistent e-learning experience across devices and supporting a rising user base are two of the most important use cases for this framework’s scalability and performance improvements.

2. Invoice Ninja

• Overview:  Invoice Ninja is a favorite among companies and independent contractors alike regarding invoicing and payment processing. Invoicing, payments, revenue monitoring, and cost management are all simplified.
• Laravel in Action: Invoice Ninja is more than simply an invoicing platform since it was built on the Laravel framework. It uses Laravel’s features to build a complex infrastructure with flexible user permission settings. This demonstrates Laravel’s adaptability and scalability to meet the demands of different types of businesses.

3. Laravel.io

• Overview: Laravel.io is a developer-run hub for communicating and solving issues with other members of the Laravel community. It’s the place to get caught up in the Laravel community.
• Laravel in Action: This system uses the Laravel PHP framework. It’s a great example of how Laravel has helped to grow its developer community by providing them with relevant content like podcasts and blogs. When it comes to improving the web development techniques of Laravel developers, Laravel.io is crucial.

Symfony Framework Examples 

1. Spotify

• Overview: With more than 75 million active monthly users, Spotify is one of the world’s most popular music streaming services. A large music collection and custom playlists are at your fingertips.
• Symfony in Action: Spotify uses the Symfony framework to keep its services up and handle the massive requests it receives. Because of Symfony’s features, Spotify is more productive than ever, particularly when tailoring the user experience. The framework easily manages the massive traffic that millions of users create.

2. Trivago

• Overview: Trivago is a reputable online service that facilitates searching for, comparing, and ultimately booking hotels.
• Symfony in Action: Trivago has made a smart decision by selecting Symfony as its PHP framework to manage the massive traffic the site generates. Symfony’s extensive capabilities help to improve the user experience by providing streamlined interactions and allowing for individualized search results for vacationers.

3. Vogue France / Netherlands

• Overview: Vogue is a globally recognized fashion and lifestyle publication. Vogue France and Vogue Netherlands are just two Vogue-branded websites adapted for use in specific nations.
• Symfony in Action: Vogue France, commonly known as Vogue Paris, is a live example of Symfony in action, as it is used to power the magazine’s website and provide readers with the best possible reading experience. Symfony’s use has enhanced website performance and attracted more visitors. Symfony is well-suited to high-traffic, content-rich websites, which is why Vogue Netherlands opted for it for its web development requirements.

Choosing Between Symfony and Laravel: 5 Key Considerations

When deciding between Symfony and Laravel, two popular PHP frameworks, it helps to keep a few things in mind. Some of them are listed below.

Project Requirements: 

Determine the specific needs of your project by thinking carefully about your company’s nature, core requirements, target audience, location, etc. It defines the framework by outlining the must-dos of the web development process.

Project Size:

Project size matters more in the selection process. Laravel is the best option for startups and smaller organizations, whereas Symfony can manage large, expensive projects.

Business Aims:

For more immediate needs and shorter-term business objectives, Laravel is preferable. Symfony, on the other hand, is superior for sites with long-term business plans and large audiences.

Skillset of Developers: 

Because of its ease of use and low technical requirements, Laravel is a popular framework among beginners. Symfony, however, is more complex and has a steeper learning curve due to its emphasis on object-oriented programming and other cutting-edge technologies.

Period

The deadline for the project’s completion simplifies the process of completing the framework as a whole. Laravel is the best option for a fast website development cycle and rollout. Symfony, on the other hand, is more time-consuming and slows down the delivery of the final product.

Conclusion

The PHP frameworks Laravel and Symphony are both reliable and widely used. 

Each has pros and cons which we discussed in detail in the blog. The first step to choosing between the two frameworks is to decide the kind of application you desire to build and launch. Other factors include the app features and functions and the overall business objectives. Another major factor is the budget. 

If you still can’t make a choice and seek professional help, Glasier Inc. has got you covered. Being a leading web development company, we hold deep industry expertise and knowledge of various web development frameworks. Our expert consultants will understand your project scope and business objectives deeply to help you choose the right framework. Contact us now to book a 30-minute free consultation call to discuss your next big idea.