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Core PHP vs Laravel: The Ideal Choice Web App Development

When creating web apps, you need a robust backend technology that powers them for flawless performance. Laravel and PHP have emerged as the preferable backend technologies. Both are simple and handy options for developing an advanced and scalable backend architecture of web applications. 

While PHP is a popular backend scripting language, Laravel is a robust framework based on PHP. This article discusses Core PHP vs Laravel to help you decide the best option for your web app development project.

What is Core PHP?

PHP, or Hypertext Preprocessor, is a scripting language that powers over 78% of websites globally. The general-purpose programming language has several advanced libraries, frameworks, and technology tools like CakePHP, Symfony, Laravel, etc. Core PHP is ideal for creating various web applications for diverse business industries, like dynamic web pages, eCommerce applications, etc. The programming language powers some globally popular CMSs like WordPress, Magento, PrestaShop, etc.   

Standard Features of Core PHP

• Server-Side Scripting Language 
• Simple-to-Use
• Reliable Speed Performance
• Highly Scalable 
• Steep Learning Curve
• Cross-Platform Support
• Compatible with Multiple Databases
• Interoperability
• Community Support

Companies Using PHP

 

• Tumblr
• Wikipedia
• Flickr
• Mailchimp

What is Laravel?

 

 

Laravel is a backend web development framework based on the PHP scripting language. It has an elegant and expressive syntax and various handy features like HTML templating, routing, caching, database options, etc. Laravel is the most rapidly used PHP framework for building web applications. Its in-built authentication and authorization system assists in building well-secured applications. Laravel is ideal for developing custom eCommerce applications, SPAs, Fintech apps, business portals, and extensive web applications. Laravel beats most PHP frameworks with a wide range of functionalities.

Standard Features of Laravel

• MVC (model-view-controller) Architecture
• Advanced Routing System
• Blade Templating
• Eloquent ORM (Object Relational Mapping)
• Authentication & Authorization
• Artisan CLI (Command Line Interface)
• Database Migrations and Seeding
• Database Caching
• Queues and Job Scheduling
• Testing Support

Companies Using Laravel

 

• Bitpanda
• Razorpay
• MasterCard
• SWORD Health

Comparison Begins – Core PHP vs Laravel

While both are similar technologies, there are several differences between PHP and Laravel. For example, the former is scripting language while the latter is a framework based on it. As a language, PHP offers greater flexibility in terms of code development.

However, Laravel leads regarding inbuilt testing units and scalability features. Before we divulge into the core features comparison, look at the PHP vs. Laravel comparison table.

Features	Core PHP	Laravel
What is it?	General-purpose scripting language	PHP Framework
Development Structure	Offers a Modular Structure	Follows MVC structure
Flexibility	Offers higher flexibility for code development	It is framework with strict development rules
Learning Curve	Steep	Simple
Templating Engine	Inbuilt PHP Engine	Blade Templating Engine
Scalability	Can be used to develop highly scalable applications	Comes with in-built scalable features
Caching System	Lacks in-built caching system	Offers support for cache backends
Support for Testing	Third-party support is available to test PHP apps.	It has an in-built PHPUnit for testing support

Analysing Ease of Development

Core PHP is a scripting language and is not bound by any strict rules for implementing application features. A PHP website development company can customize the code per the latest business needs in a hassle-free way. 

Laravel lacks when it comes to flexibility, but the framework has various out-of-the-box features to compensate for it. For example, you can access object-oriented libraries and high code reusability for quick project development.

Which One Offers Higher Performance

Building solutions that offer high performance is among the core objectives of every modern web app development project. Higher performance refers to advanced request handling attributes evaluation. Core PHP provides higher performance than Laravel.

Comparing Core PHP with Laravel, the former has a higher concurrency rate and can simultaneously process as many as 1617 instructions. This is much higher than what Laravel can tackle. Additionally, Core PHP can tackle 9000 commands per second and render around 90,000 lines of code per minute. This makes it a vital option to create dynamic web pages for diverse business industries

Facilitating Faster Project Development

Both PHP programming language and Laravel offer significant code reusability. Regarding faster project development, Laravel beats PHP as it has several libraries and offers extensive code reusability to the development team. The availability of pre-written code for various standard functions helps save web developers time significantly. Additionally, it also has an in-built testing support system- PHPUnit.

The PHPUnit allows web developers to test the developed code quickly, which is handy in projects requiring faster time-to-market. For testing new ideas in limited time, it is advisable to hire Laravel developers over PHP experts.

Comparing the Architecture of the Technologies 

Good architecture helps in creating advanced web applications seamlessly. You want to avoid getting stuck with a technology that fails to offer industry-standard architecture for the code development of the project. Comparing Laravel and PHP, PHP provides a modular structure that helps in creating error-free code.

Core PHP allows extraction of the logic layer from the representations layer. This proves helpful in developing simplified data routes that ensure smooth data transmission from the users.

On the other hand, Laravel deploys an MVC architecture that allows the development team to divide the frontend and backend code efficiently. The MVC pattern allows the frontend and backend PHP developers to work on the project simultaneously, providing scope for on-time project completion. Additionally, MVC also helps in the smooth development of large-size web applications.

Core PHP vs. Laravel – For Development of Well-Secured Apps

Security is one of the key factors deciding the fate of diverse web applications like eCommerce, Fintech, and Business apps categories. A minor data breach leads to potential loss in terms of credibility and user base of the apps. As per a report by Statista,

• 32.7% of global consumers feel apps in mobile bank, trading, and investment must have the highest level of security.
• 20.7% votes for the highest app security for e-wallet, payment, and money transfer apps

Laravel offers greater security than Core PHP in terms of application security. The framework has an extensive architecture and various inbuilt security system features. It supports checking SQL injection, cross-site request forgery attacks, etc. It also has ready-made features for authentication and authorization of the application.

In contrast, Core PHP-based web apps can also be created to offer higher security by using third-party libraries, APIs, etc. 

Wrapping Up

That was all about which one to choose when analyzing Core PHP vs. Laravel. Laravel is a good choice for customizing modern web apps. The framework supports creating large-scale apps that offer smooth performance.

However, if you want to create a web app with extensive speed performance and also looking for greater flexibility, it’s vital to use Core PHP for the development project.