Laravel Vs Codeigniter: Comparing Two PHP Frameworks On The Basics Of Web App Development

Detailed Comparison: Laravel vs CodeIgniter

What is Lavarel?

Taylor Otwell unveiled Laravel, an open-source PHP framework based on the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, in 2011. It is renowned for its sophisticated syntax, user-friendly tools, and features that make creating contemporary online apps quick and pleasurable.

Laravel streamlines PHP and helps developers with their work. To save you the bother of beginning from scratch while creating a PHP application, it offers a variety of components and templates.

Laravel is used by many developers to speed up their development process because of its robust ecosystem and abundance of compatible packages and extensions. PHP is now speedier thanks to Laravel, which has also enabled developers to advance it. Actually, Laravel kept PHP from going extinct.

Some Important Laravel Features:

• Engine for Blade Templating
• Object Relational Mapping, or Eloquent ORM
• Integrated Authorization and Authentication
• Scheduling Tasks
• Routing with REST
• Integration with PHPUnit and other testing tools
• A strong ecosystem with Laravel Jetstream and Laravel Sanctum packages

Codelgniter 

Like other PHP frameworks, CodeIgniter keeps you from writing the same PHP code over and over again. But even though it’s a PHP framework, it offers better speed and an impressively small footprint.

EllisLab released the CodeIgniter web framework on February 28, 2006. But in 2014, they gave the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) control for CodeIgniter. All CodeIgniter version releases and maintenance have so far been handled by BCIT.

If you want a straightforward yet attractive PHP toolkit to build a fully functional web application, CodeIgniter is the ideal option. Additionally, despite the fact that a number of different PHP web frameworks are comparable, CodeIgniter is a market leader due to its numerous advantages.

Codeigniter’s Salient Features

• Lightweight and quick
• Straightforward structure
• No need for command-line interfaces
• Simple database integration
• Integrated libraries for standard functions like file handling, email, and session management; and minimalist MVC implementation 

Market Usage Statistics

Laravel market usage statistics

• Out of all the web frameworks available today, Laravel has a sixteen per cent market share.
• Over 304,414 websites in the US are among the more than 737,921 live websites that use Laravel.
• Laravel boasts 635 devoted contributors who enhance the real-time framework, 26.3k active projects, and 1,000 Github stars.

CodeIgniter market usage statistics

• Currently, CodeIgniter holds a 42 per cent market share in web frameworks.
• On GitHub, it has 7,000 forks and 2,000 stars.
• CodeIgniter has been used to create 519,417 websites from 39 different countries, including Japan, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Real-World Use of Both Frameworks

It is equally crucial to understand the real-world use of both these frameworks –

Laravel

• E-Commerce Platforms: Laravel is perfect for creating reliable e-commerce platforms because of its capabilities like smart routing, payment gateway integration, and authentication.
• SaaS Applications: Laravel is appropriate for SaaS solutions because of its included tools, such as Telescope for debugging and Horizon for queue management.
• Content Management Systems (CMS): Developers may design highly configurable CMS solutions thanks to Laravel’s extensibility.
• Enterprise Apps: Laravel is a great option for enterprise-level apps due to its scalability and broad community support.

Codelgniter

• Rapid Prototyping: CodeIgniter is a great tool for developing MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) because of its ease of use and speed.
• Small Business Websites: CodeIgniter is ideal for small-scale websites and applications due to its lightweight architecture.
• CRUD Applications: CodeIgniter is an effective tool for developing applications that need basic Create, Read, Update, and Delete features.
• API Development: Quick API development is made possible by CodeIgniter’s simple setup.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Both Frameworks

Lavarel: Advantages

• Rich Ecosystem: To make deployment and management easier, Laravel’s ecosystem offers technologies like Forge, Envoyer, and Nova. Envoyer delivers deployment with zero downtime, Forge automates server installations, and Nova provides an admin panel for effective administration.
• Built-in Authentication: It saves time and effort by providing ready-to-use authentication features. Without writing a lot of code, developers can guarantee security and functionality with built-in support for user registration, password resets, and email verification.
• Thorough Documentation: Laravel’s thorough documentation makes it simple for developers to understand and use its capabilities. The guide is designed for developers of all skill levels and includes everything from simple setup instructions to sophisticated approaches.
• Artisan CLI: The Artisan command-line interface simplifies tedious operations such as scaffolding and database migrations. With Artisan, developers can automate processes like middleware management, controller creation, and database seeding.

Disadvantages

• Performance Overhead: Compared to lightweight frameworks like CodeIgniter, Laravel may be slower because of its many functionalities. For example, Laravel’s Eloquent ORM streamlines database operations, but if improperly tuned, it may cause slower queries. Although middleware execution is effective at managing requests, it can also cause latency. Developers can utilize strategies like query caching, eager loading of relationships, and avoiding the needless use of middleware layers to lessen these problems.
• Steep Learning Curve: Because of its complexity, beginners may find it difficult to get started. It may take some time to comprehend Laravel’s architecture, which includes dependency injection and service containers.
• Resource-Intensive: Laravel apps are less appropriate for low-resource contexts since they can use more server resources, particularly when handling high traffic or executing complicated queries.

Codelgniter: Advantages

• Simplicity: CodeIgniter is simple to use and learn because of its simplistic design. For example, developers working on prototypes or websites for small businesses have frequently mentioned how CodeIgniter’s simple structure and few dependencies enabled them to finish projects quickly. In one instance, a freelance developer used CodeIgniter’s pre-built libraries and user-friendly routing to create a whole inventory management system for a nearby business in just two weeks. Startups or companies with limited resources and strict deadlines may especially benefit from this delivery speed.
• High Speed: It uses few resources while providing outstanding performance. It is perfect for applications that need quick reactions because of its lightweight core, which guarantees fast loading times.
• Lightweight: The framework’s compact size guarantees speedy setups and installations. Without having to deal with intricate dependencies or configurations, developers can get started.
• Backward Compatibility: CodeIgniter is a flexible choice because it guarantees compatibility with earlier PHP versions. This capability is advantageous for companies that use legacy systems.
• Less Configuration: Development is streamlined by its configuration-free architecture. CodeIgniter does not require large setup files because it employs a convention-over-configuration methodology.

Disadvantages

• Restricted Features: CodeIgniter offers fewer built-in features than Laravel. For capabilities like complex routing or ORM, developers frequently have to create their own code or rely on third-party libraries.
• Outdated Practices: It does not use object-relational mapping (ORM) or dependency injection, two contemporary development techniques. For larger projects, this may restrict scalability and maintainability.

Community Support: Although vibrant, the community is not as large as Laravel’s, which may affect the available resources. There may be less comprehensive documentation and fewer third-party packages available to developers.

Factors To Consider When Choosing Lavarel and Codelgniter

Here, we’ll examine the elements to take into account while deciding between these two frameworks so that you can make an informed decision that fits the objectives of your project.

1. Project Scale and Complexity

Laravel: With capabilities like ORM, integrated authentication, sophisticated routing, and task scheduling, Laravel is best suited for complicated and large-scale projects. Laravel is the best option if your project requires scalability, modular architecture, and strong security. For example, Laravel’s ecosystem would be very helpful for an enterprise-level SaaS business that needs multi-user roles and real-time notifications.

CodeIgniter: This lightweight framework and ease of use make it a fantastic option for quick application development, and it’s perfect for small to medium-sized applications. CodeIgniter’s speed and simplicity make it ideal for projects like prototypes, CRUD apps, and simple business websites.

2. Learning Curve and Expertise of Developers

Laravel: Novices may find Laravel’s sophisticated features and contemporary methods difficult to understand. Developers must be well-versed in PHP, MVC architecture, and Laravel’s built-in tools. Despite having thorough documentation, novice developers may need extra training due to the framework’s complexity.

CodeIgniter: A popular choice for novice coders, CodeIgniter is renowned for its ease of use and intuitive design. It is accessible to people who are unfamiliar with PHP frameworks due to its straightforward setup, basic design, and comprehensive documentation.

3. Needs for Performance

Laravel: Although it offers many features, Laravel’s heavier framework may cause performance issues. Optimization strategies like caching, database query optimization, and limited middleware use may be necessary for applications that have a lot of traffic, or that need quick response times.

CodeIgniter: CodeIgniter is a lightweight framework that performs exceptionally well. Projects where performance is a top concern, like APIs or small business apps, can benefit from its simpler architecture and smaller footprint, which guarantee faster response times.

4. Rate of Development

Laravel: Laravel’s built-in tools, reusable components, and Artisan CLI speed up the creation of complicated applications. In contrast to CodeIgniter, its lengthy setup and configuration may slow down beginning work.

CodeIgniter: CodeIgniter enables quick development with less setup and an emphasis on simplicity. This is especially helpful for tasks with short turnaround times, such as startups creating MVPs or companies needing a fast online presence.

5. Functionality and Features

Laravel: Laravel facilitates the development of feature-rich applications and is loaded with capabilities like Blade templating, Eloquent ORM, event broadcasting, and enhanced security. The broad toolbox offered by Laravel is beneficial if your project requires strong backend capabilities.

Codelgniter: Although it provides the necessary features, CodeIgniter is devoid of some of Laravel’s more sophisticated features. Its built-in tools and core libraries are adequate for simpler projects without needlessly increasing complexity.

6. Resources and Community Support

Laravel: Laravel has a wealth of resources, tutorials, forums, and third-party packages, and it has a bigger and more vibrant community. Developers can swiftly solve problems and smoothly incorporate new features thanks to this thriving environment.

CodeIgniter: The community is still active despite being smaller. However, developers may have to create unique solutions if there are fewer third-party packages and resources available to meet sophisticated requirements.

7. Requirements for Servers and Hosting

Laravel: Because Laravel uses a lot of resources, it needs reliable hosting options like dedicated servers or VPS. Performance optimization is crucial for shared hosting settings to guarantee seamless operation.

CodeIgniter: CodeIgniter is a cost-effective choice for projects with a tight budget because of its lightweight design, which allows it to operate effectively on shared hosting or servers with limited resources.

8. Features of Security

Laravel: renowned for its robust security features, Laravel offers defence against frequent flaws including CSRF, XSS, and SQL injection attacks. It is perfect for applications handling sensitive data because of its encryption and hashed password storage features, which guarantee data security.

CodeIgniter: CodeIgniter lacks some of Laravel’s more sophisticated security capabilities, but it does include some fundamental security features like XSS filtering and CSRF protection. Additional specialized implementations are necessary for projects with strict security needs.

9. The ability to scale

Laravel: Designed with scalability in mind, Laravel is appropriate for expanding applications due to its modular architecture, caching features, and capacity to manage big databases. Laravel can accommodate growing user demand thanks to features like load balancing and queue management.

CodeIgniter: CodeIgniter is more appropriate for applications with moderate growth, even though it is somewhat scalable. For applications that are growing quickly, its lack of sophisticated scalability tools may present difficulties.

10. Financial and Budgetary Restraints

Laravel: Expenses may rise due to the requirement for high-performance hosting, possible third-party tool licensing, and a lengthier development period. On the other hand, large, feature-rich apps justify the cost.

CodeIgniter: For startups or small enterprises with tight budgets, CodeIgniter is an affordable option due to its quicker development and reduced hosting needs.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Two of the most popular tools for creating dynamic and safe web applications are Laravel and CodeIgniter, which are PHP frameworks. Based on the needs of your project, this guide offers a thorough comparison of Laravel versus CodeIgniter to assist you in making an informed choice. 

Overview and Context

• Lavarel: Taylor Otwell created the contemporary PHP framework Laravel in 2011. It is intended for developers who wish to create intricate applications with sophisticated syntax and adhere to the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture. With built-in features for routing, authentication, caching, and much more, Laravel is feature-rich.
• Codelgniter: Another MVC-based PHP framework with an emphasis on performance and ease of use is CodeIgniter, which was created by EllisLab in 2006. For developers who need to create applications quickly without the burden of complicated settings, CodeIgniter is the perfect tool because it is lightweight. 

The Curve of Learning

The learning curve is one of the biggest distinctions between CodeIgniter and Laravel.

• Laravel: Because of its extensive feature set, Laravel can be challenging for novice developers to understand and use. Laravel’s extensive feature set may be too much for novices to handle, despite its clear and understandable syntax.
• CodeIgniter: CodeIgniter is renowned for being easy to use and simple to set up. Even coders with no prior PHP knowledge can soon become proficient due to the comparatively flat learning curve. 

Performance

• Laravel: Because of its extensive feature set, Laravel is notoriously more resource-intensive than CodeIgniter. Better support for caching and optimization tools, such as the PHP Artisan optimize command, is how Laravel makes up for this, though.
• CodeIgniter: Because of its lightweight design and simple approach, CodeIgniter is regarded as one of the quickest PHP frameworks. Because of its low configuration requirements and low resource requirements, the framework is perfect for small projects or circumstances where speed is of the essence.

Features and Adaptability

• Laravel: Laravel has an extensive feature set that includes built-in caching, sessions, routing, authentication, and more. Additionally, it comes with sophisticated tools like task scheduling, Artisan CLI, Blade templating engine, and Eloquent ORM. In addition to supporting RESTful routing, Laravel comes with a number of packages, such as Laravel Cashier for subscription billing, Laravel Horizon for queue management, and Laravel Passport for OAuth authentication. Because of its adaptability, it can be used in large-scale enterprise systems and sophisticated applications.
• CodeIgniter: CodeIgniter offers a fundamental feature set that includes security measures like XSS filtering, routing, and sessions. It does not, however, have some of the more sophisticated features of Laravel, including an ORM or integrated work schedule. For functionality that is unique to Laravel, developers frequently have to install extra libraries or come up with their own solutions. 

Maintenance and Scalability

• Laravel: For large, intricate applications, Laravel is the best option due to its excellent scalability. Easy scaling and long-term maintenance are made possible by the framework’s integrated caching, routing, and database migration features. Enterprise-level apps that must manage a high volume of users and requests are a good fit for Laravel.
• CodeIgniter: CodeIgniter is ideal for smaller applications because it is simple and lightweight. However, because of its simplicity, CodeIgniter applications can be difficult to manage as projects get bigger. It is less appropriate for large-scale applications due to its lack of sophisticated features.

Final Takeaway

The decision between Laravel and CodeIgniter ultimately comes down to your long-term objectives, team experience, and particular project requirements. Although both frameworks are effective resources for creating web apps, each project will have a different preference.

You can choose the framework that best suits your project’s requirements by carefully weighing the elements covered in this blog post. The most crucial thing to keep in mind is selecting a framework that enables you to create secure, effective, and high-quality online apps.