Whenever someone talks about efficient PHP frameworks, These two names stand-out Laravel and CodeIgniter. But the debate is always ongoing about which is a better platform in terms of efficiency and overall as well. So, Let’s put it to the end.

With more than 700k websites from the top 1ok websites, Laravel captures more than 3.7% market share in the industry. While on the other hand, CodeIgniter is not very far behind. As, with more than 400k websites from the top 10k websites it holds the market share of around 1.5%. 

If you are searching for the answer of which one is better, Then let me clarify one thing for you. It would be best for you to read this post and choose the framework as per your need. And don’t delve into the debate for choosing which one is overall better. Because there are plenty of aspects in which laravel wins and in some codeigniter has an upper edge too. 

Although this guide is perfect for those who want to know the basic differences about the frameworks, Their core strengths, Unique elements and adaptation around the world. 

So, sit tight and make notes from this guide, As, this is going to be super helpful for you. And in case if you don’t know about either laravel or codeigniter then let’s start from the definitions. 

What is CodeIgniter? 

CodeIgniter is a powerful and lightweight framework of PHP that is a pretty prominent option for scalable Web applications with better efficiency and simplicity. 

For the architecture it follows (MVC) Model View Controller, That is a powerhouse of some significant aspects. like it helps build a clean code, Makes maintaining the website easier and is a remarkable option if someone is thinking about making a full-fledged and scalable website.

Features of CodeIgniter

Better at Efficiency and Lightweight:

This PHP framework is known for its incredible compactness and it is perfect for resource-efficient and resource-constraints environments. CodeIgniter is popular amongst developers who want to make their website simple and full of functionality with ease. 

Model View Controller (MVC) Architecture:

Due to its MVC architecture it helps software handle and enhance complex code, And make it convenient for developers to maintain and work in collaboration. 

Super Easy Migration System:

CodeIgniter makes migration and hosting on different environments pretty easy. Because It has built-in support for version control and Database changes. 

High-Security:

CodeIgniter contains high-end security capabilities including, XSS filtering, To escape XSS attacks and CSRF protection which makes it a very secure framework to build websites on.

What is Laravel? Definition and Features:

The Free framework of PHP built by Tylor Otwell took PHP to another level because of its customised web app development and PWA ( Progressive Web Apps) abilities.

Laravel brings code consistency, Better structure, Easy collaboration, And Convenient code with enhanced maintenance which skyrockets its popularity. This framework is also very popular for its clear and concise syntax. 

Features of Laravel

Eloquent:

This remarkable ORM helps developers to connect with databases easily with the help of classes and objects. And it is very simple to construct and run queries for databases. 

Simple Syntax: 

Its simple syntax is one of the reasons why it is so popular around the globe and uses it for developing purposes. Its rendering time is also less. And the clean code makes it convenient for the user to enhance and maintain the code easily. 

Better Functionality Due to built-in-Packages:

Its built-in-packages uplifts the performance, As the packages are of routing, Caching, Validation and Authentication.  

A detailed Analysis of Laravel vs CodeIgniter: Which is More efficient? 

CodeIgniter is perfect for small size projects, As, it is easy and simple to use. While for the bigger projects where scalable approaches might be used Laravel is a much better option. So, you should choose the best one as per your need. 

Some Similarities between both platforms:

To choose which one is the best platform for you. You should’ve to know about the similarities between the platforms. 

Community And Support:

Both of the PHP frameworks have official forums where developers can easily seek guidance, Ask questions, And for discussions. 

The codeigniter community has built libraries and plugins to uplift the capabilities of the platform. The developers can contribute and also report issues with the framework. Also, blogs and tutorials are available for the beginners who want to know about the framework.

On the other side laravel also provides up-to-date documentation and video tutorials for the newbies. 

API handling in CodeIgniter and Laravel:

For choosing a framework for your website development you should’ve good knowledge about the API handling capabilities of both to get a better understanding which will help you in your case and make better decisions. 

When it comes to API handling CodeIgniter doesn’t have any specifically dedicated API handling system. And the developers have to handle API via different controlling methods like returning data in XML, and JSON. But developers can integrate more libraries and plugins for better handling. But overall API handling for complex projects of CodeIgniter is not that worth it.

While the Passport feature is perfectly and especially designed to handle and to maintain APIs. Laravel simplifies API development and makes it more convenient because it serialises responses to JSON and handles the responses perfectly. And also its high-end ORM “Eloquent” makes the integration with databases easier and smoother. 

HTTP route setup comparison in both platforms:

In the comparison of HTTP routing setup then in Laravel developers can easily setup and define their own custom routes of HTTP, Which helps it to make unique URLs for every single route. 

While in CodeIgniter the developer should have knowledge on how to handle response and about the request mechanism to ensure a seamless flow of the website.

Learning Comparison:

If we compare both frameworks for learning aspects then CodeIginter is definitely a simple and easy to learn framework. And anyone can learn it easily. Installing, Setting up and using it is very straightforward. And that might be one of the fewest aspects where CodeIgniter stands-out. There isn’t any doubt that you’ll easily setup and install CodeIgniter but for more and better functionalities developers have to integrate plugins. 

And if we compare the level to the simplicity and ease of CodeIgniter then Laravel is behind. But if someone is very good at PHP and comfortable with MVC architecture then it wouldn’t be a challenge for them to learn laravel. But for the beginners it will obviously feel a bit hard. 

Database Support of Both Frameworks:

There is a long list of database management systems that can be used with laravel, Including IBM, JDBC, DB2, OrientDB, PostgreSQL, And MySQL etc. CodeIgniter also supports most of the database management systems but it doesn’t support IBM and JDBC. 

Key Takeaways:

CodeIgniter and Laravel frameworks are both suitable for different kinds of projects. CodeIgniter is a go-to option for small projects, Because it is easy to learn and integrate its features. But for bigger and  better projects laravel is a more suited platform because of its simple syntax, Easy maintenance, And enhanced performance. Also, Laravel supports more database management systems and has specialised API handling mechanisms. So, Now you have all the information that you need to choose between one framework for your project. I hope this post will solve all your concerns.