Core PHP vs Laravel: Which One Is Better

When starting a new web app development project, software developers usually have two strategies  – to develop an app from scratch, using just a programming language, or rely on a framework. There is no definite answer which approach is better as it depends on project requirements, web developers’ skills, available resources, and many other factors.

However, when it comes to choosing the best web development programming language and framework, most developers would unanimously choose PHP and Laravel. Both allow building robust and quality products that are rich in functionality and easy to integrate with any platform.

In this article, we get into the specifics of PHP and Laravel and uncover:

• What is Core PHP and how it’s different from PHP Frameworks?
• What’s better: Core PHP or Laravel?
• When to use Core PHP and Laravel?

How Different is Core PHP From PHP Frameworks?

Core PHP is the name of pure PHP language that is used to build dynamic web pages. When using Core PHP, web developers don’t rely on any external libraries neither have a carcass of a built app. It means that they write an app’s code from zero.

Things change when web developers utilize PHP Frameworks for building web solutions. With PHP Frameworks web developers still use PHP language to create apps, however, they provide helping tools and aids such as:

• an app’s basic carcass that web developers evolve into a stand-alone app;
• tools for debugging and code fixing hints;
• architectural patterns like MVC (model-viewer-controller), MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel), and others to separate an app’s business logic from the presentation layer;
• tools to automate recurring actions, and much more.

Comparing Core PHP With Laravel

Laravel is one of the most popular PHP frameworks in the web development market. It has lots of followers as it’s simple, powerful, and fast to use. Nevertheless, some developers are sure that Laravel is for amateurs, while Core PHP can be used only by experts. Let’s compare the two and see what they have in common and how they differ.

1. Development Quality

Laravel framework provides a safe development environment. It allows writing clear and reliable code even for beginners. It means that when using Laravel, web developers can exchange their code pieces and they will be logically structured and easy to understand for others.

The comprehension of Core PHP totally depends on a developer’s level of expertise. Core PHP doesn’t provide web developers with any set app structure, therefore, they can solve the same problem in different logical steps. This uncertainty results in different code quality. Therefore, the more knowledge a developer has on Core PHP, the better the code is.

1. Learning Curve

Laravel has a shallow learning curve as many steps are pre-set and automated. With this framework, even a beginner can professionally formulate and modify their app’s code. On the other hand, web developers need time to learn the framework’s tools and how to configure it.

Core PHP is for hard-core players. It allows programmers to script their codes in their own style. As a result, the same functionality can be built in different ways, depending on a developer’s knowledge and understanding. However, once a web developer is an expert in Core PHP he can use all PHP frameworks and create any functionality using just a Notepad.

1. Scalability and Simplicity

Core PHP is a great tool when it comes to building simple apps with a small set of features that have no extension perspectives. Building a simple blog doesn’t require lots of tools, therefore Core PHP is the best and time-saving choice.

Laravel framework is used for more complex solutions. Before using Laravel web developers need to configure this framework, choose development patterns and functionality they want to include in an app. Laravel-based apps are easy to scale due to their clear division into layers. Also, web developers can add additional functionality or change it during an app’s development process.

1. Speed

Due to their simpler structure in comparison to Laravel, Core PHP scripts are faster to execute on the condition that the codes are clearly and concisely written. Web developers can reuse Core PHP scripts in similar projects.

Laravel has a layered structure, therefore, code lines will be executed a bit slower. As to the development speed, Laravel has an advantage here. Laravel offers a strong set of debugging tools which means that with this framework web developers can build a viable code with minimum critical errors much faster than in CorePHP. Also, it supports code reusability and allows using code scripts in other projects.

1. Security

Unfortunately, Core PHP doesn’t provide any security functions for its codes. Therefore, web developers will have to build their own security rules to prevent code vulnerabilities.

In turn, Laravel provides a strong security system, that prevents SQL injection, cross-scripting attacks, and cross-site request forgery. Moreover, it has a secure authentication system that guards user authentication by checking valid tokens in every request.

Here is a short summary of Laravel vs Core PHP development:

The Verdict

Core PHP and Laravel framework are well-suited for custom PHP web development. Using both web developers can build viable and effective solutions. Nevertheless, they have some core differences.

Core PHP works great for simple solutions that can be built from zero in a Notepad. This approach will hardly suit junior developers who may fail to use Core PHP to its full capacity. Yet, Core PHP shouldn’t be ignored by the beginners. It’s a long-term investment in their own education as Core PHP is the basis for every PHP Framework.

Another great Core PHP feature is that it’s very flexible. It means that it can be used for building unconventional projects with unique features.

As to Laravel, it’s a trustworthy and well-used tool preferred by most web developers. Laravel provides them with a variety of the most outstanding web development tools to build powerful, effective, and reliable solutions.

With Laravel, web developers can build web apps of any size and complexity. Therefore, when choosing your Laravel development company, make sure that its web developers can implement the whole set of wide-ranging Laravel development tools and build web solutions with extensive functionality.