Symfony

Symfony is a PHP framework based on MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture. To put it in more human terms, applications developed based on this approach are characterised by separate code responsible for business logic (how certain functions are supposed to work), separate view code (what the user is supposed to see and how they are supposed to interact with the application), and code that connects the two aforementioned areas.

Few Symfony-based solutions are as fast and flexible. This popular PHP framework was created with a focus on performance. SensioLabs, the creator of Symfony, has always emphasised building services and applications in such a way that added functions are not strongly tied to the core of the system.

Symfony components and bundles

Applications created in Symfony use a number of components and bundles that complement the basic functions of the framework. These are packages that are maintained and updated thanks to a very extensive community.

By using bundles, we have complete flexibility when it comes to creating modules that precisely meet the customer's requirements. To illustrate the versatility of the modules, here are a few examples:

• HttpFoundation – handles HTTP requests and responses, sessions, cookies
• Routing – manages routes and their mapping to controllers
• Form – a complete system for creating and handling forms
• Security - security framework supporting authentication and authorisation
• Doctrine - popular ORM for working with databases
• Twig - template engine for generating views
• EventDispatcher - event handling and emission system
• Console - tool for creating console commands
• Cache - caching system
• Validator - component for data validation
• Translation - support for multilingualism
• DependencyInjection - dependency injection container
• Serializer - serialisation and deserialisation of objects
• Mailer - sending emails
• Messenger - handling queues and asynchronous messages

Each of these components can be used independently in other PHP projects, but together they form a powerful full-stack framework. Thanks to frequent updates, we can be sure that applications built with Symfony are easily extensible while retaining their modularity. With updates to the PHP language, new releases of Symfony bundles appear almost immediately.

The use of Symfony in business solutions

Symfony is a framework that is ready to handle high traffic and operates very efficiently even under heavy load. Thanks to its structure, it is used to build both small dedicated applications and complex CRM, ERP and other web solutions.

The best proof of how well-designed this framework is can be seen in the range of tools and SaaS applications that have been created based on Symfony. BlaBlaCar, Trivago, Dailymotion and some elements of Spotify's backend were created using Symfony components.

OpenSource systems developed based on Symfony

Thanks to the commitment of the community and a truly large community of developers, many CMS tools and online shops using this framework have appeared on the market.

These include CMS systems such as:

• Drupal,
• Sulu

And also online shops:

• Sylius
• Magento

Benefits of using Symfony

Symfony undoubtedly offers many benefits that prove invaluable over time. Numerous security updates, flexibility, and easy maintenance of high code quality (key to long-term project maintenance) are just a few examples. There are as many business applications for Symfony as there are ideas.

Comparison with other frameworks

Apart from Symfony, there are a number of alternative solutions on the market. These include Laravel, CodeIgniter, and Yii.

When comparing Symfony with any of the alternatives mentioned above, it wins in every case when it comes to large enterprise projects, mainly due to its extensive and complex architecture, which allows for easy integration. Despite its more difficult implementation and higher entry threshold for PHP developers, it gains significantly in trust over time. Very detailed technical documentation and stable LTS releases are further advantages of Symfony.

When should you choose Symfony for your project?

Pure Symfony is an excellent choice for large enterprise projects that are expected to experience heavy traffic over time. Additionally, it is a great solution when complex business logic needs to be implemented and long-term stability is crucial.

However, if you plan to create a simple website , it is worth using ready-made CMS systems, such as the Symfony-based Sulu CMS.