If you’re in the process of revamping your website and are wondering what is the best framework to use, then this is a quick guide on why you should choose Laravel for your next project.
Over 1.1 million websites worldwide are built using Laravel (Builtwith, 2019) and this number is continuously growing every day.
Before we go into the benefits of using Laravel, you should know that Laravel isn’t the only PHP framework out there. In fact you could use CodeIgniter, CakePHP, Zend Framework and so on. However, Laravel is definitely one of the most popular PHP frameworks to use – take a look at its interest overtime (as suggested by Google Trends):
Laravel is one of the only PHP frameworks whose interest has gone up in the past 5 years, making it a popular choice for many website developers and businesses around the world.
8 Benefits of Laravel Framework
Now, you must be wondering why your next website should be built in Laravel and what are the advantages of Laravel framework over others? To get you started, here are 8 reasons why we suggest you should consider Laravel for your next project:
It’s quick and simple
Being the number one PHP framework, means that Laravel is already a framework with which most web developers are familiar with; not to mention the range of built-in templates which makes development simpler and easier for developers. This means an expert Laravel developer could even build a 5 or 6 page website in a day or two. A fast development time means lower costs and quicker results for the business.
Security is key
Security is the number one concern for most businesses. With Laravel, advanced security features are easy to configure on most websites to enhance security and protect sites from hackers and cyber criminals. To get a little technical, Laravel uses a Bcrypt hashing algorithm which means it never saves any passwords in the database. Comparing it to other PHP frameworks, Laravel also has great user authentication and restricted access features are easy to create. This keeps you and your customer’s data safe and secure.
Better website performance
Unlike many other frameworks out there, Laravel supports caching for your website out-of-the-box which is great for boosting your site speed. To further enhance your website’s performance, Laravel makes other speed optimisation techniques, such as memory use reduction and database indexing really easy to implement. This makes Laravel an excellent choice for your business if site speed and SEO friendliness are some of your requirements.
Great for Traffic-Handling
As your business grows, so will the volume of traffic to your site. A website built in Laravel can handle website requests much quicker than most other frameworks. Laravel uses a unique message queue system, which means you can put-off certain website tasks such as sending emails until a later time. Being able to control time-consuming tasks means your website can process tasks quicker. And this not only keeps your website’s server healthy, but can also lower your hosting costs in the long-term.
Really Flexible
Laravel has the power to build a fully-fledged eCommerce site or a simple and professional B2B site. Due to its extensive pre-installed authorization libraries, it has the ability to create and support a variety of advanced features for your site, such as password reset and encryption. There are also a ton of third-party packages available to give your website a range of features and functionalities, such as Socialite which enables users to sign into your site using their social media profiles should you wish to integrate that option.
Easy third-party integrations
Almost every site needs to be integrated with a third-party application of some sort. This may include a payment system like Stripe or Paypal, or a marketing tool that your company uses. Whatever the integration, Laravel makes integrating third-party apps easy with its clean APIs for integration. So whether your website needs a payment system in place or an automated tool to manage your marketing, Laravel is a strong contender.
Simple Website Maintenance
Generally speaking websites built in Laravel are easy to maintain overtime. So let’s imagine, a few years down the line you want some new features added to your site (already built in Laravel), a new developer can easily pick up from where your previous developers have left the site. Due to Laravel’s standout features, like clean code, MVC architecture (which separates logic and presentation), and OOP principles, maintaining a Laravel site over time is very straight forward.
The cost of a Laravel Site
Compared to some frameworks out there, Laravel is a open-source framework. This means it is free to use in any project you like at no cost at all. Of course there is always the cost of hiring a good laravel developer to build your site (especially if you know very little about coding). Development costs are further reduced as the time to build and maintain is less than some competing frameworks, allowing a Laravel project to be more cost effective in the long run.
Summary
In summary, Laravel is a brilliant choice for both developers and companies worldwide. If you’re looking to update your website, or simply build a new one, then contact our team to find the best framework for your website.