Both Laravel and Yii are the popular web development framework as both are open–source PHP frameworks and work on MVC (Model View Controller) architecture. So far more than 1,573,000 websites have been created worldwide using Laravel and Github has a significant community that supports it and makes it the most preferred back-end development PHP framework. On the other hand, Yii has been used for over 325,000 websites and has a presence in Github too. However, its popularity is much less than Laravel.

Both Laravel and Yii are prominent web development frameworks and have various benefits and features that set them slightly different from each other. So, let’s understand the purposes these frameworks serve based on their features and see how are they perceived differently.

Performance

Both frameworks provide excellent performance but their efficiency varies when it comes to real–time applications. Yii is the fastest framework and offers high performance for application development while Laravel is slightly slower than Yii. Alongside, for developing heavy applications Yii can be considered, but that alone does not justify the decision as Laravel provides more stable, smooth, and secure development processes.

Requirements

Yii framework is only compatible with PHP 5.4 version or higher. In contrast, Laravel is more flexible regarding version compatibility as it can work efficiently with PHP 5.4 version, higher, MCrypt PHP extension, and PHP JSON extension too. Thus, if you are looking for compatibility with a higher version Yii is suitable enough but if working with multiple versions is required then there isn’t any better option than Laravel.

Installation

While talking of installation, Yii has the easier installation process as one just needs to download the application for running the software, and the process is done. Thus, installing Yii does not require professional expertise. In the case of Laravel, there is a composer PHP which uses the process of installation. This means that in Laravel, the installation process accurately takes place without any bugs. Thus, simplifying the process of installation further.

Extensions

There are around 2800 extensions in the Yii framework whereas Laravel has about 9000 extensions. Evidently, Laravel has more options for extensions and thus becomes appealing to users.

Routing

In Yii, there isn’t any requirement for declaring the route as it happens through automated routing in the controller whereas in Laravel at every step one needs to declare a route for every step in the controller. But not to forget Laravel gives an opportunity to declare a collective path for routing too and permits allocation of the route to the controller with single line code.

Testing

For testing, Yii provides a large number of tools but it does not support codeception testing and PHP unit testing. Whereas Laravel has a larger number of testing tools which popularly include BrowserKit, DomCrawler, and HttpKernel which are popular testing frameworks.

Learning Curve Efficiency

Yii is indeed the high-performing framework of PHP and is often seen as the top choice for developing mobile applications and networking websites. Thus, the learning speed curve of the framework is such that it works pretty well and can be installed & operated by developers everyone. On the other hand with Laravel, there are several issues with the learning speed curve however these are minimal issues that can be resolved easily. Moreover, both these frameworks have 6 databases with it however speed factor attached to Yii makes it more convenient.

Security

Both Laravel and Yii are seen as equal choices when it comes to security as both these frameworks provide multiple levels of security with options such as authentication, passwords, SQL injections, Cross-site request forgery, site scripting, etc. with a lot more amazing options.

Migration

The migration tool provided by Yii is very efficient and functional, thus making the process of migration very e easy. While Laravel provides an additional feature that includes seeders to facilitate hassle–free migration process. Alongside, Laravel provides great assistance when it comes to the testing process and static directory filling.

Debugging
There is a dedicated and comprehensive console present in Yii for debugging and has multiple-level options for facilitating logging. Thus, it can act like magic when developers need to request database logging Yii provides debugging features too. However, Laravel can be a slightly better option for debugging as there are different actions that take place in the framework such as Imho and logging.

Yii has played a significant role in developing multiple applications while acting as the main technology for product development. It is largely used for reducing developing time and cost. Moreover, it allows the development of web applications and CRUD applications. Alongside this, it also supports the development of Rest API CRUD Apps.

On the other hand, Laravel is a suitable option for developing enterprise-grade applications, database management applications, prebuilt Apps, etc. Thus, Laravel has always provided immense support for the development of large–scale applications due to its high security and scalability.

Evidently, both Yii and Laravel are efficient PHP frameworks, however, their area of expertise slightly varies. Such as Yii can be used to develop small and medium-scale web applications for meeting business requirements whereas Laravel is the suitable option for large–scale, and enterprise–grade App development.

Thus, making the choice between both these frameworks depends largely on the nature of the project. As a result, make sure to team up with the right web development partners like www.centrelocus.com who can address your business needs appropriately using such tech stacks which look similar but are not in real practice.