Building scalable and resourceful web applications for your business has become a pressing challenge. With the heat of competition soaring up, accomplished mobile application development companies are making use of their best resources and top frameworks like Codeigniter framework, to build these applications with scripting languages that will culminate your business to its acme.
PHP is considered one of the most popular server-side scripting languages which are extensively used for websites. PHP frameworks provide distinctive features like easy scalability, upgraded security, eCommerce friendly disposition, rich in-built features and a faster turn-around time.
In a short span of time PHP has gained massive popularity which is apparent from the fact that it has been installed on more than 2.1 million web servers globally and has a close to 378 million web applications running on it.
Ever since PHP and its usage has gained momentum, a surplus of frameworks like Laravel, CodeIgniter and CakePHP have entered the market with their own functions. But, what unites them is their aim which is to build better applications on time; every time.
Among the very many frameworks that PHP offers, CodeIgniter is used widely.
In this article we tell you why CodeIgniter is the most loved frameworks not just in the world of developers but also in the global business universe.
What is CodeIgniter framework?
Codeigniter is a free, open-source and object-oriented PHP framework that provides a ready-to-use library with several PHP applications. It is considered one of the most popular MVC frameworks in terms of usage. It also provides out of the box libraries mainly to connect to the database and undertake various operations.
It is a lightweight framework with a small footprint that can be installed just by uploading it directly to your hosting. No unique command line or software installation is required. Upload the files and you’re ready to go.
A Codeigniter development service relies heavily on this framework because it is a cost-effective and hassle-free framework to build applications.
We give some key reasons to choose Codeigniter framework over others for your web application.
How does Codeigniter work?
Codeigniter is based on the Model-View-controller framework. When the user wants a resource, the controller responds first. The controller then reads the request, understands it and processes the request with the requisite data.
For instance if you are looking at retrieving a customer with a certain id which the user needs to mention, the controller receives the request. It then further requests the model to reclaim the record with the specific customer id that has been requested. The model then answers by returning the record of the specific customer code. It then advances the result into a format which is readable and understandable by humans. The browser displays the results to the user.
The below given image shows how CodeIgniter works:
Compelling features of Codeigniter framework
Every framework boasts of certain features that is a blessing to developers for future web applications.
1. Free to use: It is an MIT licensed framework hence free to use
2. Follow MVC pattern: It makes use of MVC that differentiates logic and presentation modules. A request comes to controller, the database action is performed through model and output is then displayed through views.
3. Light-weight: They require a small library and other libraries can be added based upon dynamic requests based on requirements.
4. Generates SEO friendly URLs: A great feature of Codeigniter is that it utilizes a segment based approach compared to the standard query based approach. This is why they are search-engine friendly and also clean to use.
5. Built-in libraries: Codeigniter has built-in fully loaded libraries that facilitates web tasks like database, form validation, email sending, etc.
Other features are:
- Security and XSS Filtering
- Localization
- Error logging
- File uploading, session management, pagination, data encryption
- Zip encoding class
- Flexible URI Routing
- Full page caching
More about Codeigniters
Looking at CodeIgniter customers by industry, we find that Information Technology and Services (9%) and Computer Software (8%) are the largest segments.
Top applications using Codeigniters
1. Casio: This is a multinational consumer and commercial electronics manufacturing concern that was founded in 1946. Its product portfolio include include calculators, mobile phones, digital cameras, electronic musical instruments and digital watches. The company’s popular site currently uses Codeigniter with utmost satisfaction.
2. The Mail & Guardian: The South Africa-based weekly newspaper did not have enough resources for publishing daily. It uses codeigniter for its web applications which focuses primarily on investigative reporting, political analysis and local news.
3. Buffer : The Buffer deals with driving traffic and augment engagement. It uses social media to do that and has its site powered by Codeigniter.
4. Nissan: One of the top automobile brands also boasts of Codeigniter driven web applications.
5. Bonfire: Yet another framework based on Codeigniter and functions as a starting build-off with several tools at your disposal.
Key reasons to choose Codeigniter for web application
Most PHP frameworks have the in-built mechanism of counteract changing dynamicity of businesses and their applications. But, Codeigniter development framework, is considered in the mainstream because of several advantages its offers. For web development too, CodeIgniter offers diverse best practices which you should follow to get the desired results.
Let us see them one by one!
1. Configuration: Now this is one of the best reasons why Codeigniter development companies these days prefer this framework. Codeigniter is an MVC framework that has a transparent and uncomplicated configuration. Here you only need to download the latest available version and after unzipping the folder and installing few things you are good to go. The whole zip folder comes with 3 sub -folders,
-application
-system
-user_guide
You basically need these 2 files to configure Codeigniter-
– application/config/config.php file with a text editor and set your base URL.
– application/config/database.php If you want to use a database then install your database settings.
2. Codes are fewer: PHP is all about writing less code and expending less time typing them. You need not throw third party libraries always for a new project because they come with a default configuration and structure.
3. Faster implementation time: With a better time-frame for execution, Codeigniter development has faster response time compared to other frameworks. In terms of implementation, no other framework has been able to match the execution speed of codeigniter.
4. Superior Data classification: A Codeigniter application company wants its clients to benefit the most. In a move to save time and not expend resources, the IT partner prefers codeigniter because it is a summarized framework and does not have numerous sub-folders that act as an impediment to the progress of the project. It also helps developer to enforce the web development projects in a better manner because data comes under the unique file organization model.
5. Secure frameworks: Which application development company does not want the benefit of improved security? The answer is none! Its superlative security function presents a great benefit for using codeigniter for web development. PHP comes with the benefit of several in-built functionalities for input and output filtering. A majority of them refer to the encryption and decryption processes which is extremely helpful for the developer to take hold and manage data in the installation process.
6. Fewer Codes, more results: Being a prime member of the PHP Universe, Codeigniter is a rapid development framework in which the developers have to write less code. There is no need to make use of 3’rd party libraries which directly paves the way for faster web development. So, if you are looking for rapid web development functionalities, we recommend you to consider hiring Codeigniter development company. Your project will be ready in a faster time than you have imagined.
7. Exceptional documentation: Codeigniter documents are 10 times smarter and better than any other system you can imagine. Codeigniter comes with a superior, comprehensive and pristine documentation flow that will help users think in a different and a better tangent altogether.
8. Easier to manage errors: Another reason why Codeigniter is preferred by the developers is its convenient way of managing errors. It helps the Codeigniter developers to smoothly and swiftly handle errors. Most of the PHP frameworks offer easy error handling, but Codeigniter leads the pack all the way. You just have to type a code line and the mistakes are instantly displayed. With Codeigniter there are fewer chances of experiencing snags and bugs.
9. Integration with Database: BY default Codeigniter provides usefully adequate databases with MySQL or PostgreSQL. But, it does not come with a composer in nature hence 3’rd party libraries like MOngo have to copy the files to test. The Codeigniter has less support for database but it comes with its own ORM tool.
10. Great testing facilities: What makes Codeigniter stand out from the competition is its stage-by-stage testing feature which is extremely useful in a web application development process. This unique benefit helps developers to examine functions with their performance rate and also publish the best approach for further developing the project.
11. Better structure: The Codeigniter system provides MVC mode and easy-boarding. The MVC structure of Codeigniter is a data-handler with the functionalities that can insert, retrieve and also redo the entire database information. It contains data logic, classes, structures and other PHP-related functionalities. Besides data approval the validation also class validates the reports by inscribing validating module with a set of predetermined rules and priorly programmed error messages.
12. Suitable template options: Codeigniter has several pre-determine template solutions to promote a better understanding of the development process at all stages.
Final Stage
CodeIgniter Development comes with many benefits like homogeneity, compatibility, a great cluster of libraries, or no restrictive coding rules. The MVC framework is one of the most useful PHP tools, but we recommend you to hire an experienced Codeigniter development company like us to create high-caliber web applications.
A web development company like Chapter247 is a go-to solution for any PHP project. You have the advantage of having a team that will tackle all your day-to-day impediments and will give you the winning application.
