CodeIgniter vs Laravel: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss the key differences between CodeIgniter and Laravel, two popular PHP frameworks. Both frameworks are widely used for building web applications, but they have distinct features and characteristics. Below are six key differences that set them apart from each other.

1. Architecture: CodeIgniter follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, which provides a clear separation of concerns. On the other hand, Laravel follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern but also includes additional components like middleware and service containers, making it more flexible and extensible.

2. Database Support: CodeIgniter supports a wide range of databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MS SQL, and SQLite. However, Laravel provides more database support out-of-the-box, including these databases as well as MariaDB and MongoDB. Additionally, Laravel provides a powerful database migration system, which simplifies database schema management.

3. Authentication and Authorization: Laravel comes with a built-in authentication and authorization system that is easy to set up and customize. It includes features like user registration, password reset, role-based permissions, and more. CodeIgniter, on the other hand, does not provide a built-in authentication and authorization system, so developers need to implement it manually or use third-party libraries.

4. Template Engine: Laravel uses its own template engine called Blade, which provides a clean syntax for writing views and includes features like template inheritance and control structures. On the other hand, CodeIgniter does not have a built-in template engine, so developers can choose from various third-party template engines or use PHP itself for rendering views.

5. Command-Line Interface (CLI): Laravel includes a powerful command-line interface called Artisan, which provides a set of commands for automating common development tasks. It allows developers to create controllers, models, migrations, and perform database operations, among other things. CodeIgniter does not have a built-in command-line interface, so developers need to rely on external tools or write scripts manually.

6. Community and Ecosystem: Laravel has a larger and more active community compared to CodeIgniter, which means it has a vast ecosystem of packages, extensions, and resources available. Laravel also has a dedicated package manager called Composer, which simplifies the installation and management of third-party packages. CodeIgniter also has a decent community, but it may be harder to find specific resources or packages compared to Laravel.

In summary, CodeIgniter and Laravel have different architectural approaches, database support, authentication and authorization systems, template engines, command-line interfaces, and community sizes. Choosing the right framework depends on the specific requirements and preferences of the project.