Components and structure.
WHAT IT IS
A framework, and a set of independent components used widely elsewhere.
WHAT THAT MEANS
Much of the PHP ecosystem, including other frameworks, builds on its components.
WHAT IT PROVIDES
Routing Dependency injection with explicit configuration Forms Security Validation Console commands
WHAT DISTINGUISHES IT
Explicitness and configurability over convention.
WHO IT SUITS
Large applications with complex requirements Teams preferring explicit wiring Projects requiring components independently
WHAT IT COSTS
More configuration A steeper initial learning curve
WHAT TO LEARN FIRST
The service container, routing, and controllers.
WHAT TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE CONTAINER
Services are defined and injected rather than constructed where used.
WHY
It makes dependencies explicit and replaceable.
WHAT TO BE CAREFUL WITH
Configuration spread across many files Over-abstraction in small applications
WHAT TO USE FOR DATA ACCESS
The established data mapper library, which differs conceptually from an active record approach.
WHAT TO CONFIGURE FOR PRODUCTION
The production environment, with caches warmed.
