PHP is a generally used and universally popular programming language for making online applications and websites. Most developers prefer PHP over other programming languages, such as Ruby and Python.

PHP comes with well-supported systems, comprehensive documentation, and a massive community. It also contains a diverse range of ready-to-use scripts. Professionals have made many PHP development tools, which help in boosting programming efficiency so that PHP can work properly.

These PHP development tools are created to offer Integrated Development Environment or IDE. Developers can easily create innovative, feature-rich, engaging PHP applications.

  • The Best PHP Development Tools:

  • There are many unique and world-class PHP tools available in today’s market, and some of them are:

This tool is an alternative to all the other PHP development tools out there. PHPStorm is well-known for its smooth nature, being quick and lightweight. The tool is compatible with some of the main PHP frameworks like CakePHP, Symfony, Laravel, Zend Framework, and Yii.

It’s also compatible with well-known CMS or Content Management Systems, such as WordPress, Drupal, and Magento. PHPStorm supports live editing of numerous front-end technologies like JavaScript, HTML5, CSS, and many more. It also supports debugging, unit testing, and code refactoring.

It also permits all the developers to interact with the databases, version control systems, command-line tools, rest clients, remote deployment, and many other tools.

The Features of PHPStorm

  • Supports PHP, C, JavaScript, C#, C++, and Visual Basic
  • Works on platforms like Mac OS X, Linux, and Microsoft Windows
  • Native Zen Coding Support
  • Code Completion
  • Zero Configuration Debugging
  • Code Re-Arranger.

  • NuSphere PhpED

PhpED from NuSphere is an exclusive integrating PHP tool with an advanced PHP editor, debugger, database client, profiler, and code insight. Known as one of the best PHP tools for developers, it will offer numerous tweaks and tools to make the web development work less bulky.

PhpExpress, a commercial PHP accelerator, will speed up the application development work effectively. The tool is ideal for creating complicated web applications and websites. It supports CSS3, HTML, and JavaScript and also provides support to PHP 7.1.

The tool also has excellent refactoring capabilities, which allows all the developers to enhance their code. Besides that, it also enables them to work with the most well-known PHP frameworks, such as Yii, Zend, and Laravel.

Features of NuSphere PhpED

  • Speeds up the PHP app developments with PhpExpress
  • Parallel Debugging
  • Complete Integration with PHPUnit
  • It supports all the composite file extensions
  • Refactoring of the PHP Code
  • Supports languages like Python, HTML, Perl, JavaScript, PHP, XML, and CSS
  • Will work on platforms like Mac, Windows, iPad, Web, and Linux

  • Sublime Text

When it comes to the best PHP developer tools, Sublime Text is one of them. It’s a popular text editor for all PHP developers. Even though it’s not an actual IDE, installing specific packages/plugins can transform it into an editor for making PHP applications.

This cross-platform editor supports many markups and programming languages. The tool contains remarkable designs and rich functionalities, and many PHP developers have claimed it to be the best text editor for PHP development.

It also comes with a custom UI toolkit, allowing developers to climb across all the lines, words, or symbols through proper key shortcuts. You can also make changes to all the lines of the code.

Features of Sublime Text

  • Plugin API
  • Supports all popular programming languages
  • Instant Protect Switch
  • Distraction-Free Mode
  • Excellent Command Palette

  • Eclipse

When you search for the best PHP tools on the internet, you will surely find the name “Eclipse” in the list. According to the latest PHP trends, Eclipse ranks right on top of the list of PHP tools.

You will get the chance to choose from a diverse range of plugins, making it much easier to simplify and develop complicated PHP codes. Developers can also extend and customize the IDE to address all requirements of their respective projects.

This tool will also support non-GUI and GUI applications, and it’s ideal for all big-scale PHP projects.

Features of Eclipse

  • Code Navigation
  • Formatting of the Code
  • Syntax Highlighting
  • Code Templates
  • Content Assist
  • Support languages like C, Ada, C++, JavaScript, Julia, ABAP, Haskell, Fortran, D, Java, Prolog, Perl, Lua, Lasso, Scala, Scheme, Erlang, NATURAL, Python, PHP, Ruby, R, Groovy, and Clojure.
  • Will work on platforms like Solaris, Mac OS, Windows, and Linux

  • CodeLoster

CodeLobster IDE is designed by a software company of the same name. It’s one of the most popular among all the other PHP development tools within the developer’s community. CodeLobsters supports many frameworks, such as Drupal, Magento, Laravel, CakePHP, Symfony, Joomla, and CodeIgniter.

The tool also simplifies and streamlines the whole development work, and there is no need for you to remember all the tags, functions, and attributes. It’s because CodeLobster has already implemented them with the autocomplete features for CSS, HTML, PHP, and JavaScript.

It has a PHP debugger through which developers can validate their code locally. CodeLobster will automatically identify the settings of the present servers and will configure all the related files so that you can utilize the free debugger. The tool supports some of the main CMS like WordPress, etc.

Features of CodebLobster

  • Function Parameters Display
  • Syntax Highlighting
  • Code Validator
  • SQL Manager
  • Autocompletes keywords, DOM components, and their properties
  • Supports Languages like JavaScript, CSS, PHP, and HTML
  • Works on platforms such as Debian, Fedora, Linux, Ubuntu, Mac OS, Windows, and Mint

  • Netbeans

This is a widely employed PHP tool for all PHP app development. Netbeans contains many unique features that support many languages. The tool was used mainly for Java development. But the present version of Netbeans is faster, lightweight, and supports PHP development solutions.

Netbeans contains extensions that support several other programming languages, such as HTML5, C++, and C. Developers can create big-scale web applications with this tool. It also supports multiple languages, such as Simplified Chinese, Thai, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, English, and Russian.

This open-source tool will work perfectly with significant PHP frameworks like CakePHP, Zend, Smarty, Symfony 2, WordPress CMS, and FuelPHP. The development tool is packed with many unique features that will make web application development easier and also comes with the latest version of PHP.

Features of Netbeans

  • Code Folding and Formatting
  • Syntax Highlighter
  • Smart Code Completion
  • Excellent Setter Generation
  • Catch/Try Code Completion
  • Supports JavaScript, C++, PHP, HTML5 and C
  • Works on Solaris, Windows, Linux, and macOS

  • Last Note

In this post, you will come across some of the best and leading PHP tools, which are ideal for web application and website development. Each of them has different features and benefits. Make sure to go through each of them and choose the one that matches your needs.