Why Choose PHP for your online eCommerce Store website

There is hardly anyone who needs elaboration on the benefits of using eCommerce services nowadays. Online shopping for products and services caught up with millions of users over the years. The ongoing pandemic has only served as a catalyst for the growth of the sector. Owing to continuous operations of the eCommerce sector, billions of people were able to survive while staying home locked for months. So, demand for eCommerce web development is at an all-time high. There are many tools and platforms to develop eCommerce stores, but PHP remains a strong contender.

Getting the basics of PHP

Unveiled back in 1994, PHP is a popular and widely used Open-Source scripting language that is chosen by thousands of web developers worldwide. Over the years, PHP has evolved significantly. The newest version is faster and more feature-rich compared to the predecessors. It is also way secure for developing websites. Several frameworks, tools based on PHP have also emerged on the horizon. These frameworks have made PHP web application development easier. 

Why select PHP for eCommerce website application development?

The options for developing eCommerce websites are plenty. However, picking PHP is a prudent choice. Listed below are the reasons for which web development agencies use PHP for building eCommerce websites:

1. Low development cost- PHP is free to use, and the same can be said about many PHP-based frameworks and tools. So, those planning to develop an eCommerce store with a limited budget can opt for it. There are several PHP app development companies that offer eCommerce packages for their clients too. 
2. Wide platform and application compatibility- While developing an eCommerce website, it is necessary to check if the development tool/platform is compatible with major Operating systems and applications. This is necessary because lining such sites with databases and cloud services become necessary. PHP runs on most OSes, and it also supports major web servers, including Apache and Microsoft IIS.
3. Security- While setting up an eCommerce website, no developer can overlook the security aspect. At the same time, there were security loopholes in previous versions of PHP. These have been largely addressed in version 7. The upcoming versions are expected to come with enhanced security measures. The PHP-centric frameworks like Laravel ship with great embedded security features. These frameworks also support the usage of third-party plugins for enhancing site security.
4. Extensive community support- PHP has been in the web development arena for longer than most competitors, as it is. Over the decades, it has got a huge online support community of veteran PHP developers and programmers. This can be handy for developing any kind of website using PHP-including an eCommerce store. The massive online support and resources on PHP can be especially of use to those new in the PHP arena. 
5. Speed- If developing a fully functional eCommerce website that runs fast is on the agenda, using PHP makes sense. PHP 7 is almost twice as fast as version 5.6. Upcoming PHP 8 is expected to be speedier. Site speed plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining the target customers.
6. Easy availability of developers- It is easy to find and hire Web developers with skill in PHP for creating eCommerce websites. You may hire a freelance PHP developer for making such a website. There are web development agencies that offer dedicated PHP development packages. Finding PHP web development outsourcing companies is not hard either.

Why use PHP-based frameworks for eCommerce site creation?

In recent years, the usage of PHP-based frameworks and CMS applications for eCommerce site development has shot up significantly. There are reasons for such developments. 

1. Ease and speed of development- The days of manual PHP coding are gone! The PHP-centric frameworks enable the developers to obtain the core benefits of the language while evading the hassles of manual coding and encountering pain points. They can develop eCommerce sites faster using these frameworks as the potential hurdles are already minimized. 
2. The abundance of options- Nowadays, there exist plenty of PHP-based frameworks and CMS tools using which compelling, fully functional eCommerce sites can be developed quickly. There is Magento, a PHP- based Open-source platform tailor-made for eCommerce site development. Another popular choice is WooCommerce, a WP plugin extensively used for making feature-rich eCommerce sites. There are other PHP frameworks like Laravel, Shopify, CakePHP and Yii as well. 
3. Flexibility- When web developers pick a PHP based framework, they get a lot of flexibility for site development. This is applicable to most such frameworks. For example, developers can pick from the Magento Open-source version or the paid Commerce version, which is also available as PaaS. This makes things flexible for both the clients seeking PHP eCommerce development and the agencies offering the packages.
4. In-built tools- The PHP-centric frameworks like Laravel and Magento come equipped with useful tools that eliminate the need for resorting to manual coding. Security measures can be deployed and customized when such tools are used. Running automated tests is also simple when these PHP frameworks are used. 
5. Robust documentation- The majority of PHP-centric frameworks come with robust documentation. Frameworks like Laravel, for example, come equipped with both free and paid tutorials for site development. The presence of such extensive documentation eases the process of eCommerce site development. 
6. Superb integration- The PHP frameworks are designed to offer superb compatibility with many third-party applications and online services out of the box. These services are pivotal for the smooth functioning of eCommerce websites. These frameworks integrate easily with major database applications and cloud services. 
7. Plug-ins- The popular PHP based frameworks and CMS tools come with a huge set of plugins. WordPress, for example, has a huge number of plugins. These plugins are useful in enhancing the functionality of eCommerce websites. You can, for example, pick from shopping cart plugins, site security plugins and more. There are both paid and free plugins to pick from. 
8. Customization options- Some PHP frameworks are sought after by web developers for the ample customization options they offer. They can be used by beginners in PHP without issues, but some tools also pack in advanced features or components aimed at seasoned PHP developers. Laravel, for example, ships with Artisan CLI. It is used mostly by veteran PHP developers who want to customize the apps and sites the way they want. 

Wrapping up

Using PHP for developing an eCommerce website is a good idea. However, it will be necessary to hire a suitable PHP development Company for that. You can hire a veteran freelance PHP developer for the same need as well. Checking the background and expertise level of the developer is recommended in this regard. You should also check the PHP eCommerce sites created by the agency. It is prudent to sign up for the services of an agency that remains clear on pricing and service terms.