What is Codeigniter ?

CodeIgniter is a free open-source PHP framework for developing dynamic, lightweight web applications.It is characterized by its simplicity, speed, and ease of use which is ideal for developers who require minimal configuration. CodeIgniter implements the Model-View-Controller (MVC) 

architectural pattern, which allows developers to organize code into three main  components:

model, view, and controller, where the model deals with data, the view presents it,and the

controller controls the logic.

What is Codeigniter ?

CodeIgniter has a small footprint, weighing in at around 2 MB with documentation. Thus, it is a light-weight framework that loads fast.

Least Configuration:

CodeIgniter requires no configuration hassle. It can be uploaded to the server, configured the config file, and you are good to go.

MVC Framework:

It follows the separation of concerns through MVC pattern, where:
Model deals with the database and data logic.
View takes care of the user interface and output.
Controller acts as a bridge between models and views.

Error Handling

CodeIgniter offers effective error reporting and debugging assistance with ease for developers to figure out the problem.

Integrated Libraries

CodeIgniter has libraries for most functionalities by default, such as the function for form validation, managing sessions, uploading files, emailing, and so on.

Security Features

It has enhanced security features, including filtering of inputs, protection from XSS (Cross-Site Scripting), CSRF protection, and SQL injection.

Database Support:

Supports multiple database types, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, and others, with active query building and database abstraction.

Customizable and Extendable:

Developers can easily extend or replace the built-in libraries and helpers to meet their application's requirements.

Advantages of CodeIgniter:

Easy to Learn Its simplicity and well-structured documentation make it beginner-friendly.

Flexibility:

Unlike some frameworks, it doesn't enforce strict rules, allowing developers to choose their preferred coding styles.

Faster Development:

With its lightweight structure and inbuilt tools, developers can start building applications quickly without being burdened by complex configurations.

Strong Community Support:

CodeIgniter boasts an active community and comprehensive documentation to resolve issues and share knowledge.

Works with Shared Hosting:

CodeIgniter runs on shared hosting environments where heavier frameworks cannot.

Common Use Cases:

Building small to medium-sized web applications.
Developing APIs for mobile or web applications.
Creating content management systems (CMS).
Rapid prototyping for web-based projects.
How CodeIgniter Is Different from Other Frameworks:
Compared with Laravel: CodeIgniter is more lightweight and faster in execution but lacks some advanced features that Laravel has, such as dependency injection, built-in ORM (Eloquent), and queue management.

Compared with Symfony: 

CodeIgniter is more lightweight, easy to set up compared to Symfony, but far less feature-rich.