20 very useful PHP libraries that you must collect

This article provides the names and download addresses of 20 very useful PHP libraries. These 20 PHP class libraries include icon library, RSS parsing, thumbnail generation, payment, OpenID, database abstraction, PDF generator and a series of functions.

The following are some very useful PHP libraries, which I believe can provide a better and faster method for your WEB development.

Chart Library

The following class library allows you to easily create complex charts and pictures. Of course, they require support from the GD library.

pChart - A library for creating statistical charts.

Libchart - This is also a simple statistical gallery.

JpGraph - an object-oriented image creation class.

Open Flash Chart - This is a Flash-based statistical chart.

RSS parsing

Interpreting RSS is not a very tedious task, but fortunately you have the following class library to help you easily read RSS feeds.

MagpieRSS - an open source PHP version of the RSS parser, said to be powerful but not verified.

SimplePie - This is a very fast and easy-to-use RSS and Atom parsing library.

Thumbnail generation

phpThumb - The function is very powerful. It’s up to you to experience how powerful it is.

Payment

Does your website need to handle payments? Need a program with a payment gateway? The following program can help you.

PHP Payment Library - supports Paypal, Authorize.net and 2Checkout (2CO)

OpenID

PHP-OpenID - A PHP library that supports OpenID. OpenID is a solution that helps you log into different websites using the same username and password. If you are not familiar with OpenID, you can check it out here: http://openid.net.cn/

Data is abstract/object relational mapping ORM

ADOdb - Database Abstraction

Doctrine - Object relational mapper (ORM), requires PHP 5.2.3+ version, a very powerful database abstraction layer (DBAL).

Propel - Object Relational Mapping Framework - PHP5

Outlet - is also a tool for object-relational mapping.

Note: Object Relational Mapping (ORM for short) is a technology designed to solve the mismatch between object-oriented and relational databases. Simply put, ORM automatically persists objects in a program into a relational database by using metadata that describes the mapping between objects and databases. Essentially, it converts data from one form to another. This also implies additional execution overhead; however, if the ORM is implemented as a middleware, there are many opportunities for optimizations that do not exist in a hand-written persistence layer. More importantly, the metadata used to control transformations needs to be provided and managed; but again, these costs are less than maintaining a handwritten solution; and even ODMG-compliant object databases still require class-level metadata.

PDF Generator

FPDF - This is a pure PHP library that allows you to generate PDF.

Excel related

Does your site need to generate Excel? No problem, the following two libraries allow you to do this easily.

php-excel - This is a very simple Excel file generation class.

PHP Excel Reader - can parse and read data in XLS files.

E-Mail related

Don’t like PHP’s mail function? Don’t feel strong enough? The following PHP email-related libraries will definitely not let you down.

Swift Mailer - Free super versatile PHP email library.

PHPMailer - Super powerful email sending class.

Unit testing

If you are using a test-driven approach to develop your program, the following libraries and frameworks will definitely help you in your development.

SimpleTest - A PHP unit testing and web page testing framework.

PHPUnit - from the xUnit family, provides a framework that allows you to easily carry out unit test case development. And its test results can be analyzed very easily.