Guide · Open source
How to use Symfony: install, learn and build your first app
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
Symfony is a PHP framework for building web applications and command-line tools, and it also ships as a set of reusable PHP components. This guide explains what you need before installing it, how to get started, and where to find the official learning material. By the end you will know whether Symfony fits your project and how to take the first step.
Symfonysymfony/symfony · ★ 31.2k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Check the requirements. Confirm that your PHP version meets the official Symfony requirements page. Composer must also be installed.
- 2Open the setup docs. Follow the official Symfony setup documentation linked from the README for the exact install command.
- 3Install Symfony with Composer. Run the Composer install steps from the official setup docs to create a Symfony project.
- 4Read the Getting Started guide. Work through the Getting Started guide if you are new to Symfony.
- 5Explore the Symfony Demo application. Look at the Symfony Demo application to see how a working project is organised.
- 6Use the reference docs as you build. Consult the Components docs and Best Practices reference when you need detail.
What is Symfony and who is it for?
Symfony is a PHP framework that gives developers a structured base for building websites, web applications and console applications. The project also publishes its parts as reusable PHP components, which you can use without adopting the full framework.
The README states that Symfony is used by thousands of web applications and by most of the popular PHP projects. It follows semantic versioning and publishes Long Term Support (LTS) releases.
- Good fit: PHP developers building web applications that need a structured framework.
- Good fit: teams that want semantic versioning and LTS releases.
- Good fit: projects that need console applications as well as web applications.
- Poor fit: people who do not work with PHP.
- Poor fit: complete beginners to programming, since the framework assumes familiarity with PHP and Composer.
- Poor fit: very small one-off scripts where a full framework adds more setup than it saves.
What do you need before installing Symfony?
You need PHP and Composer. The README links to the official requirements page for the PHP version Symfony needs, so check that page before you install. The source does not list specific version numbers, so confirm them there rather than relying on this guide.
- PHP, at a version that meets the official requirements page.
- Composer, the PHP dependency manager.
How do you install Symfony?
The README says to install Symfony with Composer and points to the official setup documentation for the exact command. Follow that page, because it is the authoritative source for the install steps.
The README also lists a git clone of the symfony/symfony repository on GitHub. That repository is the source code of the project and is mainly useful if you want to read or contribute to the code. For a normal project, use the Composer method from the setup docs.
git clone https://github.com/symfony/symfonyWhere should you learn Symfony first?
The README recommends the Getting Started guide if you are new to Symfony. It also points to the Symfony Demo application as a way to learn the framework in practice, and to the book Symfony The Fast Track for a wider tour of the ecosystem.
For reference material, the README links to the Guides and Tutorials, the Components documentation and the Best Practices reference.
- Getting Started guide: the starting point for beginners to the framework.
- Symfony Demo application: a working example to explore.
- Symfony The Fast Track: a guided book on the ecosystem.
- Components docs and Best Practices: reference material once you are building.
Where can you get help?
The README lists community channels for support, including GitHub Discussions and Slack. You can also join the Symfony Community and meet members at Symfony events. If you find a security vulnerability, the README asks you to follow the project's disclosure procedure rather than posting it publicly.
- Support: GitHub Discussions, Slack and other channels listed on the support page.
- Community: the Symfony Community page and the Symfony events list.
- Security: follow the disclosure procedure at symfony.com/security.
What people use it for
- Building a website or web application with a structured PHP framework.
- Writing console applications that run from the command line alongside a web app.
- Using individual Symfony components in another PHP project without the full framework.
- Working in a team that wants semantic versioning and LTS releases.
Frequently asked questions
Is Symfony free to use?
Symfony is released under the MIT licence, which is the licence stated in the project metadata. Check the LICENSE file in the repository for the full terms before using it in a commercial product.
What do I need to install Symfony?
You need PHP and Composer. The README links to the official requirements page, which lists the PHP version requirements, so check it before installing.
Do I need to know PHP to use Symfony?
Yes. The project is written for PHP developers and assumes familiarity with PHP and Composer. Complete beginners to programming should learn the basics first.
How is Symfony different from Laravel?
Both are PHP frameworks for web applications. Symfony is known for its reusable components and for publishing LTS versions under semantic versioning; this guide does not benchmark them, so compare the two on the features your project needs.
Can I use Symfony components without the full framework?
Yes. The source says Symfony is a set of reusable PHP components that can be used on their own, so you can adopt individual parts without the full framework.
Where do I get help if something breaks?
Use the support channels the README lists, such as GitHub Discussions and Slack, and the Getting Started and reference documentation.
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Our verdict
Symfony suits PHP developers who want a structured framework for web or console applications, or reusable components, and teams that value semantic versioning and LTS releases. If you are new to programming, or you only need a small script, a lighter option or a simpler tool will likely serve you better.
Install options & downloads