🚀Yii3 is now available!

Yes, it is!

Yii is a fast, secure, and efficient PHP framework.
Flexible yet pragmatic.
Works right out of the box.
Has reasonable defaults.

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Get Started
  • Step 1
    Installation

    The primary way of installing Yii is by using Composer.

    • Install Composer
    • Get a basic project template
    • Run ./yii serve
  • Welcome Page
    Step 2
    Welcome Page

    You get a nice template which includes:

    • MVC
    • Some static pages
    • Contact via email form
    • Login and logout
    • Bootstrap UI template
    • Powerful debugger
    • and more...
  • Step 3
    Migrations

    While Yii can virtually eliminate most repetitive coding tasks, you are responsible for the real creative work. This often starts with designing the whole system to be built, in terms of some database schema. The best way to do this is by using migrations.

  • Gii code generator
    Step 4
    Gii code generator

    After it's done, use the code generator to generate models, CRUD and more.

    Then customize the generated code to suit your needs.

  • Step 5
    Where to go next

    Check these helpful resources:

Yii is Fast
Fast
Yii gives you the maximum functionality by adding the least possible overhead
Yii is Secure
Secure
Reasonable defaults and built-in tools helps you write solid and secure code
Yii is Efficient
Efficient
Write more code in less time with simple, yet powerful APIs and code generation
Latest News
Feb 17, 2026

Security lessons Yii learned thanks to GitHub Secure Open Source Fund

Last year Yii was chosen to be in session 3 of the GitHub Secure Open Source Fund as a project that impacts a significant part of the PHP landscape.

» read more

Feb 5, 2026

Yii Test Support 3.2

Supporting tools for testing version 3.2.0 was released.

» read more

Jan 29, 2026

Yii Request Provider 1.3

Yii Request Provider version 1.3.0 was released. In this version:

» read more

Jan 23, 2026

Yii Translator DB Message Storage 1.1.0

Yii Translator DB Message Storage version 1.1.0 was released. In this version:

» read more

Read all news
Books and Videos on Yii
The Yii Book (Second edition)
The Yii Book (Second edition) ■
Author: Larry Ullman

Covers everything from very basics to advanced topics. Explanations are very clear.

PHP Web Application Development
PHP Web Application Development ■
Author: Bill Keck

It is a step by step introduction to the framework, which is based around creating a reusable template that can serve as the basis for your projects.

Web Application Development with Yii 2 and PHP
Web Application Development with Yii 2 and PHP ■
Author: Mark Safronov

Based around implementing a real world CRM following many best practices. It is assumed that reader is experienced enough in OOP so don't expect OO-basics explained.

Learning Yii Testing
Learning Yii Testing ■
Author: Matteo Pescarin

Embrace 360-degree testing on your Yii 2 projects using Codeception.

Yii2 Application Development Cookbook - Third Edition
Yii2 Application Development Cookbook - Third Edition ■
Author: Andrew Bogdanov, Dmitry Eliseev

The book is a set of individual independent recipes. Each recipe shows how to do something useful with Yii explaining why it's done, how it's done, why it works and how exactly it works.

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Testimonials
  • Craft CMS
    Craft is a content-first CMS that aims to make life enjoyable for developers and content managers alike.

    Choosing the right PHP framework was a vital decision when we set out to build Craft. With its elegant, modular architecture, rich internationalization support, and helpful documentation, Yii was a perfect fit.

    Brandon Kelly
    creator of Craft

  • HumHub
    HumHub is a free social network software and framework built to give you the tools to make communication and collaboration easy and successful.

    Yii Framework is our rock solid foundation and provides us with numerous well designed features already out of the box. Especially the flexibility in form of modules or the event concept, perfectly match our requirements. In and above that, Yii has very active and helpful community!

    Lucas Bartholemy
    CEO of HumHub

  • LUYA
    LUYA is a free and open-source toolbox to build websites and web applications of any size, extending the Yii Framework with an administration, a content management system and other useful modules.

    For us, the well-thought-out, solid Yii Framework is the giant upon whose shoulders LUYA is built. We are happy to be a part of the passionate Yii community.

    Basil Suter
    Lead developer of LUYA

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