Symfony vs. NestJS: The Ultimate Showdown for Modern Web Development

7 min readJul 10, 2024

Hey everyone! Today, I’m comparing Symfony and NestJS, two powerful frameworks known for their flexibility and strength in web development. This article will explore what they can do and how you can use them without diving into detailed performance tests or pros and cons. I’ll save that for future articles where I’ll talk about benchmarks and give my thoughts on which one might be best for your project.

You might be surprised to see how similar Symfony and NestJS are in what they offer. Both are awesome for building scalable apps, handling tricky tasks, and connecting with different databases and services. This might shake up what big fans of each framework think, showing that picking between them isn’t always straightforward. Whether you’re leaning towards Symfony or NestJS, understanding what makes them alike and different will help you choose the right one for your next project.

Symfony: The Seasoned Pro

First up, we have Symfony. This PHP heavyweight has been around the block and then some. It’s got a solid reputation for being the go-to for enterprise-level projects. Think of it like the reliable, classic car that never lets you down. It’s flexible, packed with reusable components, and follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern, which means your code stays nice and tidy.

NestJS: The “New” Kid on the Block

Then there’s NestJS. Although it has existed since 2018, its maturity began in 2021. Personally, I didn’t take this framework seriously until late 2022 due to factors such as the lack of real LTS versions and backward compatibility. Now that’s changed. This JavaScript/TypeScript star is built on Node.js and is all about modern web development. Inspired by Angular, NestJS brings that sweet, sweet consistency to the backend world, making it a hit among developers who like their stacks to match.

So, let’s pop the hood and see what makes these frameworks tick.

Where They Shine Together

Same but different — The difference in possibilities between NestJS and Symfony

Despite their different roots, Symfony and NestJS have a lot in common. Here’s a quick look:

MVC Architecture

Both frameworks follow the MVC pattern, which basically means they like to keep their workspaces clean. Models handle the data, views take care of presentation, and controllers manage the logic. It’s like having a well-organized toolbox.

Symfony (PHP): Controllers, Entities (Models), and Views (Templates).
NestJS (TypeScript): Controllers, Services (Models), and Views (Templates).

Modular Design

Symfony: Uses bundles to group-related functionality, making it super flexible and easy to manage.
NestJS: Loves modules for keeping things organized and scalable. Think of it as Marie Kondo for your code.

Dependency Injection

This fancy term means these frameworks make it a breeze to manage dependencies:

Symfony: Uses a service container for injecting dependencies. Autowiring makes it even smoother.
NestJS: Uses decorators to handle dependency injection, so your classes get what they need without breaking a sweat.

Routing

Routing is like the GPS for your web app, and both frameworks have it nailed down:

Symfony: Offers routes via annotations, YAML, or XML. So many options, it’s like a buffet.

Via annotations:

#[Route('/home', name: 'home')]
public function index(): Response
{
    return $this->render('home/index.html.twig', [
        'controller_name' => 'HomeController',
    ]); // Using twig template
}

NestJS: Defines routes with decorators directly in the controller classes. It’s simple and effective.

@Get('home')
@Render('home/index.hbs') // Using Handlebars template
index(): { controller_name: string } {
    return { controller_name: 'HomeController' };
}

Middleware

Middleware is crucial for processing those pesky requests and responses:

Symfony: Uses event listeners and subscribers to handle middleware-like functionality. Think of it as a sophisticated butler managing your house party.
NestJS: Supports middleware at different levels, from routes to controllers to global. It’s like having security guards at every door.

ORM Support

Both frameworks make working with databases a walk in the park:

Symfony: Doctrine ORM is the go-to, and it’s powerful.
NestJS: Usually uses TypeORM or Sequelize. It’s like choosing between two great coffee shops.

Built-in CLI

Who doesn’t love a good command line tool?

Symfony: Its CLI handles project creation, server management, and code generation. It’s like a Swiss Army knife.

Generate Controller:

bin/console make:controller

NestJS: Although not so extensive compared to Symfony, the CLI is handy for scaffolding projects, running tests, and more. It’s your trusty sidekick.

Generate Controller:

npx nest generate controller

Testing Tools

Testing is key, and both frameworks have your back:

Symfony: PHPUnit is the testing tool of choice.
NestJS: Integrates with Jest for unit and integration tests. It’s like having a personal trainer for your code.

Template Engines

Rendering dynamic content is a breeze:

Symfony: Twig is the star here, making templates a joy to work with.
NestJS: Supports various engines like Handlebars, EJS, and Pug. It’s like being a chef with multiple recipe books.

Configuration Management

Both frameworks manage configuration with ease using environment variables and configuration files. It’s all about flexibility and security.

Community and Ecosystem

A strong community and rich ecosystem are like having a big family dinner — plenty of support and resources.

Where They Part Ways

Alright, now let’s talk about differences. Here’s what sets Symfony and NestJS apart.

Language Ecosystem and Tooling

Symfony: Firmly in the PHP camp, it integrates seamlessly with PHP tools and conventions.
NestJS: Lives in the JavaScript/TypeScript world, leveraging Node.js tools. It’s like speaking different dialects but both understanding the same big idea.

Philosophy and Design

Symfony: Configuration-based approach with annotations, YAML, or XML. Flexibility is key.
NestJS: Decorator-based approach, inspired by Angular. It’s all about consistency and clarity.

Component Interaction

Symfony: Heavy on service definitions and autowiring for dependency injection.

class ProductService
{
    private $entityManager;
    private $productRepository;

    public function __construct(EntityManagerInterface $entityManager, ProductRepository $productRepository)
    {
        $this->entityManager = $entityManager;
        $this->productRepository = $productRepository;
    }

    public function findAll(): array
    {
        return $this->productRepository->findAll();
    }
}

NestJS: Focuses on dependency injection at every level with explicit module declarations.

@Injectable()
export class ProductService {
    constructor(
        @InjectRepository(Product)
        private readonly productRepository: Repository<Product>,
    ) {}

    async findAll(): Promise<Product[]> {
        return this.productRepository.find();
    }
}

Framework Structure

Symfony: Bundles encapsulate features, offering project organization flexibility.
NestJS: Modular by default, promoting a consistent structure.

Asynchronous Programming

Symfony: Traditionally synchronous but can handle async with PHP 8’s Fibers or tools like ReactPHP.
NestJS: Built for async from the ground up, using Promises and async/await. Perfect for real-time apps, and of course currently the main advantage of the Node over PHP.

Community and Adoption

Symfony: Mature and widely adopted in enterprise-level applications.
NestJS: New but rapidly growing, especially popular for modern, scalable apps.

Learning Curve and Documentation

Symfony: Steeper learning curve, but backed by detailed documentation. Prior PHP knowledge helps.
NestJS: Easier for those familiar with Angular and TypeScript. Comprehensive docs make it approachable.

Performance

Symfony: Optimized for high performance with significant improvements in PHP.
NestJS: Non-blocking I/O in Node.js makes it ideal for real-time applications.

Configuration and Setup

Symfony: Extensive configuration options but require more initial setup.
NestJS: Streamlined setup with a convention-over-configuration approach.

Error Handling and Debugging

Symfony: Robust tools like the Web Debug Toolbar and detailed exception pages.
NestJS: Centralized error handling with JavaScript’s mechanisms.

Advanced Features and Best Practices

Microservices Architecture

Both frameworks handle microservices well but in different ways:

Symfony: Extendable with third-party bundles and tools like API Platform for API-first microservices.
NestJS: Built-in microservices support with various transport strategies. It’s like having a ready-to-go toolkit.

Real-Time Applications

Symfony: Achievable with libraries like Ratchet or Mercure.
NestJS: Perfect for real-time features with WebSockets and integrations like Socket.io.

API Development

Symfony: API Platform makes building and documenting APIs a breeze.
NestJS: Built-in Swagger integration and modular structure simplify API development.

Security Features

Symfony: Comprehensive security bundle for CSRF protection, user authentication, and more.
NestJS: Guards, interceptors, and modules like Passport keep your app secure.

DevOps and Deployment

Both Symfony and NestJS offer powerful tools and methodologies to streamline this process, ensuring smooth and efficient operation from development to production.

Symfony: Full Docker support, SymfonyCloud…
NestJS: Full Docker support, Node.js environment management tools like PM2.

Real-World Use Cases

When I would choose Symfony

Enterprise Applications: Perfect for large, complex projects needing stability.
E-commerce: High-performance platforms with Symfony’s bundles and components.
API Development: Efficient with API Platform’s features.

When I would choose NestJS

Real-Time Applications: Ideal for chat apps, live notifications, and real-time dashboards.
Microservices: Built-in support makes it a strong candidate.
Modern Stack: If you’re into TypeScript and Node.js, NestJS is a natural fit.

The Developer’s Perspective

From a developer’s standpoint, mastering both Symfony and NestJS can significantly broaden your skill set and marketability. You’ll be equipped to tackle a wider range of projects and work seamlessly in teams that utilize different tech stacks. Plus, there’s a certain satisfaction in knowing you can handle whatever the project throws at you, whether it’s PHP or Node.js.

Typical hater of any programming language

Conclusion: The Best of Both Worlds

Choosing between Symfony and NestJS is like deciding whether to have a classic, well-aged wine or a trendy craft beer — they both have their unique flavours and cater to different tastes, but you can appreciate and enjoy both for what they offer.

In my journey with Symfony (PHP) and NestJS (TypeScript), I’ve found both frameworks offer powerful tools for web application development. I was trying to remain neutral but Symfony impresses me with its maturity and robust ecosystem, while NestJS impresses me with TypeScript’s benefits and scalable architecture.

Every developer or business owner needs to remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution in technology. There is no silver bullet. It’s about choosing the right tool for the job and adapting to the unique needs of each project.

It’s worth mentioning that this article is based on PHP 8.3, Symfony 6.4, Node.js 20, and NestJS 10.