Doctrine

Doctrine is a set of PHP libraries primarily focused on database storage and object mapping. Its core component, Doctrine ORM (Object-Relational Mapper), provides a powerful way to work with databases using object-oriented PHP, abstracting SQL queries into PHP objects. It also includes DBAL (Database Abstraction Layer) for low-level database operations and other tools for caching, migrations, and schema management.

Also known as: Doctrine ORM, Doctrine DBAL, Doctrine PHP, Doctrine2, Doctrine Project

Why learn Doctrine?

Developers should learn Doctrine when building PHP applications that require complex database interactions, especially in Symfony-based projects where it's the default ORM. It's ideal for applications needing data persistence with an object-oriented approach, reducing boilerplate SQL code and improving maintainability. Use cases include enterprise web applications, content management systems, and any PHP project where database abstraction and entity management are critical.

Learning Resources

• docs: Doctrine ORM Documentation
• tutorial: Symfony Doctrine Guide
• video: Doctrine ORM Tutorial on YouTube
• docs: PHP: The Right Way - Data