Yii provides two main application templates: Basic and Advanced. Basic templates are suitable for small to medium-sized projects, with simple directory structure and basic functions, such as user login, contact forms and error pages, suitable for beginners or to develop simple applications; Advanced templates are suitable for large applications, support multi-environment architecture, built-in role permission management, and have a more complex file structure, suitable for team collaboration and enterprise-level development. When selecting a template, you should decide based on the project size, team structure and long-term goals: choose Basic for personal blogs or learning to use, and choose Advanced for e-commerce platforms or multi-module systems.

Yii offers several application templates to help developers get started quickly when building web applications. The two main templates are the Basic Template and the Advanced Template , each designed for different use-cases and project complexity levels.

What's the Yii Basic Application Template?

The Basic Template is a minimum, lightweight starter kit means for small to medium-sized projects. It's perfect if you're building a single website or API service without needing complex deployment settings.

• Comes with basic features: user login, contact form, error pages.
• Simple directory structure — easy to understand and modify.
• Ideal for beginners or smaller teams working on straightforward apps.

If you're just getting started with Yii or need to build a simple CRUD app, landing page, or backend dashboard, this is your go-to option.

What's the Yii Advanced Application Template?

The Advanced Template is more robust and suitable for larger applications, especially those requiring multiple environments (like frontend, backend, console, API) and more scalable architecture.

• Supports multiple applications in one codebase (frontend, backend, etc.)
• Built-in support for roles, RBAC, and advanced user management.
• More complex folder structure tailored for team collaboration and enterprise-level development.

This template is great when you expect your application to grow or need separate sections like admin panels, REST APIs, and command-line tools all under one roof.

Key Differences Between Basic and Advanced Templates

Here's a quick breakdown of how they differ:

• Project Structure :
  • Basic has a flat layout; Advanced uses separate applications (frontend, backend, common, console).
• Use Case :
  • Basic is for small apps or learning purposes.
  • Advanced fits large-scale apps with multiple modules and teams.
• Customization :
  • Basic is easier to customize from scratch.
  • Advanced comes pre-configured for scalability but requires more setup understanding.
• User Management :
  • Advanced includes more sophisticated user roles and permissions out of the box.

You can start with the Basic Template and later migrate to Advanced if needed — though it's usually easier to pick the right one upfront based on your project scope.

When to Choose Which Template?

Here are some real-world examples to guide your choice:

• ? Use Basic Template if:

  • You're building a personal blog or portfolio site.
  • You're developing a simple internal tool or API service.
  • You want to learn Yii without too much boilerplate.

• ? Use Advanced Template if:

  • You're building an e-commerce platform with admin and frontend.
  • Your app needs CLI commands, cron jobs, or microservices integration.
  • You're working in a team and need modular separation.

You can install either using Composer:

 # For Basic Template
composer create-project --prefer-dist yiisoft/yii2-app-basic my-basic-app

# For Advanced Template
composer create-project --prefer-dist yiisoft/yii2-app-advanced my-advanced-app

So depending on your project size, team structure, and long-term goals, choose the one that gives you enough flexibility without unecessary complexity.

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