Zend (company)

Zend Technologies Ltd. (formerly known as Zend Technologies) was a software company specializing in PHP development and web application infrastructure. It was founded in 1999 by Andi Gutmans and Zeev Suraski, the core developers of PHP.

Zend's primary product was the Zend Framework, an open-source, object-oriented web application framework for PHP 5 and 7. The framework provided a robust and modular architecture designed to simplify the development of complex web applications and services. It included a wide range of components for tasks such as database access, form processing, authentication, and more.

Beyond the Zend Framework, Zend offered commercial products aimed at enhancing PHP development and deployment, including Zend Server, a complete PHP application server that provided optimized performance, management tools, and enterprise-level support. Zend Studio was a PHP integrated development environment (IDE) that offered debugging, code completion, and profiling features to aid developers in creating high-quality PHP applications.

Zend also provided PHP training and certification programs to help developers enhance their skills and demonstrate their proficiency in PHP. The company was heavily involved in the PHP community and played a significant role in shaping the future of the language through its contributions to core development and its advocacy for best practices.

In 2015, Zend Technologies was acquired by Rogue Wave Software. Rogue Wave Software was subsequently acquired by Perforce Software in 2019. As a result of these acquisitions, Zend's product lines and services became part of the Perforce Software portfolio. The legacy of Zend continues through the ongoing development and support of the Zend Framework (now known as Laminas) and the continued availability of its other products under the Perforce banner.