PrestaShop: Technical Description
🗓️ Release Date
PrestaShop was officially launched on August 31, 2007.
🏷️ License
PrestaShop Open Source: under the Open Software License (OSL) v3.0
🧑💻 Programming Language
Mainly developed in PHP, with a user interface built using Smarty, JavaScript, and Bootstrap.
🏛️ Architecture
MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture
Based on Symfony since version 1.7
Modular system: more than 4,000 modules available
Supports multi-store features
Component-based architecture (modules, hooks, services)
💾 Database
Primarily uses:
MySQL / MariaDB
⚙️ Main Features
✅ Complete product catalog management (simple, variants, virtual products…)
✅ Inventory, supplier, and manufacturer management
✅ Order, cart, and invoicing system
✅ Multi-language, multi-currency, multi-tax support
✅ Customer and customer group management
✅ Built-in SEO: clean URLs, meta tags, sitemap
✅ Basic CMS for informational pages (T&Cs, contact, legal notices…)
🔧 Advanced Functionalities
Marketing tools: promo codes, flash sales, cross-selling
Shipping and carrier modules with customizable delivery options
Integration with over 250 payment gateways
Intuitive and responsive admin interface
REST webservices for API integration
Theme system customizable via the Smarty engine
Official marketplace: PrestaShop Addons
Modules for B2B, subscriptions, marketplace, dropshipping
🔐 Security
Secured back-office login
User permissions management (ACL)
Protection against SQL injection, XSS, and CSRF
Password encryption with secure algorithms
Regular security patch updates
GDPR compliance with official modules
✅ Pros and ❌ Cons
✅ Pros
✔️ Free and open source
✔️ Excellent solution for small and medium-sized shops
✔️ Clear and user-friendly interface
✔️ Active community and comprehensive documentation
✔️ Large variety of available modules and themes
❌ Cons
❌ Less suited for very large enterprises without deep customization
❌ Reliance on some paid modules (especially via Addons)
❌ Performance requires optimization for large catalogs
❌ Complex architecture to customize deeply
🌐 Official Website
