So, what is the difference between a PHP editor and a PHP IDE?

The main difference between a PHP editor and a PHP IDE is that PHP editors is often very simple software programs like Notepad for Windows while PHP IDEs - an shortening for integrated development environment are more advanced and feature loaded programs for example phpDesigner 8.

What characterizes PHP IDEs is that they facilitates you in creating and maintaining your PHP scripts with tools and features as a project management, syntax highlighting, intelligent code suggestion on the fly, code beautifiers, remote editing, debugging etc.

phpDesigner 8 combines both PHP IDE and PHP editor into one single web-development tool. Support for projects, advanced syntax highlighting, object-oriented programming, PHP frameworks, debug with Xdebug, remote ftp-editing and hundreds other cool and timesaving features!