The document introduces the Zend Framework. It discusses that the framework is a collection of PHP classes based on PHP 5 best practices. It aims to simplify common tasks, provide a starting point for applications, and demonstrate PHP 5 best practices. The framework strives to make PHP competitive with other technologies and provide high-quality, PHP 5 compatible components. It uses a BSD style license and modular design. Example uses of the framework include an MVC structure, input filtering, mail sending, and searching capabilities.