The document introduces the Zend Framework, an open-source PHP framework. It discusses that the framework aims to simplify common PHP tasks, serve as a starting point for applications, and demonstrate best practices. Key features include modularity, compatibility with PHP 5, and an MVC architecture. The document provides examples of using common framework components like controllers, input filtering, mailing, and searching. It emphasizes that the framework is designed to have an extremely simple interface while supporting complex tasks.