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The most maintainable local setup is a multi-stage PHP image plus a Compose file that runs the application and database together. Use php:8.2-apache for the shortest path on a small project; use PHP-FPM behind Nginx or a separate Apache service when you need a production-like web tier. Keep source code editable through a bind mount or Compose Watch, connect to the database by its Compose service name, and store database files in a named volume.
What Dockerfile and Docker Compose each do
A PHP development environment normally has four concerns: the PHP runtime, PHP extensions, application dependencies, and supporting services such as a database. Split those responsibilities deliberately.
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| File or component | Responsibility | Typical development choice |
|---|---|---|
Dockerfile |
Builds the PHP image, installs extensions, copies application files, and defines development or production targets. | Multi-stage build with separate Composer dependency stages and a development target. |
compose.yaml |
Defines running services, ports, environment variables, dependencies, mounts, networks, health checks, and volumes. | server and db services on one private Compose network. |
| Bind mount or Compose Watch | Makes host edits visible without rebuilding the image for every PHP change. | Mount ./src into the application document root, or declare a Watch sync rule. |
| Named volume | Stores database files outside the disposable database container. | db-data:/var/lib/mysql for a MariaDB service. |
Compose’s model is intentionally declarative: the YAML file describes the services, and the Compose CLI creates and starts them as one application. The resulting network gives each service a DNS name equal to its service key, so application code uses db rather than localhost when connecting to the database.
Choose the web-serving architecture first
PHP with Apache
The php:*-apache images are the shortest route for a small application. PHP and Apache run in one container, so there is less proxy configuration and only one application service to start. The example in this guide uses php:8.2-apache, enables Apache’s rewrite module, and publishes container port 80 on host port 9000.
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This option couples PHP request handling to Apache. That is convenient locally, but it does not model an architecture in which a dedicated reverse proxy, TLS terminator, or static-file tier sits in front of PHP.
PHP-FPM behind Nginx or Apache
PHP-FPM is the better fit when the web server should be a separate service or when local development should resemble a multi-container production stack. FPM listens for FastCGI requests; it does not serve HTTP pages by itself. An Nginx or Apache container must mount the application source and forward PHP requests to the FPM service over the private Compose network.
Expose the proxy’s HTTP port to the host, not FPM’s internal port. Keep FPM off the host network and do not publish its listening port unless a specific diagnostic task requires it.
| Choice | Use it when | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
php:*-apache |
A small app needs the simplest local setup. | Fewer services and less configuration, but PHP serving is coupled to Apache. |
| PHP-FPM plus Nginx or Apache | You want a separate web tier or a layout close to many production stacks. | More services, shared source and configuration, and a required reverse-proxy connection. |
Prerequisites and a sensible project layout
Install Docker Desktop, or Docker Engine with the Compose plugin, on the host. Verify both commands before creating files:
docker version
docker compose versionCreate a project directory and use a layout that keeps application code, container configuration, and tests easy to identify:
php-compose-app/
├── compose.yaml
├── Dockerfile
├── composer.json
├── composer.lock
├── docker/
│ └── php/
│ └── conf.d/
│ └── development.ini
├── src/
│ ├── index.php
│ └── hello.php
└── tests/Commit composer.json and composer.lock. The lock file makes the development image repeatable and prevents an unrelated dependency release from changing an existing build.
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Build a multi-stage PHP image
Multi-stage builds let development and production use the same base runtime while receiving different Composer dependency sets and PHP settings. Development can include PHPUnit and other packages from require-dev; production can install only runtime dependencies. Keeping those stages separate also avoids putting development-only configuration into a production image.
Example Dockerfile
FROM composer:lts AS composer-dev
WORKDIR /app
COPY composer.json composer.lock ./
RUN composer install --prefer-dist --no-interaction --no-progress
FROM composer:lts AS composer-prod
WORKDIR /app
COPY composer.json composer.lock ./
RUN composer install --no-dev --prefer-dist --no-interaction --no-progress --classmap-authoritative
FROM php:8.2-apache AS runtime
WORKDIR /var/www/html
RUN docker-php-ext-install pdo pdo_mysql
&& a2enmod rewrite
COPY --from=composer-dev /usr/bin/composer /usr/bin/composer
FROM runtime AS development
COPY --from=composer-dev /app/vendor ./vendor
COPY src/ ./
COPY docker/php/conf.d/development.ini /usr/local/etc/php/conf.d/development.ini
FROM runtime AS production
COPY --from=composer-prod /app/vendor ./vendor
COPY src/ ./The pdo and pdo_mysql extensions cover a MySQL-compatible database such as MariaDB. Add other extensions with docker-php-ext-install only when the application requires them; every extra extension increases build time and the runtime surface.
The composer:lts stage supplies Composer without requiring a separate host installation. Copying the Composer executable into the runtime image lets you run dependency commands through docker compose exec. If your application needs a different PHP minor version, change the PHP base image and verify that every dependency supports it.
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Image tags can move. For a reproducible build, pin a tested tag and, where your release process requires it, pin the image by digest. A digest identifies one immutable image, whereas a tag may later point to a different build.
Development PHP settings
Create docker/php/conf.d/development.ini with settings that make local errors visible:
display_errors=On
display_startup_errors=On
error_reporting=E_ALL
log_errors=On
memory_limit=512MDo not copy this file into the production target unless exposing detailed errors is an intentional, protected operational choice.
Composer manifest and PHPUnit
A minimal manifest can put framework and test packages in the appropriate sections:
{
"require": {
"php": "^8.2"
},
"require-dev": {
"phpunit/phpunit": "^10"
},
"autoload": {
"psr-4": {
"App\": "src/"
}
},
"autoload-dev": {
"psr-4": {
"Tests\": "tests/"
}
}
}Run composer update once in a controlled environment to create the lock file, then let image builds use composer install. For an existing project, retain its current PHP and PHPUnit constraints rather than copying these example versions blindly.
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Compose file for Apache, MariaDB, and persistent data
The following file builds the development target, publishes Apache on port 9000, waits for a healthy database, and stores MariaDB data in a named volume.
services:
server:
build:
context: .
dockerfile: Dockerfile
target: development
ports:
- '9000:80'
volumes:
- ./src:/var/www/html
environment:
APP_ENV: development
DB_HOST: db
DB_PORT: '3306'
DB_DATABASE: app
DB_USERNAME: app
DB_PASSWORD: app_password
depends_on:
db:
condition: service_healthy
develop:
watch:
- action: sync
path: ./src
target: /var/www/html
- action: rebuild
path: composer.json
- action: rebuild
path: composer.lock
db:
image: mariadb:11
environment:
MARIADB_DATABASE: app
MARIADB_USER: app
MARIADB_PASSWORD: app_password
MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD: change_this_root_password
volumes:
- db-data:/var/lib/mysql
healthcheck:
test: ['CMD', 'mariadb-admin', 'ping', '-h', 'localhost', '-u', 'root', '-pchange_this_root_password']
interval: 5s
timeout: 5s
retries: 10
volumes:
db-data:The credentials above are suitable only for an isolated local project. Put real development credentials in an uncommitted .env file or use your team’s secret-management approach; never commit production passwords to Compose YAML.
The develop.watch block requires a current Compose implementation. If your installed Compose version does not support Watch, remove that block and keep the bind mount. Do not use both mechanisms to sync the same path unless you understand which one wins.
Why the database uses a separate service
The database has its own lifecycle, image, health check, and storage. Recreating the PHP container therefore does not recreate the database. On the default Compose network, the hostname is db, the service key. The host-published port is unnecessary for application traffic; it exists only if you deliberately need a database client on the host.
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The named volume survives container removal. It remains until you explicitly remove it, so plan cleanup and backups rather than assuming docker compose down deletes data.
Start the stack and verify the result
- Build the selected target and start every service:
docker compose up --build - In another terminal, confirm service state:
docker compose psThe database should report healthy before the application attempts database-dependent startup work.
- Open
http://localhost:9000/hello.phpfor the sample page, or usehttp://localhost:9000/when your entry point isindex.php. - Follow application output when a request fails:
docker compose logs -f server docker compose logs -f db
Keep the foreground up process running while developing. Use docker compose up -d --build when you want detached services, and stop them with docker compose down. Stopping containers does not remove the named database volume.
Make source changes visible without rebuilding
Bind mounts
The ./src:/var/www/html mount replaces the image’s copied application directory with the host directory. Editing a PHP file on the host is therefore visible to Apache immediately. This is familiar and works with older Compose versions, but filesystem performance and UID/GID permissions vary between operating systems and Docker Desktop file-sharing modes.
A bind mount is a development convenience, not a production image strategy. A production target should contain the application code in the image and should not depend on a developer’s host directory.
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Compose Watch
Watch rules declare what should be synchronized and what should trigger a rebuild. Sync source files for fast edits; rebuild when composer.json, composer.lock, the Dockerfile, or extension configuration changes. Start Watch with:
docker compose watchUse one approach consistently for each path, and exclude generated directories such as vendor or test reports when they would create an unnecessary sync loop.
Run Composer and PHPUnit inside containers
Running tools in the development container guarantees that PHP, extensions, and dependency versions match the application runtime.
Install or update dependencies
docker compose exec server composer install
docker compose exec server composer dump-autoload
docker compose exec server composer update vendor/packageUse composer install for normal work because it honors the lock file. Use composer update only when intentionally changing dependency versions, then review and commit the resulting lock-file changes.
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docker compose exec server vendor/bin/phpunitIf the service is not running, use a one-off container instead:
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Execute PHP and database commands
docker compose exec server php -v
docker compose exec server php -m
docker compose exec db mariadb -uapp -papp_password appInside the server container, localhost refers to the server container itself. Use DB_HOST=db for MariaDB connections. Inside the database container, the database listens on its container port, normally 3306, regardless of whether you publish that port to the host.
Connect PHP to MariaDB correctly
Read connection settings from environment variables rather than hard-coding them in source. A PDO connection can be assembled from the Compose values:
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$host = getenv('DB_HOST') ?: 'db';
$port = getenv('DB_PORT') ?: '3306';
$name = getenv('DB_DATABASE') ?: 'app';
$user = getenv('DB_USERNAME') ?: 'app';
$password = getenv('DB_PASSWORD') ?: 'app_password';
$pdo = new PDO(
"mysql:host={$host};port={$port};dbname={$name};charset=utf8mb4",
$user,
$password,
[PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE => PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION]
);Compose starts services in dependency order, but a started container is not necessarily ready to accept connections. The database health check and the service_healthy condition reduce that race during startup. Applications should still handle transient connection failures gracefully, especially when a database is upgraded or restored.
Keep development and production targets separate
Build the production target explicitly when you need an image that contains only production dependencies:
docker build --target production -t php-compose-app:production .For local work, Compose selects target: development. The development target includes packages from require-dev, a verbose PHP configuration, Composer, and a source mount. The production target uses --no-dev, authoritative Composer autoloading, copied source, and no host bind mount.
- Pin PHP and database image versions, and use digests when your release process requires immutable inputs.
- Do not publish FPM or database ports just to make internal services convenient to reach.
- Use a non-production password set for local development and inject production secrets through the deployment platform.
- Run the same PHPUnit suite in a disposable test stage or CI job before releasing the production image.
- Review the final image for development files, test fixtures, credentials, and writable directories that should not ship.
Back up and clean up the database volume
A named volume is durable, not automatically backed up. Create a logical dump before destructive migrations or environment resets:
docker compose exec db mariadb-dump -uapp -papp_password app > backup.sqlRestore into a running database with:
cat backup.sql | docker compose exec -T db mariadb -uapp -papp_password appTo remove containers and the network while preserving data, run docker compose down. To intentionally delete the database volume as well, use:
docker compose down -vThat command is irreversible for the local volume unless you have a dump. Treat it as a deliberate reset, not routine cleanup.
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Troubleshoot the failures that appear most often
The host port is already in use
If port 9000 is occupied, change only the host side of the mapping, for example '9001:80', then open http://localhost:9001/. The container continues to listen on port 80.
The application cannot reach MariaDB
- Confirm that the hostname is
db, notlocalhost. - Run
docker compose psand wait for the database health status. - Inspect
docker compose logs dbfor invalid credentials, initialization errors, or an existing volume created with different credentials. - Verify that
pdo_mysqlappears indocker compose exec server php -m.
Changes are not visible
Check that the host path is correct and that the mount target matches Apache’s document root. A bind mount hides files copied into that directory during the image build, so a missing host file can make a correctly built image appear empty. If using Watch, verify that your Compose version supports develop.watch and that the rule’s source and target paths are correct.
Composer reports missing packages
Rebuild after changing the manifest or lock file: docker compose up --build. If a bind mount hides vendor, either mount only the source directory as shown here or run Composer inside the container after the mount is active. Do not copy a host machine’s vendor directory into an image built for a different operating system or PHP extension set.
Permission errors occur on generated files
Container users and host users can have different numeric IDs. Identify the process user with docker compose exec server id, then adjust the development image, mount permissions, or generated-directory ownership according to your host platform. Avoid making the entire application tree world-writable as a shortcut.
Apache returns 403 or rewrite rules do not work
Confirm that the application has an index file, the mounted directory is readable, and a2enmod rewrite ran during the image build. If the application relies on .htaccess, Apache’s directory configuration must permit overrides; add that configuration deliberately rather than weakening unrelated directories.
When the FPM layout is worth the extra services
Choose FPM when you need independent scaling, a dedicated static-file and TLS layer, or parity with a deployment architecture that already uses Nginx or Apache as a reverse proxy. The Compose design then has at least three concerns: an Nginx service publishing port 80, a PHP-FPM service built from a PHP-FPM base image, and the database. Mount the same application source into the proxy and FPM containers, configure Nginx’s document root, and send requests for .php files to the FPM service name on the private network.
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A repeatable daily workflow
- Change PHP code under
src/; the bind mount or Watch sync updates the running container. - Change dependencies in
composer.json, run Composer in the container, and rebuild so the image records the new lock file. - Run
docker compose exec server vendor/bin/phpunitbefore committing. - Inspect service health with
docker compose psand logs withdocker compose logswhen startup or database behavior changes. - Use a named-volume dump before migrations that could destroy local data.
- Build the
productiontarget separately to confirm that it does not depend on development mounts or packages.
This separation gives you fast editing, a reproducible PHP runtime, a database that survives container replacement, and a clear path from local tests to a leaner production image.
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