Docker deployment in Laravel - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - Docker deployment

Write Dockerfile

↓

Build Docker Image

↓

Run Container

↓

Container Starts Laravel App

↓

App Listens on Port

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Access App via Browser

This flow shows how you write a Dockerfile, build an image, run a container, and access the Laravel app inside Docker.

Execution Sample

Laravel

FROM php:8.2-fpm
WORKDIR /var/www/html
COPY . .
RUN docker-php-ext-install pdo pdo_mysql
CMD ["php", "artisan", "serve", "--host=0.0.0.0", "--port=8000"]

This Dockerfile sets up a PHP environment for Laravel, copies the app, installs extensions, and runs the Laravel development server.

Execution Table

Step	Action	Details	Result
1	Read Dockerfile	FROM php:8.2-fpm	Base PHP image selected
2	Set working directory	WORKDIR /var/www/html	Working directory set inside container
3	Copy app files	COPY . .	Laravel app files copied into container
4	Install PHP extensions	RUN docker-php-ext-install pdo pdo_mysql	PDO extensions installed
5	Set container start command	CMD ["php", "artisan", "serve", "--host=0.0.0.0", "--port=8000"]	Container will run php artisan serve on start
6	Build image	docker build -t laravel-app .	Docker image 'laravel-app' created
7	Run container	docker run -p 8000:8000 laravel-app	Container runs, Laravel dev server listens on port 8000
8	Access app	Open browser at localhost:8000	Laravel app responds to requests
9	Exit	Stop container	Container stops, app no longer accessible

💡 Container stops when user stops it; app no longer accessible

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 3	After Step 4	After Step 7	Final
Docker Image	None	Partial (files copied)	Complete (extensions installed)	Complete (ready to run)	laravel-app
Container State	Not running	Not running	Not running	Running (php artisan serve active)	Stopped

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why do we need to copy the Laravel app files into the Docker image?

Because the container runs isolated, it needs the app files inside to serve the Laravel application. See execution_table step 3.

Why do we map port 8000 on the host to port 8000 inside the container?

Docker maps host port 8000 to container port 8000, so external requests to 8000 reach the Laravel dev server on 8000. See execution_table step 7.

What happens if we don't install the PDO extensions in the Docker image?

Laravel won't connect to the database properly, causing errors. See execution_table step 4.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, what is the result after step 4?

A Container runs PHP-FPM

B Laravel app files copied

C PDO extensions installed

D Docker image created

💡 Hint

Check the 'Result' column for step 4 in the execution_table.

At which step does the container start running the Laravel app?

A Step 7

B Step 6

C Step 5

D Step 8

💡 Hint

Look for when the container state changes to running in variable_tracker and execution_table.

If you forget to set the CMD in the Dockerfile, what will happen when you run the container?

A Container will run PHP-FPM anyway

B Container will start but exit immediately

C Container will expose port 8000 automatically

D Laravel app will be accessible without issues

💡 Hint

CMD defines the start command; missing it means no process keeps container alive (see execution_table step 5).

Concept Snapshot

Docker deployment for Laravel:
- Write Dockerfile with base PHP image
- Copy app files inside container
- Install needed PHP extensions
- Set CMD to run php artisan serve
- Build image and run container mapping ports
- Access Laravel app via mapped port
- Stop container to end app

Full Transcript

Docker deployment for Laravel involves creating a Dockerfile that starts from a PHP base image, sets a working directory, copies the Laravel app files, installs necessary PHP extensions like PDO, and sets the command to run php artisan serve. Then you build the Docker image and run a container from it, mapping a host port to the container port where the development server listens. You can then access the Laravel app through your browser using the mapped port. Stopping the container stops the app. This process isolates the app environment and makes deployment consistent.