Laravel and Docker: Streamlined Setup

Modern web development demands efficiency, scalability, and consistency across environments. Laravel, being a robust PHP framework, offers elegant syntax and powerful tools — but setting up the same environment across multiple systems can be tricky. This is where Docker comes in. Docker simplifies development by containerizing your Laravel application, ensuring it runs identically in every environment — from development to production.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how to streamline your Laravel setup using Docker, understand how it works, and uncover best practices to optimize your development workflow.

What is Docker and Why Use It with Laravel?

Docker is a platform that allows you to create lightweight, isolated containers that run your applications. Each container includes the required dependencies, configurations, and environment setup — ensuring that your application behaves consistently across all systems.

Benefits of Using Docker with Laravel

1. Consistent environment: Eliminate the “works on my machine” problem by replicating the same setup everywhere.

2. Simplified setup: Quickly spin up Laravel, MySQL, Redis, and Nginx with a few commands.

3. Scalability: Easily scale containers for load balancing and microservices.

4. Isolation: Run multiple projects without dependency conflicts.

5. Portability: Move your Laravel project seamlessly between development, staging, and production environments.

Docker essentially acts as a virtualized layer that ensures your Laravel app runs smoothly, regardless of the host machine.

Understanding How Docker Works for Laravel

Docker works by using images to create containers. For Laravel, you might need separate containers for PHP, Nginx, MySQL, and other services.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the key components:

• Dockerfile: Defines how your Laravel app container is built (PHP version, dependencies, etc.).

• docker-compose.yml: A configuration file to manage multiple containers like PHP, MySQL, and Nginx.

• Volumes: Persist data like uploaded files or database storage.

• Networks: Allow containers to communicate internally.

Using Docker Compose, you can launch a full Laravel environment in one command.

Step 1: Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• Docker Desktop installed on your system

• Composer for dependency management

• A Laravel project or a new one created via composer create-project laravel/laravel example-app

Once everything is ready, navigate to your Laravel project folder.

Step 2: Setting Up Docker for Laravel

To containerize a Laravel application, you’ll create a Docker setup using a few essential files.

a. Creating a Dockerfile

The Dockerfile defines the base image and dependencies for running Laravel. It ensures your container has everything Laravel needs — PHP, Composer, and required extensions.

b. Setting Up docker-compose.yml

Docker Compose simplifies managing multiple services (like PHP, MySQL, and Nginx). It defines how containers interact with one another.

With Docker Compose, you can spin up your environment using a single command like:

docker-compose up -d

This starts all containers in detached mode, running Laravel and its dependencies together.

Step 3: Configuring Laravel for Docker

After setting up Docker, ensure your Laravel application is correctly configured to connect with other containers.

a. Database Configuration

Since MySQL runs in a separate container, update your .env file with the correct host and credentials. For example:

DB_CONNECTION=mysql  
DB_HOST=mysql  
DB_PORT=3306  
DB_DATABASE=laravel  
DB_USERNAME=root  
DB_PASSWORD=secret  

Here, mysql refers to the container name used in the Docker Compose configuration.

b. Caching and Queues

You can easily add Redis or Memcached containers for caching and queues. Just include them in the docker-compose.yml file and configure the .env accordingly.

Step 4: Running Laravel Inside Docker

Once Docker is set up, you can start the environment:

docker-compose up -d

Then, access the PHP container to run Laravel commands:

docker exec -it your-app-name-php bash

Inside the container, you can run typical Artisan commands like:

php artisan migrate  
php artisan serve  

Your Laravel app will now be accessible on http://localhost or the port you configured.

Step 5: Managing Storage and Permissions

Laravel requires writable directories for logs, cache, and storage. You may need to set proper permissions inside the container:

chmod -R 777 storage bootstrap/cache

Alternatively, handle permissions in your Dockerfile to ensure consistency across environments.

Step 6: Optimizing Laravel Performance in Docker

To maximize performance, follow these tips:

a. Use Optimized PHP Images

Use official PHP-FPM images for better speed and memory efficiency.

b. Cache Dependencies

Cache Composer dependencies during the build process to reduce build time.

c. Enable Opcache

Enable PHP Opcache for faster script execution in production containers.

d. Separate Services

Run Nginx, PHP, and MySQL in separate containers for scalability and easier debugging.

e. Use Docker Volumes

Mount application data as Docker volumes to persist changes between restarts.

Step 7: Debugging and Logging

Docker makes debugging straightforward. You can view logs using:

docker logs container_name

To enter a container’s terminal for debugging:

docker exec -it container_name bash

For Laravel-specific errors, you can still access storage/logs/laravel.log.

Step 8: Using Laravel Sail (Optional)

If you’re new to Docker, Laravel Sail provides a preconfigured Docker environment for Laravel. It’s included by default in recent Laravel versions and simplifies setup.

To use Sail:

1. Install Laravel using Composer.

2. Run ./vendor/bin/sail up -d.

3. Access your app at http://localhost.

Sail handles all container management internally — ideal for beginners who want Docker benefits without manual configuration.

Step 9: Deploying Laravel Docker Containers to Production

Once you have Docker running locally, deploying to production becomes simple. You can use:

• AWS ECS (Elastic Container Service)

• Google Cloud Run

• DigitalOcean App Platform

• Docker Swarm or Kubernetes

By pushing your Docker image to a container registry (like Docker Hub or AWS ECR), you can replicate the exact same environment in production.

Best Practices for Laravel with Docker

1. Keep containers lightweight: Avoid installing unnecessary packages.

2. Use environment variables: Store credentials in .env files, not in the image.

3. Separate development and production builds: Use multi-stage builds for optimization.

4. Monitor container health: Use Docker’s built-in health checks.

5. Automate builds: Use CI/CD pipelines to automate testing and deployment.

Common Docker Issues with Laravel

1. Database Connection Errors

Ensure your Laravel app connects to the database container using its service name (mysql, postgres, etc.).

2. Permission Denied Errors

Set proper file and directory permissions or use a specific Docker user to run the app.

3. Container Not Starting

Check for syntax errors in your docker-compose.yml or missing dependencies in the Dockerfile.

Why Docker Makes Laravel Development Easier

Using Docker for Laravel development streamlines the setup process, removes dependency conflicts, and enhances team collaboration. Instead of every developer manually configuring PHP, MySQL, and Nginx, they can simply run one command to replicate the exact same environment.

Docker also simplifies scaling — you can easily spin up additional containers for handling traffic, background jobs, or microservices without reconfiguring the base system.

Conclusion

Laravel and Docker form a powerful combination that transforms how developers build, test, and deploy web applications. Docker ensures that your Laravel app runs consistently across all environments while providing flexibility and scalability for production deployment.

By containerizing Laravel, you eliminate setup complexity, streamline teamwork, and accelerate delivery. Whether you’re working solo or in a large development team, Docker is an essential tool for maintaining a smooth and reliable Laravel development workflow.

Start small — create a Docker environment for your next Laravel project and experience firsthand how it simplifies your workflow and boosts productivity.