Running PHP 8.4 in Docker with Local File Mounting

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to:

✅ Run PHP 8.4 in a Docker container
✅ Mount local PHP files for real-time development
✅ Set up Apache to serve PHP files

Step 1: Set Up Your Project

Create a project folder with the following files:

1. index.php

<?php
echo "Hello PHP World!";
?>

2. Dockerfile

FROM php:8.4-apache
COPY index.php /var/www/html/
EXPOSE 80

Step 2: Build & Run the Docker Container

1. Build the Docker Image

docker build -t php-app .

2. Run the Container with Volume Mounting

1. For Windows (CMD/PowerShell)

docker run -d -p 8000:80 -v "%cd%":/var/www/html php-app

• %cd% (CMD) or ${PWD} (PowerShell) represents the current directory.

2. For macOS/Linux (Bash/Zsh)

docker run -d -p 8000:80 -v $(pwd):/var/www/html php-app

• $(pwd) automatically resolves to the current working directory.

3. For Windows (WSL2 - Best for Docker)

If using WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux):

docker run -d -p 8000:80 -v $(pwd):/var/www/html php-app

• Works just like Linux/macOS.

• -d → Run in detached mode (background).
• -p 8000:80 → Map host port 8000 to container port 80.
• -v ${PWD}:/var/www/html → Mount the current directory to Apache’s web root.

Step 3: Verify It Works

1. Open your browser and visit:

   http://localhost:8000
   

   You should see:

   Hello PHP World!
   

2. Test Live Reloading:

   • Modify index.php on your local machine.
   • Refresh the browser → Changes appear instantly!

Step 4: Debugging (If Needed)

1. Check Running Containers

docker ps

2. View Logs

docker logs <container_id>

3. Enter the Container (For Debugging)

docker exec -it <container_id> bash

Why This Setup?

✔ Fast Development – Changes reflect instantly due to volume mounting.
✔ Consistent Environment – No "works on my machine" issues.
✔ Easy Deployment – Same image works in production.

Bonus: Using Docker Compose

For better management, create a docker-compose.yml:

version: "3.8"
services:
  php:
    build: .
    ports:
      - "8000:80"
    volumes:
      - ./:/var/www/html

Then run:

docker-compose up -d

Final Thoughts

This setup is perfect for:

• PHP developers who want a portable environment.
• Teams needing consistent dev/prod parity.
• Learning Docker with a real-world use case.

Try modifying index.php and see the changes live! 🚀

Need help? Drop a comment below! 😊