How to Setup PHP, MySQL, and Nginx Using Docker Compose

In today’s fast-paced tech world, the ability to quickly and efficiently deploy web applications is essential. Docker Compose, a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications, offers a streamlined and scalable approach. This article will guide you through the process of setting up a web environment with PHP, MySQL, and Nginx using Docker Compose, ensuring a robust, repeatable, and scalable deployment.
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Prerequisites

Before diving in, ensure you have the following installed:

Docker: The engine running containers.
Docker Compose: The tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications.

Step 1: Your PHP Application

Place your PHP code in a directory named code in your project directory. Docker Compose will mount this directory into both the Nginx and PHP containers.

For this example, I have created a sample PHP script in product directory:

mkdir my-php-app && cd my-php-app 
echo "<?php phpinfo(); ?>" > index.php

Step 2: Setting Up the Docker Compose File

The heart of Docker Compose is the docker-compose.yml file. This file defines the services, networks, and volumes for your application. Start by creating a docker-compose.yml file in your project directory:


version: '3'
services:
  web:
    image: nginx:latest
    ports:
      - "8000:80"
    volumes:
      - ./code:/code
      - ./site.conf:/etc/nginx/conf.d/site.conf
    depends_on:
      - php
      - db
  php:
    image: php:fpm
    volumes:
      - ./code:/code
  db:
    image: mysql:5.7
    volumes:
      - db_data:/var/lib/mysql
    environment:
      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: root
      MYSQL_DATABASE: mydb
      MYSQL_USER: user
      MYSQL_PASSWORD: userpass
volumes:
  db_data:

This file defines three services: web (Nginx), php (PHP-FPM), and db (MySQL). It also specifies a volume for MySQL data persistence.

Step 3: Configuring Nginx

Create an Nginx configuration file named site.conf in your project directory. This file will direct Nginx to handle web requests and pass PHP requests to the PHP-FPM service.


server {
    index index.php index.html;
    server_name localhost;
    error_log  /var/log/nginx/error.log;
    access_log /var/log/nginx/access.log;
    root /code;

    location ~ \.php$ {
        fastcgi_pass php:9000;
        fastcgi_index index.php;
        fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
        include fastcgi_params;
    }
}

Step 4: Running Your Application

With your docker-compose.yml file and Nginx configuration in place, you can start your application by running:

docker-compose up -d

This command will download the required images, create the defined volumes, and start the services as configured.

Step 5: Accessing Your Application

Once the containers are up and running, you can access your PHP application by navigating to http://localhost:8000 in your web browser.

Conclusion

Docker Compose offers a convenient and efficient way to deploy complex web applications. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you have set up a PHP application with Nginx and MySQL, all running in separate containers but working seamlessly together. This approach not only simplifies the deployment process but also ensures consistency and scalability across different environments.

Remember, Docker and Docker Compose are powerful tools, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. As you become more familiar with these technologie you’ll discover even more ways to optimize your deployment workflows.