composer

Install dependencies

$ composer install

$ composer require [vendor/package]

$ composer update

$ composer create-project [laravel/laravel] [myapp]

$ composer show

$ composer remove [vendor/package]

composer command [options]

composer is the dependency manager for PHP. It manages project dependencies, autoloading, and provides tools for package installation and version management through Packagist and other repositories.
The tool is essential for modern PHP development and used by virtually all PHP frameworks.

install

Install dependencies from composer.json

Add package to dependencies

Update dependencies

Remove package

Create new project

Show packages

Search packages

Regenerate autoloader

Update Composer itself

- ^1.2.3 - >=1.2.3 <2.0.0 (recommended)
- ~1.2.3 - >=1.2.3 <1.3.0
- 1.2.* - >=1.2.0 <1.3.0
- >=1.2.3 - 1.2.3 or higher
- dev-master - Latest from master branch

- Dependency resolution
- Autoloading (PSR-4, PSR-0, classmap)
- Scripts and hooks
- Platform requirements
- Private repositories
- Security auditing
- Lock file (composer.lock)

First install can be slow. Memory-intensive for large projects. Network required for updates. composer.lock should be committed (for applications). Version conflicts can be frustrating. Some packages abandoned or poorly maintained.

Composer was created by Nils Adermann and Jordi Boggiano in 2011, inspired by npm and bundler, becoming PHP's standard dependency manager by 2013.

npm(1), pip(1), bundle(1)