Docker Container Network Configuration Guide: Efficient Deployment of PHP Framework Applications

M66 2025-11-03

Introduction

Docker container networks allow multiple containers to communicate within the same network, which is essential for efficient deployment of PHP framework applications. This article explains how to configure Docker networks to ensure smooth container-to-container connectivity.

Prerequisites

Docker installed
PHP framework application

Docker Network Types

Docker provides multiple network modes suitable for different scenarios:

bridge: Creates a bridged network, allowing containers to communicate with the host and other containers.
host: Uses the host's network stack, allowing containers to access the host network directly.
none: Disables networking, preventing the container from communicating with external networks or other containers.

Practical Example

Suppose we need to deploy a Laravel PHP framework application that communicates with a MySQL database container. We will use a bridged network for this setup.

Create a Custom Network

docker network create my-network

Run MySQL Container

docker run -d --name db --network my-network mysql

Run Laravel Container

docker run -d --rm --name laravel --network my-network laravel:8.0

At this point, the Laravel container can access the MySQL container using db.

Expose Container Ports

To allow external access to the Laravel application, we need to expose the container's port.

docker port laravel 80

This exposes port 80 of the Laravel container.

Verify Container Connectivity

Use the following command to check communication between containers:

docker exec laravel ping db

If the response is similar to the following, connectivity is successful:

PING db (172.17.0.2) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 172.17.0.2: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.065 ms

Conclusion

By properly configuring Docker container networks, you can efficiently connect PHP framework applications with database containers. Docker networks provide isolation for applications while ensuring reliable communication between containers, creating a stable environment for development and deployment.