Composer

Composer is a dependency management tool for PHP that allows developers to declare, install, and update the libraries and packages their projects depend on. It uses a composer.json file to specify dependencies and automatically resolves and downloads them from repositories like Packagist, handling version constraints and autoloading.

Also known as: PHP Composer, Composer PHP, Composer Dependency Manager, Composer Tool, PHP Package Manager

Why learn Composer?

Developers should use Composer for any modern PHP project to manage external libraries efficiently, ensuring consistent environments and simplifying deployment. It is essential for frameworks like Laravel and Symfony, enabling easy integration of third-party packages and automating dependency resolution to avoid manual installation headaches.

Learning Resources

• docs: Composer Documentation
• tutorial: Laracasts: Composer Bootcamp
• docs: PHP: The Right Way - Dependency Management
• video: YouTube: Composer Tutorial for Beginners
• book: Packt: Mastering Composer