Deployment of web applications can be difficult and cumbersome if you don’t have the right tools. If you’ve ever deployed a Java application before, I’m sure you’ve heard of JAR files (which stands for “Java ARchive”). Everything executable/accessible that makes up the application can be bundled in a single JAR file, which is a blessing when it comes time to deploy. PHAR (“Php ARchive”) is analogous to the JAR file concept but for PHP. If you have PHP 5.3 or greater, the Phar extension is built-in and enabled; you can start using it without any additional requirements. This article is intended to shed some light on this important feature for those who haven’t used it before. Hopefully you’ll find it a very helpful tool and have a better and faster deployment experience. PHAR files are treated as read-only by default, and you can use any PHAR file without any special configuration. This is great for deployment. But as you’ll be creating your own PHARs you’ll need to allow write-access which is done through the php.ini file. Open php.ini, find the phar.readonly directive, and modify it accordingly:



PHAR (PHP Archive) is a file format that allows for the packaging of complete PHP applications into a single file for easy distribution and installation. It’s similar to the JAR file format in Java. PHAR files are executable and can be run directly from the command line, making them extremely convenient for distributing PHP applications. They can include PHP files, images, text files, and other types of files needed for the application to run.
Creating a PHAR file involves a few steps. First, you need to create a PHP script that includes all the files you want to package into the PHAR file. Then, you use the Phar class in PHP to create the PHAR file and add the files to it. Finally, you set the stub file, which is the file that will be run when the PHAR file is executed.
Yes, you can add any type of file to a PHAR file, not just PHP files. This includes images, text files, and other types of files. This makes PHAR files extremely versatile for packaging and distributing PHP applications.
PHAR files can be executed directly from the command line by using the PHP interpreter. You simply type “php” followed by the name of the PHAR file. The PHP interpreter will execute the stub file in the PHAR file, which in turn can include and run other files in the PHAR file.
PHAR files can be signed with a digital signature to ensure their integrity. This means that if the PHAR file is modified in any way after it has been signed, the signature will no longer be valid and the PHAR file will not run. This provides a level of security for PHAR files, but like any other file, they can still be a target for malicious activity if not properly secured.
Yes, PHAR files can be compressed using either gzip or bzip2 compression. This can significantly reduce the size of the PHAR file, making it easier to distribute. The PHP Phar class provides methods for compressing and decompressing PHAR files.
Yes, you can extract files from a PHAR file using the Phar class in PHP. This can be useful if you need to access individual files in the PHAR file without executing it.
Yes, you can add files to an existing PHAR file using the Phar class in PHP. This can be useful if you need to update the contents of a PHAR file without creating a new one.
Yes, you can delete files from a PHAR file using the Phar class in PHP. This can be useful if you need to remove unnecessary or outdated files from a PHAR file.
PHAR files can be run on any server that has PHP installed. However, the server must have the Phar extension enabled in order to execute PHAR files. This is usually the case by default, but if not, you may need to enable it manually.
Abdullah Abouzekry is an experienced web-developer with over 7 years developing PHP/MySQL applications ranging from simple web sites to extensive web-based business applications. Although his main experience is with PHP/MySQL and related web technologies, he has developed and localized many desktop applications in C#, Python/Qt, Java, and C++. When not writing code, Abdullah likes to read, listen to oriental music, and have fun with his little family.
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