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PHP Phar Context Options Configuration and Usage Detailed Guide

gitbox 2025-06-12

Introduction to PHP Phar

The PHP Phar extension allows developers to package PHP applications and their dependencies into executable Phar files. Similar to Java's JAR files, it bundles PHP files, configuration files, and other resources into a single, self-contained executable file for easier distribution and management.

PHP Phar Context Options

In the Phar extension, context options can be configured during the packaging and unpacking of Phar files, offering flexible control to adjust file attributes, behaviors, and unpacking methods.

Using PharFileInfo to Set File Attributes

The PharFileInfo class allows developers to retrieve and set metadata for files in a Phar archive, such as file size, permissions, modification time, MD5 hash values, and more. The following example demonstrates how to use this class to configure file attributes:


$phar = new Phar('archive.phar');
$file = 'path/to/file.php';
$file_info = $phar['path/to/file.php'];
$file_info->compress(Phar::GZ);
$file_info->setMetadata([
    'version' => '1.0',
    'author'  => 'John Doe'
]);

In this code, we first use the PharFileInfo class to retrieve a file from the Phar archive, compress it, and then set its metadata.

Using Phar::extractTo to Unpack a Phar File

The Phar::extractTo method is used to extract files and directories from a Phar archive. It supports several configuration options:

  • flags: Specifies how to extract the Phar file. Default is Phar::EXTRACT_AUTO.
  • file_extensions: Specifies which file extensions to extract from the Phar file.
  • file_prefix: Specifies the file prefix.
  • base_directory: Specifies the target directory where the files will be extracted.

Here is an example of how to use the Phar::extractTo method:


$phar = new Phar('archive.phar');
$phar->extractTo('/path/to/target/directory', null, true);

This example shows how to unpack a Phar file to a specified directory.

Using Phar::getMetadata to Retrieve Phar File Metadata

The Phar::getMetadata method is used to retrieve metadata for a Phar file, such as its version, size, and MD5 hash value. Below is an example of the code:


$phar = new Phar('archive.phar');
$metadata = $phar->getMetadata();
echo $metadata['version'];
echo $metadata['author'];

This code allows us to retrieve and display the metadata of a Phar file.

Using Phar::setDefaultStub to Set the Entry Point of a Phar File

The Phar::setDefaultStub method is used to set the entry point for a Phar file. The entry file is the PHP file that contains the main function, and it will be automatically executed when the Phar file is run. Here is an example:


$phar = new Phar('archive.phar');
$phar->setDefaultStub('index.php');

This code sets the entry file for the Phar archive as index.php.

Conclusion

The PHP Phar extension provides a wide range of context options that help developers efficiently package, unpack, and manage Phar files. This article covers common options and methods such as the PharFileInfo class, Phar::extractTo, Phar::getMetadata, and Phar::setDefaultStub, and demonstrates how to use them with code examples. Mastering these options will enhance the management and execution of PHP applications packaged as Phar files.

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