Setting Up WordPress in Docker: A Comprehensive Guide

Setting up WordPress in Docker is a convenient way to create a portable and isolated environment for your WordPress development or production needs. Docker allows you to package WordPress, its dependencies, and your custom configurations into a single container, making it easy to manage and deploy.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up WordPress in Docker:

Prerequisites:

1. Docker: Ensure you have Docker installed on your system. You can download and install Docker from the official website
2. Docker Compose (optional but recommended): Docker Compose simplifies the management of multi-container applications. Install it if you don’t have it

Step 1: Create a directory structure

Create a new directory where you’ll organize your Docker Compose files and WordPress-related files.

Step 2: Create a Docker Compose file

Inside your wordpress-docker directory, create a docker-compose.yml file to define the services for WordPress and its dependencies:

Replace the placeholders your_root_password, your_database_name, your_wordpress_username, your_wordpress_password, and your_table_prefix with your desired values.

Step 3: Start the Docker containers

In your wordpress-docker directory, run the following command to start the WordPress and MySQL containers:

This command will create and start the containers in detached mode, allowing you to continue using your terminal.

Step 4: Access WordPress

Once the containers are up and running, you can access your WordPress site in a web browser by navigating to http://localhost:8080. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the WordPress setup.