Composer: Install specific PHP package version

• TL;DR
• How to Install a Specific PHP Package Version Using Composer
• Basic Syntax
• Installing a Version Constraint
  • Common examples:
• Installing Without Updating Other Packages
• Editing composer.json Manually
• Checking Available Versions
• Downgrading a Package
• Installing a Specific Version Globally
• Verifying Installed Version
• Summary
• Conclusion

TL;DR

To install a specific package version using Composer:

composer require vendor/package:version

How to Install a Specific PHP Package Version Using Composer

When working on PHP projects, you may need to install a particular version of a package, either to maintain compatibility with your existing codebase or to match a production environment. Composer makes this simple with version constraints.

This guide covers all the correct and reliable ways to install a specific version of a package using Composer.

Basic Syntax

The most direct way to install a specific package version is:

composer require vendor/package:version

Replace:

• vendor/package with the actual package name (for example, laravel/framework)
• version with the version number you want to install.

Example:

composer require monolog/monolog:2.9.1

This installs exactly version 2.9.1 of Monolog.

Composer will update your composer.json file like this:

"require": {
    "monolog/monolog": "2.9.1"
}

and automatically update your composer.lock file and install the package.

Installing a Version Constraint

Composer also allows flexible version constraints instead of a single fixed version. This is useful if you want to stay within a major or minor release line.

Common examples:

Installing Without Updating Other Packages

By default, composer require may trigger dependency updates. If you want to install a specific version without updating other packages, use the --no-update flag:

composer require monolog/monolog:2.9.1 --no-update

This adds the requirement to composer.json but doesn’t install or update anything yet.

You can then run:

composer update monolog/monolog

to install just that package according to your version constraint.

Editing composer.json Manually

Another approach is to manually specify the version constraint in composer.json, then run composer update:

"require": {
    "monolog/monolog": "^2.8"
}

Then install:

composer update monolog/monolog

Checking Available Versions

If you’re unsure which versions are available for a package, run:

composer show vendor/package --all

Example:

composer show monolog/monolog --all

This displays all available versions, release dates, and dependencies, helping you choose the correct one before installation.

Downgrading a Package

To downgrade, simply require an older version:

composer require monolog/monolog:2.4.0

Composer will resolve dependencies and adjust your composer.lock file accordingly. If a newer version is already installed, Composer will automatically downgrade it.

Installing a Specific Version Globally

To install a specific version of a global Composer package (e.g., a CLI tool):

composer global require laravel/installer:^5.3

You can verify it by running:

composer global show laravel/installer

Verifying Installed Version

To confirm the installed version of any package, run:

composer show vendor/package

Example:

composer show monolog/monolog

Output includes the exact installed version and metadata.

Summary

Here’s a quick reference for installing specific versions:

Conclusion

Installing a specific PHP package version with Composer is straightforward but essential for maintaining stability and compatibility across environments. Whether you’re locking to an exact version or defining flexible constraints, Composer gives you full control over dependency management efficiently, predictably, and with precision.