Question 1

How do I install elasticsearch-php in a Laravel project?

Accepted Answer

Install via Composer with `composer require elasticsearch/elasticsearch`, then configure the client in a service provider or using Laravel's container. Refer to the official Elasticsearch documentation for Laravel-specific integration examples, as the client is PSR-compliant and works with any PHP framework.

Question 2

What's the difference between elasticsearch-php and scout-elasticsearch-driver?

Accepted Answer

Elasticsearch-php is the low-level official client for direct Elasticsearch API calls, while scout-elasticsearch-driver is a Laravel Scout driver that provides an abstraction layer for model-based search. Use elasticsearch-php for full control and complex queries; scout-elasticsearch-driver for simpler, Laravel-integrated search with Scout's syntax.

Question 3

How to mock the elasticsearch client for PHPUnit tests?

Accepted Answer

Mock any PSR-18 HTTP client, such as using php-http/mock-client, and set it via ClientBuilder::setHttpClient(). Add PSR-7 responses with product check headers, as shown in the README's mocking example, to simulate Elasticsearch responses without a running server.

Question 4

Why am I getting a 410 error in serverless mode?

Accepted Answer

This error occurs when using an endpoint not available in Elasticsearch serverless; the client detects serverless mode automatically or via Client::setServerless(true). Check the endpoint's @group serverless phpdoc attribute in the client documentation to ensure compatibility.

Question 5

Can I use elasticsearch-php with Elasticsearch 7.x?

Accepted Answer

No, the client is version-locked; for Elasticsearch 7.x, you must use an older client version (e.g., 7.x branch), as compatibility is only maintained within major versions. Refer to the compatibility table—8.x client supports 8.x server, and 9.x for 9.x server.

Question 6

How to handle authentication with Elastic Cloud in PHP?

Accepted Answer

Use API keys or basic auth via the ClientBuilder; set credentials with ->setApiKey() or ->setBasicAuthentication() methods when connecting. For serverless, ensure the URL is managed by Elastic (e.g., *.elastic.cloud) for automatic detection, or manually set serverless mode.

Question 7

Elasticsearch-php vs Algolia PHP client: which is better for simple search?

Accepted Answer

Elasticsearch-php is better for complex, customizable search and analytics within an Elasticsearch ecosystem, but Algolia's PHP client is more suitable for simple, out-of-the-box search with managed performance and less setup. Choose based on project scale and control needs.

ElasticSearch PHP

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