Coding⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: What are the differences between composer update and composer install?

Learn the difference between composer update and install to optimize your PHP project.

Quick Answer: Use composer update for updating dependencies, while composer install is used for installing new dependencies.

The composer update and composer install commands are two of the most commonly used commands in Composer, a popular package manager for PHP. While they may seem similar, there are key differences between them.

The main difference betweencomposer update and composer install lies in their behavior when it comes to updating or installing dependencies in a project.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • When you run composer update, Composer will only update the dependencies that have changed since the last time it was updated.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Method 1: Update Dependencies

  1. Step 1: Run composer update to update the dependencies that have changed.

Method 2: Install New Dependencies

  1. Step 1: Run composer install to install new dependencies.

🎯 Final Words

In summary, composer update is used to update existing dependencies, while composer install is used to install new dependencies. Understanding the difference between these two commands can help you manage your dependencies more effectively.

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