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RethinkDB

What is RethinkDB?​

RethinkDB is an open-source, document-oriented database built specifically for real-time apps: it can push live query results to clients as the underlying data changes. A community package, Laravel RethinkDB, provides Laravel integration.

Start RethinkDB​

docker compose up -d rethinkdb

Stop RethinkDB​

docker compose stop rethinkdb

This stops the container without deleting its data. Data persists under DATA_PATH_HOST/rethinkdb.

Configuration​

rethinkdb/defaults.env only exposes one setting:

VariableDefaultWhat it does
RETHINKDB_PORT8090Host-side port mapped to the container's admin console port (8080 inside the container).

The RethinkDB client driver port (28015 inside the container) is not published to your host, only reachable from other containers on Laradock's internal network via rethinkdb:28015.

Open the admin console​

With the container running, open http://localhost:8090/#tables (or your RETHINKDB_PORT) and create a database named database (or whatever you plan to reference from Laravel).

Use RethinkDB from Laravel​

  1. Add a RethinkDB connection to config/database.php: 
    'connections' => [

        'rethinkdb' => [
            'name'      => 'rethinkdb',
            'driver'    => 'rethinkdb',
            'host'      => env('DB_HOST', 'rethinkdb'),
            'port'      => env('DB_PORT', 28015),
            'database'  => env('DB_DATABASE', 'test'),
        ]

        // ...

    ],
  2. In your Laravel .env, set DB_CONNECTION=rethinkdb, DB_HOST=rethinkdb, DB_PORT=28015, and DB_DATABASE=database.

DB_HOST=rethinkdb and DB_PORT=28015 only resolve from inside another Laradock container (like workspace or php-fpm); they aren't reachable from your host machine since that port isn't published.

See the RethinkDB docs on backing up your data.

Common issues​

  • Can't connect from a host GUI client. The client-driver port (28015) isn't published to your host by compose.yml, only the admin console (RETHINKDB_PORT → 8080) is. Connect from inside a Laradock container instead, or add a port mapping yourself if you need host access.
  • App can't connect but the container is running. Confirm the app's .env uses DB_HOST=rethinkdb (the container name), not localhost.
  • Admin console shows no tables. You need to create the database/tables yourself the first time, RethinkDB doesn't auto-create anything on boot like MySQL's MYSQL_DATABASE.
  • Port already in use on your host. Change RETHINKDB_PORT in .env and restart.

Need a document database instead? See MongoDB. For the full list of services, see Getting Started.