PEAR Manual - PHP Extension and Application Repository - PEAR is short for “PHP Extension and Application Repository” and is pronounced just like the fruit. The purpose of PEAR is to provide: 1) A structured library of open-sourced code for PHP users, 2) A system for code distribution and package maintenance, 3) A standard style for code written in PHP, specified here, 4) The PHP Foundation Classes (PFC), 5) The PHP Extension Community Library (PECL), and 6) A web site, mailing lists and download mirrors to support the PHP/PEAR community. PEAR is a community-driven project with the PEAR Group as the governing body. The project has been founded by Stig S. Bakken in 1999 and quite a lot of people have joined the project since then. This has been added to World Wide Web Reference Subject Tracer™ Information Blog.