Get current git HEAD using PHP

get_current_git_commit.php

<?php
/**
 * Get the hash of the current git HEAD
 * @param str $branch The git branch to check
 * @return mixed Either the hash or a boolean false
 */
function get_current_git_commit( $branch='master' ) {
  if ( $hash = file_get_contents( sprintf( '.git/refs/heads/%s', $branch ) ) ) {
    return $hash;
  } else {
    return false;
  }
}

?>

An example adapted for use in a Laravel project:

/**
 * Attempt to Retrieve Current Git Commit Hash in PHP.
 *
 * @return mixed
*/
protected function getCurrentGitCommitHash()
{
    $path = base_path('.git/');

    if (! file_exists($path)) {
        return null;
    }

    $head = trim(substr(file_get_contents($path . 'HEAD'), 4));

    $hash = trim(file_get_contents(sprintf($path . $head)));

    return $hash;
}