tldr/pages/common/docker-exec.md

docker exec

Execute a command on an already running Docker container. More information: https://docs.docker.com/reference/cli/docker/container/exec/.

• Enter an interactive shell session on an already-running container:

docker exec {{[-it|--interactive --tty]}} {{container_name}} {{/bin/bash}}

• Run a command in the background (detached) on a running container:

docker exec {{[-d|--detach]}} {{container_name}} {{command}}

• Select the working directory for a given command to execute into:

docker exec {{[-it|--interactive --tty]}} {{[-w|--workdir]}} {{path/to/directory}} {{container_name}} {{command}}

• Run a command in background on existing container but keep stdin open:

docker exec {{[-i|--interactive]}} {{[-d|--detach]}} {{container_name}} {{command}}

• Set an environment variable in a running Bash session:

docker exec {{[-it|--interactive --tty]}} {{[-e|--env]}} {{variable_name}}={{value}} {{container_name}} {{/bin/bash}}

• Run a command as a specific user:

docker exec {{[-u|--user]}} {{user}} {{container_name}} {{command}}