% DOCKER(1) Docker User Manuals % Docker Community % JUNE 2014
docker-exec - Run a command in a running container
docker exec [-d|--detach] [--detach-keys[=[]]] [--help] [-i|--interactive] [--privileged] [-t|--tty] [-u|--user[=USER]] CONTAINER COMMAND [ARG...]
Run a process in a running container.
The command started using docker exec will only run while the container's primary
process (PID 1) is running, and will not be restarted if the container is restarted.
If the container is paused, then the docker exec command will wait until the
container is unpaused, and then run
-d, --detach=true|false Detached mode: run command in the background. The default is false.
--detach-keys=""
Override the key sequence for detaching a container. Format is a single character [a-Z] or ctrl-<value> where <value> is one of: a-z, @, ^, [, , or _.
--help Print usage statement
-i, --interactive=true|false Keep STDIN open even if not attached. The default is false.
--privileged=true|false Give the process extended Linux capabilities when running in a container. The default is false.
Without this flag, the process run by docker exec in a running container has
the same capabilities as the container, which may be limited. Set
--privileged to give all capabilities to the process.
-t, --tty=true|false Allocate a pseudo-TTY. The default is false.
-u, --user="" Sets the username or UID used and optionally the groupname or GID for the specified command.
The followings examples are all valid: --user [user | user:group | uid | uid:gid | user:gid | uid:group ]
Without this argument the command will be run as root in the container.
The -t option is incompatible with a redirection of the docker client standard input.
November 2014, updated by Sven Dowideit [email protected]