% DOCKER(1) Docker User Manuals % Docker Community % JUNE 2014 # NAME docker-exec - Run a command in a running container # SYNOPSIS **docker exec** [**-d**|**--detach**[=*false*]] [**--help**] [**-i**|**--interactive**[=*false*]] [**-t**|**--tty**[=*false*]] [**-u**|**--user**[=*USER*]] CONTAINER COMMAND [ARG...] # DESCRIPTION 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 # OPTIONS **-d**, **--detach**=*true*|*false* Detached mode: run command in the background. The default is *false*. **--help** Print usage statement **-i**, **--interactive**=*true*|*false* Keep STDIN open even if not attached. The default is *false*. **-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. # HISTORY November 2014, updated by Sven Dowideit <SvenDowideit@home.org.au>