enter docker container

Entering into a Docker container might sound complicated, but with the right steps, it’s a straightforward process.

Introduction

Entering a Docker container allows users to execute commands and manage files in the isolated environment.

Pre-requisites

Before we start, ensure that Docker is installed on your system and a Docker container is running. If you’re unsure, run docker ps command to list the active containers.

Steps to Enter Docker Container

Step 1: Identify The Docker Container

Firstly, it’s important to identify which Docker container you intend to enter. Run the command docker ps to see a list of your running containers. Look for the “CONTAINER ID” or “NAMES” column to find this information.

Step 2: Use exec Command

Once you have the Container ID or Name, use the exec command to enter the Docker container. The general command is docker exec -it [container_id] bash. This tells Docker to run the bash shell inside the specified container, and the -it flag ensures the terminal stays open.

For instance, if your container ID is ‘12345’, the command becomes docker exec -it 12345 bash.

Step 3: Verify Entry

After executing the docker exec command, your prompt should now be preceded with the container ID, confirming that you’re inside the container. From here, you’re free to execute any command as if you’re working on a regular command-line interface.

To exit the Docker container, simply type exit and hit return.

Step 4 (Optional): Use sh Instead of bash

In case the bash shell is not available in the container, you can use sh instead. The equivalent command would be docker exec -it [container_id] sh.

Conclusion

That’s it! You’ve now learned how to enter a Docker container. Remember, everything executed within a Docker container stays isolated from your host system, giving you a safe environment to work and experiment with.