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---
title: "exec"
description: "The exec command description and usage"
keywords: "command, container, run, execute"
---
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# exec
```markdown
Usage: docker exec [OPTIONS] CONTAINER COMMAND [ARG...]
Run a command in a running container
Options:
-d, --detach Detached mode: run command in the background
--detach-keys Override the key sequence for detaching a container
-e, --env=[] Set environment variables
--help Print usage
-i, --interactive Keep STDIN open even if not attached
--privileged Give extended privileges to the command
-t, --tty Allocate a pseudo-TTY
-u, --user Username or UID (format: <name|uid>[:<group|gid>])
```
## Description
The `docker exec` command runs a new command in a running container.
The command started using `docker exec` only runs while the container's primary
process (`PID 1`) is running, and it is not restarted if the container is
restarted.
## Examples
### Run `docker exec` on a running container
First, start a container.
```bash
$ docker run --name ubuntu_bash --rm -i -t ubuntu bash
```
This will create a container named `ubuntu_bash` and start a Bash session.
Next, execute a command on the container.
```bash
$ docker exec -d ubuntu_bash touch /tmp/execWorks
```
This will create a new file `/tmp/execWorks` inside the running container
`ubuntu_bash`, in the background.
Next, execute an interactive `bash` shell on the container.
```bash
$ docker exec -it ubuntu_bash bash
```
This will create a new Bash session in the container `ubuntu_bash`.
### Try to run `docker exec` on a paused container
If the container is paused, then the `docker exec` command will fail with an error:
```bash
$ docker pause test
test
$ docker ps
CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS PORTS NAMES
1ae3b36715d2 ubuntu:latest "bash" 17 seconds ago Up 16 seconds (Paused) test
$ docker exec test ls
FATA[0000] Error response from daemon: Container test is paused, unpause the container before exec
$ echo $?
1
```
|
