docker execIT technician command center
Containers · Docker and Kubernetes

docker exec

Run a command inside a container.

Copy-ready commanddocker exec
docker exec -it web01 /bin/sh

Requirements and permissions

Requirements
Docker Engine, Docker Compose, or kubectl
Permissions
Container or cluster permissions vary
Last reviewed
2026-07-31

Examples

Basic example

Run a command inside a container.

docker exec -it web01 /bin/sh

Common errors

Command not found

Confirm Docker Engine, Docker Compose, or kubectl is installed and available in your current shell.