docker-run

create and start containers from images

TLDR

Run a container interactively

$ docker run -it [image] [bash]

Run container in background

$ docker run -d [image]

Run with port mapping

$ docker run -p [8080:80] [image]

Run with volume mount

$ docker run -v [/host/path:/container/path] [image]

Run with environment variables

$ docker run -e [VAR=value] [image]

Run with automatic removal on exit

$ docker run --rm [image]

Run with custom name

$ docker run --name [container_name] [image]

Run with memory limit

$ docker run -m [512m] [image]

SYNOPSIS

docker run [options] image [command] [args]

docker run creates and starts a new container from an image. It combines docker create and docker start into a single command, providing the primary way to launch containers.The command pulls the image if not present locally, creates a container from it, and starts execution. Options control resource allocation, networking, storage, and runtime behavior.Containers are isolated but can connect to host resources through port mapping, volume mounts, and network configuration. The -it flags enable interactive terminal access for debugging and exploration.

PARAMETERS

-d, --detach

Run container in background.

-it

Interactive with pseudo-TTY.

-p, --publish host:container

Publish container port to host.

-v, --volume host:container

Bind mount a volume.

-e, --env VAR=value

Set environment variable.

--name name

Assign container name.

--rm

Remove container on exit.

-m, --memory limit

Memory limit (e.g., 512m, 1g).

--cpus n

Number of CPUs.

--network network

Connect to network.

--restart policy

Restart policy: no, always, unless-stopped, on-failure.

-w, --workdir dir

Working directory inside container.

-u, --user user

Username or UID.

--entrypoint cmd

Override default entrypoint.

INSTALL

sudo apt install docker-cli

sudo dnf install docker-cli

sudo pacman -S docker

sudo apk add docker-cli

sudo zypper install docker

brew install docker

nix profile install nixpkgs#docker

CAVEATS

Containers run as root by default; use -u for non-root execution. Ports below 1024 require root on the host. Volumes with relative paths are created as Docker volumes, not bind mounts. Container filesystem changes are lost unless volumes are used.

HISTORY

docker run has been the fundamental Docker command since the initial release in 2013 by Solomon Hykes and dotCloud (later Docker, Inc.). The command's design draws from Unix philosophy and LXC container concepts. Options have expanded significantly to support enterprise features, orchestration, and security requirements.

RESOURCES

Source code · Documentation