> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://notes.kodekloud.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Interacting with a Running Container
> This article demonstrates managing running Docker containers, including exiting, detaching, executing commands, opening shells, and reattaching without interrupting processes.
This article demonstrates how to manage Docker containers that are already running. You’ll learn how to exit, detach, execute commands, open interactive shells, and reattach to containers without interrupting critical processes.
## Table of Common Docker Container Operations
| Action | Command | Description |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Start interactive container | `docker run -it ubuntu` | Launches Ubuntu with an interactive TTY shell |
| Exit container | `exit` | Terminates the shell and stops the container |
| Detach without stopping | Press `Ctrl-p` `Ctrl-q` | Leaves the container running in the background |
| Execute a one-off command | `docker exec CONTAINER COMMAND` | Runs a command inside a running container |
| Open an interactive shell | `docker exec -it CONTAINER /bin/bash` | Starts a new shell session for troubleshooting |
| Attach to the primary process | `docker attach CONTAINER` | Reconnects your terminal to the container’s main shell |
## 1. Exiting an Interactive Container
When you run a container with `-i` (interactive) and `-t` (TTY), typing `exit` in the shell will stop both the shell and the container:
```bash theme={null}
docker run -it ubuntu
root@6caba272c8f5:/# exit
exit
```
Verify the container status:
```bash theme={null}
docker container ls -l
CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS PORTS NAMES
6caba272c8f5 ubuntu "/bin/bash" 2 minutes ago Exited (0) 10 seconds ago loving_ritchie
```
## 2. Detaching Without Stopping
To keep the container running after leaving the shell, press `Ctrl-p` followed by `Ctrl-q`:
```bash theme={null}
docker run -it ubuntu
root@b71f15d33b60:/# # Press Ctrl-p then Ctrl-q
```
The detach sequence `Ctrl-p` + `Ctrl-q` does not stop the container; it simply returns you to the host shell.
Confirm the container is still running:
```bash theme={null}
docker container ls
CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS PORTS NAMES
b71f15d33b60 ubuntu "/bin/bash" 5 seconds ago Up 3 seconds goofy_bell
```
## 3. Executing a One-off Command
To run a single command in an existing container, use `docker exec`:
```bash theme={null}
docker exec b71f15d33b60 hostname
b71f15d33b60
```
This outputs the container’s hostname (its short ID).
## 4. Opening an Interactive Shell
When you need to troubleshoot or inspect the environment, start a new shell inside the container:
```bash theme={null}
docker exec -it b71f15d33b60 /bin/bash
root@b71f15d33b60:/# ps -ef
UID PID PPID C STIME TTY TIME CMD
root 1 0 0 12:00 pts/0 00:00:00 /bin/bash
root 10 1 0 12:01 pts/0 00:00:00 ps -ef
root@b71f15d33b60:/# tty
/dev/pts/0
root@b71f15d33b60:/# exit
exit
```
## 5. Attaching to a Running Container
To reconnect to the container’s initial process (PID 1), use:
```bash theme={null}
docker attach b71f15d33b60
root@b71f15d33b60:/#
```
Exiting the primary shell (PID 1) will stop the container. To avoid unintentionally shutting it down, detach (`Ctrl-p` `Ctrl-q`) instead of exiting.
## References
* [Docker Documentation](https://docs.docker.com/)
* [docker exec reference](https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/commandline/exec/)
* [Managing containers](https://docs.docker.com/config/containers/)