dockerdocker-container

How to copy files from host to Docker container?

I am trying to build a backup and restore solution for the Docker containers that we work with.

I have Docker base image that I have created, ubuntu:base, and do not want have to rebuild it each time with a Docker file to add files to it.

I want to create a script that runs from the host machine and creates a new container using the ubuntu:base Docker image and then copies files into that container.

How can I copy files from the host to the container?

Solution

  • The cp command can be used to copy files.

    One specific file can be copied TO the container like:

    docker cp foo.txt container_id:/foo.txt

    One specific file can be copied FROM the container like:

    docker cp container_id:/foo.txt foo.txt

    For emphasis, container_id is a container ID, not an image ID. (Use docker ps to view listing which includes container_ids.)

    Multiple files contained by the folder src can be copied into the target folder using:

    docker cp src/. container_id:/target
docker cp container_id:/src/. target

    Reference: Docker CLI docs for cp

    In Docker versions prior to 1.8 it was only possible to copy files from a container to the host. Not from the host to a container.