This Docker command is used to run a PostgreSQL container....

August 26, 2025 at 09:59 PM

docker run --name PostGreSQL --env POSTGRES_PASSWORD=<YOUR_PASSWORD_HERE> --volume postgres-volume:/var/lib.postgresql/data --publish 5432:5432 - -detach postgres

This Docker command is used to run a PostgreSQL container. Here's an explanation of what the command does step by step:

  1. docker run: This creates and starts a new container from the specified image.

  2. --name PostGreSQL: Assigns the name PostGreSQL to the container. This makes it easier to reference the container later, as you can use its name instead of its auto-generated container ID.

  3. --env POSTGRES_PASSWORD=<YOUR_PASSWORD_HERE>: Sets the POSTGRES_PASSWORD environment variable inside the container to <YOUR_PASSWORD_HERE>. This password will be used for the default postgres user created by PostgreSQL when the container starts.

  4. --volume postgres-volume:/var/lib/postgresql/data: Creates (or uses an existing) named Docker volume called postgres-volume and mounts it to the /var/lib/postgresql/data directory inside the container. This directory is where PostgreSQL stores its database files. By using a Docker volume, the data is persisted even if the container is stopped or removed.

  5. --publish 5432:5432: Maps port 5432 on the host machine to port 5432 inside the container. This allows you to connect to the PostgreSQL database using tools from the host machine (e.g., using psql or a database IDE) as PostgreSQL listens on port 5432 by default.

  6. --detach: Runs the container in detached mode, meaning it runs in the background and doesn't block the current terminal session.

  7. postgres: Specifies the Docker image to use, which in this case is the official PostgreSQL image. If the image hasn't been previously downloaded, Docker will pull it from the Docker Hub.

Overall Purpose:

This command starts a PostgreSQL database server inside a Docker container. It sets up a password for the default user, maps storage to persist the database data across container restarts, and makes the database accessible on port 5432 of the host machine.

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