Docker compose copy a file (or files) to container

Docker Compose is a tool that allows users to define and run multi-container Docker applications. It uses a YAML file to configure the application’s services, networks, and volumes. One of the useful features of Docker Compose is the ability to copy files into a container. In this essay, we will discuss how to use Docker Compose to copy a file into a container.

Using the copy Directive

The copy directive in Docker Compose is used to copy files or directories from the host machine to a container. It is defined under the services section of the docker-compose.yml file. Here is an example of how to use the copy directive:

services:
  web:
    image: nginx
    volumes:
      - ./nginx.conf:/etc/nginx/nginx.conf
    ports:
      - "80:80"
    command: nginx-debug -g 'daemon off;'
    copy:
      - ./index.html:/usr/share/nginx/html/index.html

In this example, we are copying the index.html file from the host machine to the /usr/share/nginx/html directory in the container. The copy directive is defined under the web service.

Multiple File Copy

In some cases, you may need to copy multiple files or directories into a container. You can achieve this by using the copy directive multiple times. Here is an example:

services:
  web:
    image: nginx
    volumes:
      - ./nginx.conf:/etc/nginx/nginx.conf
    ports:
      - "80:80"
    command: nginx-debug -g 'daemon off;'
    copy:
      - ./index.html:/usr/share/nginx/html/index.html
      - ./style.css:/usr/share/nginx/html/style.css
      - ./images:/usr/share/nginx/html/images

In this example, we are copying the index.html file, style.css file, and the images directory from the host machine to the /usr/share/nginx/html directory in the container.

Related: https://codetryout.com/docker-copy-file-from-container-to-host/

Conclusion

In conclusion, Docker Compose provides a simple and powerful way to copy files or directories into a container. The copy directive can be used to achieve this. By following the examples provided in this essay, you can easily copy files into your Docker containers.