> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.qovery.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# qovery shell

> Shell access and command execution

## Overview

Execute commands in running application or container instances, or open an interactive shell session.

## Commands

### Interactive Shell

Open interactive shell in application:

```bash theme={null}
qovery shell --application "app-id"
```

Open shell in specific pod:

```bash theme={null}
qovery shell --application "app-id" --pod "pod-name"
```

### Execute Command

Run a single command:

```bash theme={null}
qovery shell --application "app-id" --command "ls -la"
```

Run multiple commands:

```bash theme={null}
qovery shell --application "app-id" --command "cd /app && npm run migrate"
```

### Port Forward

Forward local port to application:

```bash theme={null}
qovery port-forward \
  --application "app-id" \
  --port 8080:8080
```

Forward to different local port:

```bash theme={null}
qovery port-forward \
  --application "app-id" \
  --port 3000:8080
```

## Options

| Flag            | Description                    |
| --------------- | ------------------------------ |
| `--application` | Application ID or name         |
| `--container`   | Container ID or name           |
| `--command`     | Command to execute             |
| `--pod`         | Specific pod name              |
| `--port`        | Port forwarding (local:remote) |
| `--help`        | Show help                      |

## Examples

### Debug Application

```bash theme={null}
# Open interactive shell
qovery shell --application "my-api"

# Inside the shell:
$ ls -la
$ cat config.json
$ env | grep DATABASE
$ exit
```

### Run Database Migrations

```bash theme={null}
# Execute migration command
qovery shell \
  --application "my-api" \
  --command "npm run migrate"
```

### Check Application Files

```bash theme={null}
# List application files
qovery shell \
  --application "my-api" \
  --command "ls -lah /app"

# Check environment variables
qovery shell \
  --application "my-api" \
  --command "env"
```

### Access Database

```bash theme={null}
# Forward PostgreSQL port
qovery port-forward \
  --database "postgres-main" \
  --port 5432:5432

# In another terminal, connect with psql
psql -h localhost -p 5432 -U user -d database
```

### Debug Container

```bash theme={null}
# Shell into container
qovery shell --container "nginx-proxy"

# Run diagnostics
qovery shell \
  --container "nginx-proxy" \
  --command "nginx -t"
```

## Tips

<Tip>
  Use interactive shell for exploratory debugging and one-off commands.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  Port forwarding is useful for accessing databases or services locally without exposing them publicly.
</Tip>

<Warning>
  Be careful when executing commands in production environments. Changes are not persistent across pod restarts.
</Warning>

## Related Commands

* [`qovery log`](/cli/commands/log) - View application logs
* [`qovery application`](/cli/commands/application) - Manage applications