How to define a variable in a Dockerfile?

Maxime picture Maxime · Nov 26, 2015 · Viewed 150.5k times · Source

In my Dockerfile, I would like to define variables that I can use later in the Dockerfile.

I am aware of the ENV instruction, but I do no want these variables to be environment variables.

Is there a way to declare variables at Dockerfile scope?

Answer

lumos0815 picture lumos0815 · Jun 5, 2016

You can use ARG - see https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/builder/#arg

The ARG instruction defines a variable that users can pass at build-time to the builder with the docker build command using the --build-arg <varname>=<value> flag. If a user specifies a build argument that was not defined in the Dockerfile, the build outputs an error.