# Running Element Web - Browser Based Matrix/Synapse Client - in Docker

## What is Element?

> Element (formerly known as Vector and Riot) is a Matrix web client built using the Matrix React SDK. -https://github.com/vector-im/element-web

## Installing Docker

1. Log into the Linux host and run the following commands in a terminal window
   # install prerequisites
   sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common gnupg-agent -y
   # add docker gpg key
   curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/$(awk -F'=' '/^ID=/{ print $NF }' /etc/os-release)/gpg | sudo apt-key add -
   # add docker software repository
   sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture)] https://download.docker.com/linux/$(awk -F'=' '/^ID=/{ print $NF }' /etc/os-release) $(lsb_release -cs) stable"
   # install docker
   sudo apt install docker-ce docker-compose containerd.io -y
   # enable and start docker service
   sudo systemctl enable docker && sudo systemctl start docker
   # add the current user to the docker group
   sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
   # reauthenticate for the new group membership to take effect
   su - $USER

## Running Element Web

1. Continue with the following commands in a terminal window
   # create working directories
   mkdir ~/docker/element -p
   # download example config
   wget -O ~/docker/element/config.json https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vector-im/element-web/develop/config.sample.json
   # edit config.json if needed
   nano ~/docker/element/config.json
   # run the element web container
   docker run --name elementweb -d -v ~/docker/element/config.json:/app/config.json -p 8080:80 --restart unless-stopped vectorim/element-web
2. Open a web browser and navigate to http://DNSorIP:8080

Documentation: https://hub.docker.com/r/vectorim/element-web