<blockquote>
  <p>What is the difference between the two commands?</p>
</blockquote>

<p><code>./bitcoind</code> - runs bitcoin node in the <strong>foreground</strong>.</p>

<p><code>./bitcoind -daemon</code> - runs bitcoin node as daemon.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>What is <code>daemon</code>?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In multitasking computer operating systems, a <code>daemon</code> is a computer program that runs as a <strong>background</strong> process, rather than being under the direct control of an interactive user. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-04T07:20:09.607Z
so the bitcoin -daemon command also download the blockchain data in the background, right?
Akshay Dev
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-04T07:20:39.683Z
`bitcoin -daemon` runs bitcoin node in the background.
Roman Kiselenko
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-04T17:36:45.620Z
@Akshay Operationally, the two are identical. The only difference is whether it runs in the background or not.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-04T07:07:37.287Z
2018-09-05T12:45:15.763Z
2018-09-05T12:45:15.763Z
Roman Kiselenko
<p>I was trying to interact with bitcoin network with JSON RPC commands, So I referred to the bitcoin wiki page <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/API_reference_(JSON-RPC)#Java" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/API_reference_(JSON-RPC)#Java</a> it shows to run the bitcoin using 'bitcoind -daemon' command. but another page of bitcoin wiki <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Running_Bitcoin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Running_Bitcoin</a> suggest running the node using './bitcoind' command.so
 What is the difference between the two commands?</p>

<bitcoin-core><bitcoind><json-rpc>
what is the Difference between ./bitcoind and $ ./bitcoind -daemon?
Akshay Dev
# what is the Difference between ./bitcoind and $ ./bitcoind -daemon?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-09-04)

I was trying to interact with bitcoin network with JSON RPC commands, So I referred to the bitcoin wiki page <https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/API_reference_(JSON-RPC)#Java> it shows to run the bitcoin using 'bitcoind -daemon' command. but another page of bitcoin wiki <https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Running_Bitcoin> suggest running the node using './bitcoind' command.so
What is the difference between the two commands?

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, bitcoind, json-rpc


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-09-04. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

> What is the difference between the two commands?

`./bitcoind` - runs bitcoin node in the **foreground**.

`./bitcoind -daemon` - runs bitcoin node as daemon.

> What is `daemon`?

In multitasking computer operating systems, a `daemon` is a computer program that runs as a **background** process, rather than being under the direct control of an interactive user.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: so the bitcoin -daemon command also download the blockchain data in the background, right?  
> **username_1**: `bitcoin -daemon` runs bitcoin node in the background.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 Operationally, the two are identical. The only difference is whether it runs in the background or not.  

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