Docker Commands Cheat Sheet

Introduction

Docker is a set of platform-as-a-service products for developing and deploying containerized applications.

Containers are lightweight, portable virtual environments that developers can share without risking inconsistencies in development. Many organizations have switched from virtual machines to Docker containers to eliminate the resource overhead and streamline the SDLC of their product.

Like any other software, Docker introduces users to new terminology. Users need to get acquainted with concepts such as Dockerfiles, images, containers, and other Docker-specific terms. Once you have mastered the main ideas, the next step is to become familiar with Docker commands. A list of all the commands and options is extensive and it would take time to learn them all by heart.

Whether you are new to Docker or have experience with containerization, it is always good to have a reference point for all the common Docker commands. This tutorial provides a list of the most common Docker commands and a downloadable cheat sheet. 

List of Docker Commands

Docker Container Management Commands

This section features the essential commands related to the lifecycle of Docker containers. Learn how to create, manage, and remove containers from your Docker system using the below commands.

See the containers currently running on the system:

docker ps

See all the containers, both running and non-running:

docker ps -a

Create a container (without starting it):

docker create [image]

Create an interactive container with pseudo-TTY:

docker create -it [image]

Rename an existing container:

docker rename [container] [new-name]

Delete a container (if it is not running):

docker rm [container]

Forcefully remove a container, even if it is running:

docker rm -f [container]

View logs for a running container:

docker logs [container]

Retrieve logs created before a specific point in time:

docker logs -f --until=[interval] [container]

View real-time events for a container:

docker events [container]

Update the configuration of one or more containers:

docker update [container]

View port mapping for a container:

docker port [container]

Show running processes in a container:

docker top [container]

View live resource usage statistics for a container:

docker stats [container]

Show changes to files or directories on the filesystem:

docker diff [container]

Copy a local file to a directory in a container:

docker cp [file-path] CONTAINER:[path]

Visit our detailed guide on how to update Docker container and image to the latest version for more information.

Running a Container

The following commands show you how to start and stop processes in a container and how to manage container execution.

Run a command in a container based on an image:

docker run [image] [command]

Create, start, and provide a custom name for the container:

docker run --name [container-name] [image]

Establish a connection with a container by mapping a host port to a container port:

docker run -p [host-port]:[container-port] [image]

Run a container and remove it after it stops:

docker run --rm [image]

Run a detached (background) container:

docker run -d [image]

Start an interactive process, such as a shell, in a container:

docker run -it [image]

Start a container:

docker start [container]

Stop a running container:

docker stop [container]

Stop a running container and start it up again:

docker restart [container]

Pause processes in a running container:

docker pause [container]

Resume processes in a running container:

docker unpause [container]

Block a container until others stop (after which it prints their exit codes):

docker wait [container]

Kill a container by sending a SIGKILL to a running container:

docker kill [container]

Attach local standard input, output, and error streams to a running container:

docker attach [container]

Run a shell inside a running container:

docker exec -it [container] [shell]

Docker Image Commands

Below you will find all the necessary commands for working with Docker images.

Create an image from a Dockerfile:

docker build [dockerfile-path]

Build an image from a Dockerfile located in the current directory:

docker build .

Create an image from a Dockerfile and tag it.

docker build -t [name]:[tag] [dockerfile-path]

Specify a file to build from:

docker build -f [file-path]

Pull an image from a registry:

docker pull [image]

Push an image to a registry:

docker push [image]

Create an image from a tarball:

docker import [url/file]

Create an image from a container:

docker commit [container] [new-image]

Tag an image:

docker tag [image] [image]:[tag]

Show all locally stored top-level images:

docker images

Show history for an image:

docker history [image]

Remove an image:

docker rmi [image]

Load an image from a tar archive or stdin:

docker load --image [tar-file]

Save an image to a tar archive file:

docker save [image] > [tar-file]

Remove unused images:

docker image prune

Networking

One of the most valuable features of Docker software is the ability to connect containers to each other and to other non-Docker workloads. This section covers network-related commands.

List available networks:

docker network ls

Remove one or more networks:

docker network rm [network]

Show information on one or more networks:

docker network inspect [network]

Connect a container to a network:

docker network connect [network] [container]

Disconnect a container from a network:

docker network disconnect [network] [container]

Docker General Management Commands

Once you set up your containers, you will need to know how to get all the important information for managing them. The following commands will allow you to obtain general information about the system and connect to remote Docker resources.

Log in to a Docker registry:

docker login

Log out of a Docker registry:

docker logout

List low-level information on Docker objects:

docker inspect [object]

Show the version of the local Docker installation:

docker version

Display information about the system:

docker info

Remove unused images, containers, and networks:

docker system prune

Plugin Management Commands

Docker plugins extend Docker’s functionality and help users connect with other popular services. The commands below let you add, manage, and remove plugins on your system.

Enable a Docker plugin:

docker plugin enable [plugin]

Disable a Docker plugin:

docker plugin disable [plugin]

Create a plugin from config.json and rootfs:

docker plugin create [plugin] [path-to-data]

View details about a plugin:

docker plugin inspect [plugin]

Remove a plugin:

docker plugin rm [plugin]

Docker Cheat Sheet

You can find all the listed commands in a convenient one-page reference sheet below. To save it for future use, you can also download our Docker Command Cheat Sheet.

Conclusion

This list of commonly used Docker commands should help you become more familiar with them. The cheat sheet will be helpful when you want to create and manage containers, images, and networks.