From: John Dormishian john@dormishian.
com
Subject: docker commands
Date: June 30, 2020 at 10:05 AM
To: John Dormishian [email protected]
Introduction
Docker is a software that offers a set of platform-as-a-service products for
developing and deploying applications by packaging software in
containers.
Containers are lightweight, portable, virtual environments that developers
can share without risking inconsistencies in development. Due to these
incredibly useful features, many organizations have switched from using
virtual machines to Docker containers.
Like any other software, Docker introduces users to a new range of
terminology related to its services. Users need to get acquainted with
concepts such as Dockerfiles, images, containers, and other Docker-
specific words. Once you have mastered the vocabulary, the next step is to
get used to using Docker commands. A list of all the commands and
options is quite extensive and would take time to learn them all by heart.
No matter if you are new to Docker or already have some experience with
containerization, it is always good to have a reference point for all the
common Docker commands.
In this tutorial, you will find the most common Docker commands along
with a downloadable cheat sheet.
List of Docker Commands
Docker Container Commands
In this section you will find the most important commands related to the
lifecycle of Docker containers.
Create a container (without starting it):
docker create [IMAGE]
Rename an existing container:
docker rename [CONTAINER_NAME]
[NEW_CONTAINER_NAME]
Run a command in a new container:
docker run [IMAGE] [COMMAND]
docker run --rm [IMAGE] – removes a container after it exits.
docker run -td [IMAGE] – starts a container and keeps it
running.
running.
docker run -it [IMAGE] – starts a container, allocates a
pseudo-TTY connected to the container’s stdin, and creates an
interactive bash shell in the container.
docker run -it-rm [IMAGE] – creates, starts, and runs a
command inside the container. Once it executes the command, the
container is removed.
Delete a container (if it is not running):
docker rm [CONTAINER]
Update the configuration of one or more containers:
docker update [CONTAINER]
Starting and Stopping Containers
The following commands show you how to start and stop processes in a
particular container.
Start a container:
docker start [CONTAINER]
Stop a running 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]
Unpause 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]
Docker Image Commands
Below you fill find all the necessary commands for working with Docker
images.
Create an image from a Dockerfile:
docker build [URL]
docker build -t – builds an image from a Dockerfile in the current
directory and tags the image
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_NAME]
Remove an image:
docker rmi [IMAGE]
Load an image from a tar archive or stdin:
docker load [TAR_FILE/STDIN_FILE]
Save an image to a tar archive, streamed to STDOUT with all parent layers,
tags, and versions:
docker save [IMAGE] > [TAR_FILE]
Docker Commands for Container and Image
Information
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
provide details on images and containers on your system.
List running containers:
docker ps
docker ps -a – lists both running containers and ones that
have stopped
List the logs from a running container:
docker logs [CONTAINER]
List low-level information on Docker objects:
docker inspect [OBJECT_NAME/ID]
List real-time events from a container:
docker events [CONTAINER]
Show port (or specific) mapping for a container:
docker port [CONTAINER]
Show running processes in a container:
docker top [CONTAINER]
docker top [CONTAINER]
Show live resource usage statistics of containers:
docker stats [CONTAINER]
Show changes to files (or directories) on a filesystem:
docker diff [CONTAINER]
List all images that are locally stored with the docker engine:
docke image ls
Show the history of an image:
docker history [IMAGE]
Networks
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 networks:
docker network ls
Remove one or more networks:
docker network rm [NETWORK]
Show information on one or more networks:
docker network inspect [NETWORK]
Connects a container to a network:
docker network connect [NETWORK] [CONTAINER]
Disconnect a container from a network:
docker network disconnect [NETWORK] [CONTAINER]
Docker Commands Cheat Sheet
You can find all the listed commands in a convenient one-page reference
sheet seen below. To save it for future use, you can also download our
Docker Command Cheat Sheet.
D O W N L O A D C H E AT S H E E T
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.
