Docker Command Cheat Sheet

Docker Commands

Source: https://docs.docker.com/reference/cli/docker/

Manage Containers

docker run [OPTIONS] IMAGE [COMMAND]

Creates and runs a new container from an image.

docker run -d -p 80:80 --name my-nginx nginx

• -d: Detached mode (runs in the background).
• -p <host_port>:<container_port>: Publishes a container’s port to the host.
• -it: Creates an interactive terminal session.
• --name <name>: Assigns a name to the container.
• -v <host_path>:<container_path>: Mounts a host volume into the container.
• --rm: Automatically removes the container when it exits.

docker ps [OPTIONS]

Lists running containers.

docker ps

• -a: Shows all containers (running and stopped).
• -q: Only displays container IDs.

docker stop <container_id_or_name>

Stops one or more running containers.

docker stop my-nginx

docker start <container_id_or_name>

Starts one or more stopped containers.

docker start my-nginx

docker rm [OPTIONS] <container_id_or_name>

Removes one or more containers.

docker rm my-nginx

• -f: Forces the removal of a running container.

docker logs [OPTIONS] <container_id_or_name>

Fetches the logs of a container.

docker logs my-nginx

• -f: Follows the log output.
• --tail <number>: Shows the last N lines of the logs.

docker exec [OPTIONS] <container_id_or_name> <command>

Runs a command in a running container.

docker exec -it my-nginx /bin/bash

• -it: Creates an interactive terminal session.

docker inspect <container_id_or_name>

Displays detailed, low-level information on a container.

docker inspect my-nginx

Manage Images

docker images

Lists all locally stored images.

docker images

docker build [OPTIONS] .

Builds a Docker image from a Dockerfile.

docker build -t myapp:latest .

• -t <name:tag>: Sets the name and tag for the image.
• -f <path_to_dockerfile>: Specifies the path to the Dockerfile.
• --no-cache: Builds the image without using the cache.

docker pull <image_name:tag>

Downloads an image from a registry (e.g., Docker Hub).

docker pull ubuntu:latest

docker rmi [OPTIONS] <image_id_or_name>

Removes one or more images.

docker rmi myapp:latest

• -f: Forces the removal of an image.

System

docker system prune [OPTIONS]

Removes unused Docker objects.

docker system prune

• -a: Removes all unused images, not just dangling ones.
• --volumes: Removes unused volumes.