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Docker reference

Docker Commands Cheat Sheet

Practical Docker commands for images, containers, networks, volumes, Compose, Buildx, registries, monitoring, and Swarm.

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118 command references13 topic sections

13 of 13 sections

Getting Started

CommandDescription
docker --versionDisplay the installed Docker version
docker infoDisplay system-wide information about Docker
docker helpDisplay help for Docker commands

Images

CommandDescription
docker pull <image>Pull an image from Docker Hub
docker imagesList all available images
docker rmi <image>Remove an image
docker build -t <image-name>:<tag> <path>Build an image from a Dockerfile
docker tag <source-image> <target-image>Tag an image with a new name
docker search <term>Search for images on Docker Hub
docker history <image>Show image layer history
docker save -o file.tar <image>Save image to tar archive
docker load -i file.tarLoad image from tar archive
docker image inspect <image>Detailed image info
docker image prune -aRemove unused images

Containers

CommandDescription
docker run <image>Run a command in a new container
docker run -d <image>Run a container in detached mode
docker run -d --name <name> -p <Serverport>:<containerport> <image>Run a container in detached mode give it specific name and map the port of the container
docker run -tid --name <name> --memory 60mb -p 5050:80Run a container and specify memory for it
docker run -tid <image> shOpen shell of the container in current terminal
docker ps or docker container lsList running containers
docker ps -a or docker container ls -aList all containers, including stopped ones
docker stop <container>Stop a running container
docker stop -60 <container>Stop a running container in 60 sec
docker container kill <container>Kill a running container
docker start <container>Start a stopped container
docker restart <container>Restart a container
docker rm <container>Remove a stopped container
docker rm <container> --forceRemove a stopped container forcably
docker exec -it <container> <command>Execute a command inside a running container
docker logs <container>Fetch the logs of a container
docker attach <container>Attach terminal to running container
docker pause <container>Pause all processes
docker unpause <container>Resume paused container
docker rename <old> <new>Rename container
docker update --memory 200m <container>Update container resources
docker wait <container>Wait until container stops

Networking

CommandDescription
docker network lsList all existing Docker networks. Displays details such as network name, ID, driver type, and scope.
docker network create <network-name>Create a new user-defined network with the specified name. By default, it uses the bridge driver.
docker network create --driver <driver-name> <network-name>Create a network using a specific driver (e.g., bridge, overlay, host, or none).
docker network rm <network-name>Remove a Docker network. The network must not be in use by any containers.
docker network inspect <network-name>Display detailed information about a network, including connected containers, IP ranges, and driver type.
docker run --network <network-name> <image>Start a container and connect it to a specific network at runtime.
docker network connect <network-name> <container-id>Connect an existing container to a specified network.
docker network disconnect <network-name> <container-id>Disconnect a container from a specific network.
docker network pruneRemove all unused Docker networks. Be cautious as it deletes networks not being used by containers.
docker-compose upAutomatically creates and manages a network for the services defined in the docker-compose.yml file.
docker network create --subnet=<CIDR> <network-name>Create a network with a custom subnet (CIDR notation).
docker network create --gateway=<IP> <network-name>Create a network with a custom gateway IP address.
docker network create -o com.docker.network.bridge.name=<bridge-name> <network-name>Create a bridge network with a specific bridge name.

Inspection & Formatting

CommandDescription
docker inspect <object>Low-level details (JSON)
docker inspect -f '{{.State.Status}}' <container>Format output
docker ps --format "table {{.Names}}\t{{.Status}}"Custom table output

Volumes

CommandDescription
docker volume lsList all volumes
docker volume create <volume-name>Create a new volume
docker volume rm <volume-name>Remove a volume
docker run -v <volume-name>:<container-path> <image>Mount a volume into a container
docker volume create --driver local --opt type=nfs --opt o=addr=<NFS_SERVER_IP>,rw --opt device=:/export/shared my-nfs-volumeCreate centrlized nfs sharing volume

Resource Monitoring

CommandDescription
docker statsLive resource usage of containers
docker top <container>Running processes in container
docker eventsReal-time Docker events

Security

CommandDescription
docker scan <image>Scan image for vulnerabilities
docker trust inspect <image>Verify image signatures

Registry & Login

CommandDescription
docker loginLogin to registry
docker logoutLogout
docker push <image>Push image to registry
docker pull <image>Pull image

Context & Remote Hosts

CommandDescription
docker context lsList contexts
docker context create <name>Create new context
docker context use <name>Switch context

Buildx & Multi-Platform

CommandDescription
docker buildx lsList builders
docker buildx createCreate builder
docker buildx build --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 .Multi-arch build
docker buildx bakeBuild from config

Docker Compose

CommandDescription
docker-compose upStart all services defined in a docker-compose.yml file. Creates and starts containers as needed.
docker-compose up -dStart services in detached mode (running in the background).
docker-compose downStop and remove containers, networks, volumes, and images created by docker-compose up.
docker-compose down -vStop and remove services along with their associated volumes.
docker-compose psList the status of containers for the services defined in the docker-compose.yml file.
docker-compose logsView logs for all running services. By default, it displays real-time logs.
docker-compose logs -fFollow logs in real-time for services defined in the docker-compose.yml file.
docker-compose buildBuild or rebuild images for services defined in the docker-compose.yml file.
docker-compose build --no-cacheBuild services without using the cache. Forces a fresh build.
docker-compose pullPull the latest images for all services defined in the docker-compose.yml file.
docker-compose startStart containers for services that were stopped but not removed.
docker-compose stopStop running containers without removing them. They can be restarted later using docker-compose start.
docker-compose restartRestart running containers for services defined in the docker-compose.yml file.
docker-compose exec <service-name> <command>Execute a command inside a running service container.
docker-compose run <service-name> <command>Run a one-off command in a new container for a service.
docker-compose configValidate and view the configuration of the docker-compose.yml file.
docker-compose config --servicesList all services defined in the docker-compose.yml file.
docker-compose config --volumesList all volumes defined in the docker-compose.yml file.
docker-compose killForcefully stop running containers for all services.
docker-compose rmRemove stopped service containers. Prompts for confirmation by default.
docker-compose rm -fRemove stopped service containers without confirmation.
docker-compose versionDisplay the installed version of Docker Compose.

Docker Swarm

CommandDescription
docker swarm initInitialize a new Swarm and make the current node the Swarm manager.
docker swarm join --token <token> <manager-ip>:<port>Join a Swarm as a worker node using the provided token and manager IP.
docker swarm join-token managerDisplay the join token command to add another manager node.
docker swarm join-token workerDisplay the join token command to add a worker node.
docker swarm leaveLeave the Swarm. Use --force if the node is a manager.
docker service create --name <service-name> <image>Create a new service in the Swarm using the specified image.
docker service update <service-name> --image <new-image>Update an existing service to use a new image.
docker service lsList all services running in the Swarm.
docker service ps <service-name>List all tasks (containers) of a specific service.
docker service logs <service-name>View logs for a specific service.
docker service rm <service-name>Remove a service from the Swarm.
docker service scale <service-name>=<replica-count>Scale a service to the specified number of replicas.
docker node lsList all nodes in the Swarm, showing their roles, availability, and status.
docker node ps <node-id>List tasks running on a specific node.
docker node rm <node-id>Remove a node from the Swarm. The node must leave the Swarm first.
docker node update --availability <active|pause|drain> <node-id>Change the availability state of a node.
docker stack deploy -c <compose-file.yml> <stack-name>Deploy a stack using a Docker Compose file.
docker stack lsList all deployed stacks in the Swarm.
docker stack ps <stack-name>List all tasks in a stack.
docker stack rm <stack-name>Remove a deployed stack.
docker inspect <object>Inspect the details of any Docker object (node, service, task, etc.).
docker eventsDisplay real-time events from the Swarm.
docker swarm update --task-history-limit <value>Update Swarm settings, such as task history limit.

Source content from github.com/Nikoo-Asadnejad/Docker-Commands-Cheat-Sheet.