Docker Common Commands

These are all of common used command in Docker CLI.

Command	Explanation
docker info	contains containers information
docker version	contains containers version information
docker login	login to docker registry

Docker CLI - Running containers

Command	Explanation
docker pull [image-name]	download image form docker registry
docker run [image-name]	runs containers memory into/as container
docker run -d [image-name]	detached mode (run in background)
docker start [container-name]	start stopped container
docker ps	list running containers
docker ps -a	list all running & stopped containers
docker stop [container-name]	stop containers running (but containers remain in memory in a few minutes)
docker kill [container-name]	kill containers that might be stuck in memory
docker image inspect [image-name]	get image info

Note

• image-name = name of the image as found in container registry.
• container-name = name of a running container.

Docker CLI - Limits

Command	Explanation
docker run --memory="256m" nginx	max memory
docker run --cpus=".5" nginx	max CPU

Docker CLI - Attach Shell

Command	Explanation
docker run -it nginx -- /bin/bash	attach shell
docker run -it -- microsoft/powershell:nanoserver pwsh.exe	attach PowerShell
docker container exec -it [container-name]	attach to a running container

Docker CLI - Cleaning Up

Command	Explanation
docker rm [container-name]	remove stopped containers
docker rm $(docker ps -a -q)	remove all stopped containers
docker images	list images
docker rmi [image-name]	delete the images
docker system prune -a	remove all images not in use by any containers

Docker CLI - Building

Command	Explanation
docker build -t [name:tag] .	build image using Dockerfile located in the same folder
docker build -t [name:tag] -f [filename-dst]	if Dockerfile in the different folder
docker tag [image-name] [name:tag]	assign a name to an image

Docker Compose Commands

Command	Explanation
docker compose build	build the images
docker compose start/stop	start/stop the container
docker compose up -d	build and start
docker compose ps	list what's running
docker compose rm	remove from memory
docker compose down	stop and remove
docker compose logs	get the logs
docker compose exec [container] bash	run a command in a container

Docker Compose V2

Command	Explanation
docker compose --project-name test1 up -d	run an instance as a project
docker compose -p test2 up -d	shortcut
docker compose ls	build and start
docker compose cp [containerID]:[src_path] [dst_path]	copy file from container
docker compose cp [src_path] [containerID]:[dst_path]	copy file to container