A Comprehensive Guide to Docker Commands: Simplified for Everyone

Jul 23, 2024 · 5 min read · Docker ·

Docker is an essential tool for modern developers, allowing them to create, deploy, and run applications in containers. Containers are lightweight, portable, and ensure consistency across multiple environments. In this guide, we’ll break down Docker commands into easy-to-understand categories, helping you navigate Docker effortlessly.

Docker Basics

Before diving into Docker commands, let’s start with the basics:

Checking Docker Version
```
1docker --version
```
This command shows the installed Docker version.
Displaying System Information
```
1docker info
```
Get detailed information about your Docker setup.

Working with Docker Images

Docker images are templates for creating containers. Here’s how to manage them:

Listing Images
```
1docker images
```
View all available images on your system.
Pulling an Image
```
1docker pull [image]
```
Download an image from Docker Hub or another registry.
Building an Image
```
1docker build -t [name:tag] [path]
```
Create an image from a Dockerfile.
Removing an Image
```
1docker rmi [image]
```
Delete one or more images.
Tagging an Image
```
1docker tag [image] [new_image:tag]
```
Add a new tag to an image for easier reference.

Managing Docker Containers

Containers are running instances of Docker images. Here’s how to handle them:

Listing Running Containers
```
1docker ps
```
See all active containers.
Listing All Containers
```
1docker ps -a
```
View all containers, including stopped ones.
Running a Container
```
1docker run [options] [image]
```
Start a new container from an image.
Starting a Stopped Container
```
1docker start [container]
```
Restart a previously stopped container.
Stopping a Running Container
```
1docker stop [container]
```
Gracefully stop a running container.
Restarting a Container
```
1docker restart [container]
```
Restart a container.
Removing a Container
```
1docker rm [container]
```
Delete one or more containers.
Fetching Container Logs
```
1docker logs [container]
```
View the logs of a container.
Executing Commands in a Container
```
1docker exec [options] [container] [command]
```
Run commands inside a running container.
Attaching to a Running Container
```
1docker attach [container]
```
Connect to a running container.
Inspecting Containers
```
1docker inspect [container/image]
```
Get detailed information about containers or images.
Pausing Container Processes
```
1docker pause [container]
```
Pause all processes within one or more containers.
Unpausing Container Processes
```
1docker unpause [container]
```
Resume all processes within one or more containers.
Killing a Running Container
```
1docker kill [container]
```
Forcefully stop a container.

Managing Docker Volumes

Volumes persist data generated by and used by Docker containers:

Creating a Volume
```
1docker volume create [volume_name]
```
Create a new volume.
Listing Volumes
```
1docker volume ls
```
View all volumes.
Removing a Volume
```
1docker volume rm [volume]
```
Delete one or more volumes.
Inspecting Volumes
```
1docker volume inspect [volume]
```
Get detailed information about a volume.

Managing Docker Networks

Networks connect Docker containers:

Creating a Network
```
1docker network create [network_name]
```
Set up a new network.
Listing Networks
```
1docker network ls
```
View all networks.
Removing a Network
```
1docker network rm [network]
```
Delete one or more networks.
Inspecting Networks
```
1docker network inspect [network]
```
Get detailed information about a network.
Connecting a Container to a Network
```
1docker network connect [network] [container]
```
Attach a container to a network.
Disconnecting a Container from a Network
```
1docker network disconnect [network] [container]
```
Detach a container from a network.

Docker Compose Commands

Docker Compose simplifies multi-container Docker applications:

Starting Services
```
1docker-compose up
```
Build, create, start, and attach to containers for a service.
Stopping Services
```
1docker-compose down
```
Stop and remove containers, networks, images, and volumes.
Listing Services
```
1docker-compose ps
```
View all containers in a service.
Building Services
```
1docker-compose build
```
Build or rebuild services.
Viewing Logs
```
1docker-compose logs
```
See logs from containers.
Restarting Services
```
1docker-compose restart
```
Restart services.
Stopping Services
```
1docker-compose stop
```
Stop running services.
Removing Services
```
1docker-compose rm
```
Remove stopped service containers.

Docker Swarm Commands

Docker Swarm manages clusters of Docker nodes:

Initializing a Swarm
```
1docker swarm init
```
Set up a new swarm.
Displaying Join Command for Workers
```
1docker swarm join-token worker
```
Show the command to add worker nodes.
Displaying Join Command for Managers
```
1docker swarm join-token manager
```
Show the command to add manager nodes.
Listing Swarm Nodes
```
1docker node ls
```
View all nodes in the swarm.

Creating a Service

1docker service create [options] [image]

Create a new service.

Listing Services
```
1docker service ls
```
View all services.
Listing Service Tasks
```
1docker service ps [service]
```
View tasks of a service.
Scaling a Service
```
1docker service scale [service]=[replicas]
```
Adjust the number of replicas for a service.

Docker Configuration Management

Manage Docker configurations:

Creating a Configuration
```
1docker config create [config_name] [file]
```
Create a new configuration.
Listing Configurations
```
1docker config ls
```
View all configurations.
Removing a Configuration
```
1docker config rm [config]
```
Delete one or more configurations.
Inspecting Configurations
```
1docker config inspect [config]
```
Get detailed information about a configuration.

Docker Secrets

Securely manage sensitive data with Docker secrets:

Creating a Secret

1docker secret create [secret_name] [file]

Create a new secret.

Listing Secrets
```
1docker secret ls
```
View all secrets.
Removing a Secret
```
1docker secret rm [secret]
```
Delete one or more secrets.
Inspecting Secrets
```
1docker secret inspect [secret]
```
Get detailed information about a secret.

Docker Container Management

Handle advanced container management tasks:

Copying Files from Container to Host
```
1docker cp [container]:[path] [host_path]
```
Copy files from a container to your local machine.
Copying Files from Host to Container
```
1docker cp [host_path] [container]:[path]
```
Transfer files from your machine to a container.
Renaming a Container
```
1docker rename [container] [new_name]
```
Change the name of a container.
Updating Container Configuration
```
1docker update [options] [container]
```
Modify container settings.
Displaying Container Stats
```
1docker stats [container]
```
See live resource usage statistics for a container.
Displaying Running Processes in a Container
```
1docker top [container]
```
List processes running inside a container.

Docker Pruning

Clean up unused Docker resources:

Pruning the System
```
1docker system prune
```
Remove unused data, including images, containers, volumes, and networks.
Pruning Images
```
1docker image prune
```
Remove unused images.
Pruning Containers
```
1docker container prune
```
Remove stopped containers.
Pruning Volumes
```
1docker volume prune
```
Delete unused volumes.
Pruning Networks
```
1docker network prune
```
Remove unused networks.

Conclusion

Docker simplifies the development and deployment of applications by packaging them in containers. This guide provides a comprehensive list of Docker commands, organized for easy understanding. Whether you're managing images, containers, volumes, or networks, these commands will help you make the most of Docker's powerful capabilities.