Docker Cheat-sheet for beginners 🐳

🔧 Common Docker Commands

• Start Docker:

  systemctl start docker  # Linux
  open -a Docker  # macOS

• Check Docker Version:

  docker --version

📦 Working with Containers

• List Running Containers:

  docker ps

• List All Containers (Running + Stopped):

  docker ps -a

• Run a Container (starts and attaches):

  docker run <image_name>

• Run in Detached Mode:

  docker run -d <image_name>

• Run with Port Mapping:

  docker run -p <host_port>:<container_port> <image_name>

• Stop a Running Container:

  docker stop <container_id>

• Start a Stopped Container:

  docker start <container_id>

• Remove a Stopped Container:

  docker rm <container_id>

📜 Images

• List Docker Images:

  docker images

• Pull an Image from Docker Hub:

  docker pull <image_name>

• Build an Image from Dockerfile:

  docker build -t <image_name> .

• Tag an Image:

  docker tag <image_id> <new_image_name>:<tag>

• Remove an Image:

  docker rmi <image_id>

🔄 Container Management

• View Logs of a Container:

  docker logs <container_id>

• Access a Running Container (Interactive Shell):

  docker exec -it <container_id> /bin/bash

• Copy Files from Container to Host:

  docker cp <container_id>:<path_inside_container> <host_path>

🏗 Docker Networks

• List Networks:

  docker network ls

• Create a Network:

  docker network create <network_name>

• Connect a Running Container to a Network:

  docker network connect <network_name> <container_id>

🐳 Docker Compose

• Start Services in Detached Mode:

  docker-compose up -d

• Stop Services:

  docker-compose down

• Build and Start Containers:

  docker-compose up --build

📊 Inspecting and Monitoring

• Inspect Container Details:

  docker inspect <container_id>

• Display Resource Usage (CPU, Memory):

  docker stats

🛠 Volumes

• List Volumes:

  docker volume ls

• Create a Volume:

  docker volume create <volume_name>

• Mount a Volume (during docker run):

  docker run -v <volume_name>:<path_inside_container> <image_name>

---

💡 Pro Tip: Use docker system prune to remove unused containers, networks, and images.

Feel free to save or bookmark this cheat sheet for quick reference!

Docker #CheatSheet #Containers #DevOps

Comments

[Andrei Telteu]

You can also make a helper script:
New file at the root folder called dc without extension.
Content example. Modify for your needs.

#!/bin/bash
trap "exit" 0
DC="docker compose" # add  `-f docker/compose.yml` if it's in another folder
if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
    $DC ps -a
elif [ $1 == "up" ]; then
    $DC up -d
elif [ $1 == "nr" ]; then
    if [ $# -gt 1 ]; then
        $DC exec node su node -c "${*:2}"
    else
        $DC exec node su node
    fi
elif [ $1 == "npm" ]; then
    $DC exec node su node -c "npm ${*:2}"
elif [ $1 == "install" ]; then
    $DC exec node su node -c 'npm install'
elif [ $1 == "recreate" ]; then
    $DC up -d --force-recreate ${*:2}
elif [ $1 == "build" ]; then
    $DC up -d --force-recreate --build ${*:2}
else
    $DC $*
fi

Give execute permission with chmod +x ./dc
And now you can run:

• ./dc to show all containers with status
• ./dc up to start in detached mode
• ./dc install to run npm install in the node container as user node
• ./dc npm install package-name-here to run any npm command inside node container. Works with ./dc npm run start too
• ./dc nr interactive exec inside node container
• ./dc nr node index.js run any command inside node container
• ./dc recreate applies any modifications to docker-compose.yml
• ./dc recreate node applies modifications to compose, only for node container
• ./dc build if you have a custom dockerfile, does run dc up with a fresh build.
• ./dc logs -n 10 -f node - any other docker-compose command works as expected.

[Abdullah]

Adding one more

docker system prune

This will remove:
- all stopped containers
- all networks not used by at least one container
- all dangling images
- unused build cache

[Andreas]

This is awesome! Instantly added to github.com/devmount/CheatSheets

Thank you!

[Raavan]

@devmount Your Github profile is super cool, bro. Much to learn

[Andreas]

Thank you so much 🤗

[Mahmoud Zakaria]

Thanks!!

[Prathmesh Jagtap]

The most used commands in docker.
Thank for Writing.

[Vivek Vishal]

Thank you @keshav___dev

[João Angelo]

Hi keshav Sandhu,
Top, very nice and helpful !
Thanks for sharing.

[Tyrus Malmström]

Excellent article, thank you! 💯

Something that made me smile, you can tell that the banner image was created using AI :D

[keshav Sandhu]

If service is there, why not use it 😉

[Rash Edmund Jr]

Thanks man

[Erick Otieno Awino]

This is incredible.