Mayank_Singh

Docker Commands Cheat Sheet with Examples

Basic Docker Commands

1. Check Docker Version

o Command: docker --version

o Example: docker --version → Outputs: Docker version 20.10.7

2. Run a Container

o Command: docker run <image-name>

o Example: docker run nginx → Runs an NGINX container.

3. List Running Containers

o Command: docker ps

o Example: docker ps → Shows all running containers.

4. List All Containers

o Command: docker ps -a

o Example: docker ps -a → Shows running and stopped containers.

5. Stop a Container

o Command: docker stop <container-id>

o Example: docker stop 12345abc → Stops the specified container.

6. Remove a Container

o Command: docker rm <container-id>

o Example: docker rm 12345abc → Removes the specified container.

 Mayank_Singh

7. Pull an Image

o Command: docker pull <image-name>

o Example: docker pull ubuntu → Downloads the Ubuntu image.

8. List Docker Images

o Command: docker images

o Example: docker images → Lists all Docker images on the host.

9. Remove an Image

o Command: docker rmi <image-id>

o Example: docker rmi abc123 → Removes the specified image.

10. Build an Image from a Dockerfile

o Command: docker build -t <image-name> .

o Example: docker build -t my-app . → Builds an image named "my-app."

11. View Logs of a Container

o Command: docker logs <container-id>

o Example: docker logs 12345abc → Shows logs of the specified container.

12. Run a Command in a Running Container

o Command: docker exec <container-id> <command>

o Example: docker exec 12345abc ls /app → Lists files in /app.

13. Start a Stopped Container

o Command: docker start <container-id>

o Example: docker start 12345abc → Restarts a stopped container.

14. Restart a Container

o Command: docker restart <container-id>

o Example: docker restart 12345abc → Restarts the specified container.

15. Inspect a Container

o Command: docker inspect <container-id>

o Example: docker inspect 12345abc → Displays detailed information about the

container.

16. Inspect an Image

o Command: docker inspect <image-name>

o Example: docker inspect ubuntu → Shows details about the Ubuntu image.
 Mayank_Singh

17. Export a Container to a Tar File

o Command: docker export <container-id> > <file-name>.tar

o Example: docker export 12345abc > container.tar → Exports container filesystem.

18. Import a Tar File as an Image

o Command: docker import <file-name>.tar

o Example: docker import container.tar → Creates an image from the tar file.

19. Run a Container in Detached Mode

o Command: docker run -d <image-name>

o Example: docker run -d nginx → Runs NGINX in the background.

20. Run a Container with Port Mapping

o Command: docker run -p <host-port>:<container-port> <image-name>

o Example: docker run -p 8080:80 nginx → Maps host port 8080 to container port 80.

21. Check Docker System Information

o Command: docker info

o Example: docker info → Displays Docker environment details.

22. Save an Image as a Tar File

o Command: docker save -o <file-name>.tar <image-name>

o Example: docker save -o my-app.tar my-app → Saves "my-app" image as a tar file.

23. Load an Image from a Tar File

o Command: docker load < <file-name>.tar

o Example: docker load < my-app.tar → Loads "my-app" image from the tar file.

24. Tag an Image

o Command: docker tag <image-id> <repository>:<tag>

o Example: docker tag abc123 my-app:latest → Tags image as "my-app:latest."

25. Push an Image to Docker Hub

o Command: docker push <repository>:<tag>

o Example: docker push my-app:latest → Pushes "my-app:latest" to Docker Hub.

26. Create a Volume

o Command: docker volume create <volume-name>

o Example: docker volume create my-volume → Creates a volume named "my-

volume."
 Mayank_Singh

27. List Volumes

o Command: docker volume ls

o Example: docker volume ls → Lists all volumes.

28. Remove a Volume

o Command: docker volume rm <volume-name>

o Example: docker volume rm my-volume → Removes "my-volume."

29. Create a Network

o Command: docker network create <network-name>

o Example: docker network create my-network → Creates a network named "my-

network."

30. List Networks

o Command: docker network ls

o Example: docker network ls → Lists all Docker networks.

31. Connect a Container to a Network

o Command: docker network connect <network-name> <container-id>

o Example: docker network connect my-network 12345abc → Connects container to

"my-network."

32. Disconnect a Container from a Network

o Command: docker network disconnect <network-name> <container-id>

o Example: docker network disconnect my-network 12345abc → Disconnects

container from "my-network."

33. Remove a Network

o Command: docker network rm <network-name>

o Example: docker network rm my-network → Removes "my-network."

34. Create a Detached Container with a Name

o Command: docker run -d --name <container-name> <image-name>

o Example: docker run -d --name my-nginx nginx → Runs NGINX container named "my-
nginx."

35. Rename a Container

o Command: docker rename <old-name> <new-name>

o Example: docker rename old-container new-container → Renames a container.

36. Prune Unused Docker Objects

 Mayank_Singh

o Command: docker system prune

o Example: docker system prune → Cleans up unused containers, images, and

volumes.

37. Inspect a Volume

o Command: docker volume inspect <volume-name>

o Example: docker volume inspect my-volume → Displays details about "my-volume."

38. Inspect a Network

o Command: docker network inspect <network-name>

o Example: docker network inspect my-network → Shows details of "my-network."

39. Limit CPU Usage for a Container

o Command: docker run --cpus="<value>" <image-name>

o Example: docker run --cpus="1.5" nginx → Limits the container to 1.5 CPUs.

40. Limit Memory Usage for a Container

o Command: docker run -m <value> <image-name>

o Example: docker run -m 512m nginx → Limits memory to 512 MB.

41. Run an Interactive Container

o Command: docker run -it <image-name>

o Example: docker run -it ubuntu bash → Starts an interactive Ubuntu shell.

42. Kill a Running Container

o Command: docker kill <container-id>

o Example: docker kill 12345abc → Forcefully stops the container.

43. Create a Dockerfile

o Command: touch Dockerfile

o Example: touch Dockerfile → Creates a new Dockerfile in the current directory.

44. Login to Docker Hub

o Command: docker login

o Example: docker login → Prompts for Docker Hub credentials.

45. Logout from Docker Hub

o Command: docker logout

o Example: docker logout → Logs out from Docker Hub.

46. Run a Container with Environment Variables

 Mayank_Singh

o Command: docker run -e <env-var>=<value> <image-name>

o Example: docker run -e ENV=production nginx → Sets "ENV" variable to

"production."

47. View Container Stats

o Command: docker stats

o Example: docker stats → Displays resource usage statistics of running containers.

48. Change Restart Policy of a Container

o Command: docker update --restart=<policy> <container-id>

o Example: docker update --restart=always 12345abc → Updates the restart policy.

49. Pause a Running Container

o Command: docker pause <container-id>

o Example: docker pause 12345abc → Pauses the container.

50. Unpause a Paused Container

o Command: docker unpause <container-id>

o Example: docker unpause 12345abc → Resumes the paused container.

51. List All Swarm Nodes

o Command: docker node ls
o Example: docker node ls → Lists all nodes in a Docker Swarm cluster.
52. Create a Service in Swarm Mode
o Command: docker service create --name <service-name> <image-
name>
o Example: docker service create --name web nginx → Creates a service
named "web" running NGINX.
53. List Services in Swarm Mode
o Command: docker service ls
o Example: docker service ls → Lists all services in a Swarm cluster.
54. Inspect a Docker Service
o Command: docker service inspect <service-name>
o Example: docker service inspect web → Displays details of the "web"
service.
55. Scale a Service
o Command: docker service scale <service-name>=<replicas>
o Example: docker service scale web=5 → Scales the "web" service to 5
replicas.
56. Update a Service
o Command: docker service update --image <new-image> <service-
name>
o Example: docker service update --image nginx:latest web →
Updates the "web" service with a new image.
57. Remove a Service
o Command: docker service rm <service-name>
 Mayank_Singh

o Example: docker service rm web → Removes the "web" service.

58. Initialize Docker Swarm
o Command: docker swarm init
o Example: docker swarm init → Initializes a Swarm cluster.
59. Join a Node to a Swarm
o Command: docker swarm join --token <token> <manager-IP>
o Example: docker swarm join --token abc123 192.168.1.10:2377 →
Joins a node to a Swarm cluster.
60. Leave a Swarm Cluster
o Command: docker swarm leave
o Example: docker swarm leave → Removes a node from the Swarm cluster.
61. Promote a Node to Manager
o Command: docker node promote <node-id>
o Example: docker node promote worker1 → Promotes "worker1" to a
manager.
62. Demote a Manager Node
o Command: docker node demote <node-id>
o Example: docker node demote manager1 → Demotes "manager1" to a
worker.
63. List Tasks in Swarm Mode
o Command: docker service ps <service-name>
o Example: docker service ps web → Lists tasks associated with the "web"
service.
64. Display Events from Docker Daemon
o Command: docker events
o Example: docker events → Displays real-time events from Docker daemon.
65. Display Disk Usage by Docker
o Command: docker system df
o Example: docker system df → Shows disk usage by images, containers, and
volumes.
66. Enable BuildKit
o Command: DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1 docker build -t <image-name> .
o Example: DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1 docker build -t my-app . → Builds
image using BuildKit.
67. Create a Context
o Command: docker context create <context-name>
o Example: docker context create my-context → Creates a new Docker
context.
68. List Docker Contexts
o Command: docker context ls
o Example: docker context ls → Lists all Docker contexts.
69. Use a Docker Context
o Command: docker context use <context-name>
o Example: docker context use my-context → Switches to "my-context."
70. Remove a Docker Context
o Command: docker context rm <context-name>
o Example: docker context rm my-context → Removes "my-context."