Here follows a list of useful Docker commands with useful flags for each command.
Table of Contents
docker build
docker exec
docker images
docker inspect
docker logs
docker ps
docker rmi
docker run
- docker tips and tricks
- Learn More
docker build
Build an image from a Dockerfile.
docker build [DOCKERFILE PATH]
Example
Build an image tagged my-org/my-image
where the Dockerfile can be found at
/tmp/Dockerfile
.
docker build -t my-org:my-image -f /tmp/Dockerfile
Useful flags
--file -f
Path where to find the Dockerfile--force-rm
Always remove intermediate containers--no-cache
Do not use cache when building the image--rm
Remove intermediate containers after a successful build (this istrue
) by default--tag -t
Name and optionally a tag in the ‘name:tag’ format
docker exec
Execute a command inside a running container.
docker exec [CONTAINER ID]
Example
docker exec [CONTAINER ID] touch /tmp/exec_works
Useful flags
--detach -d
Detached mode: run command in the background-it
This will not make the container you started shut down immediately, as it will create a pseudo-TTY session (-t
) and keep STDIN open (-i
)
docker images
List all downloaded/created images.
docker images
Useful flags
-q
Only show numeric IDs
docker inspect
Shows all the info of a container.
docker inspect [CONTAINER ID]
docker logs
Gets logs from container.
docker logs [CONTAINER ID]
Useful flags
--details
Log extra details--follow -f
Follow log output. Do not stop when end of file is reached, but rather wait for additional data to be appended to the input.--timestamps -t
Show timestamps
docker ps
Shows information about all running containers.
docker ps
Useful flags
--all -a
Show all containers (default shows just running)--filter -f
Filter output based on conditions provided,docker ps -f="name="example"
--quiet -q
Only display numeric IDs
docker rmi
Remove one or more images.
docker rmi [IMAGE ID]
Useful flags
--force -f
Force removal of the image
docker run
Creates and starts a container in one operation. Could be used to execute a single command as well as start a long-running container.
Example:
docker run -it ubuntu:latest /bin/bash
This will start a ubuntu container with the entrypoint /bin/bash
. Note that
if you do not have the ubuntu
image downloaded it will download it before
running it.
Useful flags
-it
This will not make the container you started to shut down immediately, as it will create a pseudo-TTY session (-t
) and keep STDIN open (-i
)--rm
Automatically remove the container when it exit. Otherwise, it will be stored and visible runningdocker ps -a
.--detach -d
Run container in background and print container ID--volume -v
Bind mount a volume. Useful for accessing folders on your local disk inside your docker container, like configuration files or storage that should be persisted (database, logs etc.).
Docker Tips and Tricks
A collection of useful tips and tricks for Docker.
Delete all containers
NOTE: This will remove ALL your containers.
docker container prune
OR, if you’re using an older docker client:
docker rm $(docker ps -a -q)
Delete all untagged containers
docker image prune
OR, if you’re using an older docker client:
docker rmi $(docker images | grep '^<none>' | awk '{print $3}')
See all space Docker take up
docker system df
Get IP address of running container
docker inspect [CONTAINER ID] | grep -wm1 IPAddress | cut -d '"' -f 4
Kill all running containers
docker kill $(docker ps -q)
Learn More
A list of more useful Docker commands can be found in the docker-cheat-sheet