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Docker Command Line Interface


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Darshan Vasani

🐳 Docker CLI Cheat Sheet

Your one-stop guide to mastering Docker commands 🚀

📦 SECTION 1: Image Commands

Command Description Example
docker pull <image> ⬇ Pull an image from Docker Hub docker pull ubuntu
docker images 📸 List all local images docker images
docker rmi <image> 🗑 Remove an image docker rmi ubuntu
docker tag <img> <repo>:<tag> 🏷 Tag image for push or rename docker tag myimg myrepo:v1
docker build -t <tag> . 🏗 Build image from Dockerfile docker build -t myapp .

🐳 SECTION 2: Container Lifecycle

Command Description Example
docker run <image> 🚀 Run a container docker run ubuntu
docker run -it <image> 🖥 Interactive container with terminal docker run -it ubuntu bash
docker run -d <image> 🔄 Run in background (detached mode) docker run -d nginx
docker ps 📋 List running containers docker ps
docker ps -a 📋 List all containers (including stopped) docker ps -a
docker stop <id> 🛑 Stop a running container docker stop 123abc
docker start <id> ▶ Start a stopped container docker start 123abc
docker restart <id> 🔁 Restart a container docker restart 123abc
docker rm <id> ❌ Remove a container docker rm 123abc
docker logs <id> 📜 View container logs docker logs 123abc

📂 SECTION 3: Volume and Data Management

Command Description Example
docker volume create <name> 🗃 Create a volume docker volume create myvol
docker volume ls 📋 List volumes docker volume ls
docker volume rm <name> 🧹 Delete a volume docker volume rm myvol
-v host:container 🔗 Mount volume inside container docker run -v $(pwd):/app ubuntu

🌐 SECTION 4: Networking

Command Description Example
docker network ls 🌐 List networks docker network ls
docker network create <name> 🛠 Create a custom network docker network create mynet
docker network connect <net> <container> 🔌 Connect a container to a network docker network connect mynet webapp
-p host:container 🌍 Publish port to host docker run -p 8080:80 nginx

🧪 SECTION 5: Exec & Inspect

Command Description Example
docker exec -it <id> bash 🛠 Run command inside running container docker exec -it web bash
docker inspect <id> 🔍 Detailed info on container/image docker inspect 123abc
docker stats 📈 Real-time usage (CPU, MEM) docker stats
docker top <id> 👨‍💻 Show running processes inside container docker top web

🔄 SECTION 6: Save, Load, and Export

Command Description Example
docker save -o <file>.tar <img> 💾 Save image to .tar file docker save -o ubuntu.tar ubuntu
docker load -i <file>.tar 📤 Load image from tar file docker load -i ubuntu.tar
docker export <id> > file.tar 📦 Export container filesystem docker export 123abc > ubuntu.tar
docker import <file> 🔁 Import tar as image docker import ubuntu.tar

☁ SECTION 7: DockerHub Login & Push

Command Description Example
docker login 🔐 Login to DockerHub docker login
docker logout 🔓 Logout from DockerHub docker logout
docker push <user>/<image> 📤 Push image to DockerHub docker push myuser/myapp

📄 SECTION 8: Dockerfile Related

Command Description Example
FROM 📦 Base image FROM node:18
COPY 📁 Copy files COPY . /app
RUN 🔧 Execute command in build RUN npm install
CMD 🚀 Default container command CMD ["node", "app.js"]
EXPOSE 🌐 Document exposed port EXPOSE 3000

🚮 SECTION 9: Clean Up Docker

Command Description Example
docker system prune 🧹 Remove all unused containers/images/volumes docker system prune
docker image prune 🖼 Remove dangling images docker image prune
docker container prune 🗑 Remove stopped containers docker container prune
docker volume prune 💾 Remove unused volumes docker volume prune

🧠 Quick Tips

  • Use --rm to auto-remove container on exit: 
  docker run --rm ubuntu
  • Run detached with name and port: 
  docker run -d --name web -p 80:80 nginx
  • Access logs live: 
  docker logs -f <container_id>

🐳 Docker CLI Mastery with --help

“Learn how to teach yourself every command with confidence.”

🔍 1. Understanding docker --help

Start with:

docker --help

👉 Shows all major command groups like:

Commands:
  build       Build an image from a Dockerfile
  commit      Create a new image from a container's changes
  container   Manage containers
  image       Manage images
  volume      Manage volumes
  network     Manage networks
  ...

🧠 2. Drill Down into Subcommands with --help

You can add --help to any subcommand to discover available options.

Examples:

What to Explore Command
See all image-related commands docker image --help
See all container commands docker container --help
See all run options docker run --help
See help for specific action docker container start --help

📚 3. Section-Wise Docker Command Reference

Let’s now organize all commands by category — and how to learn more using --help.

📦 A. Docker Image Commands

Command Description Help Command
docker image ls List images docker image ls --help
docker image pull Pull image from registry docker image pull --help
docker image rm Remove image docker image rm --help
docker image build Build image from Dockerfile docker image build --help
docker image tag Tag image docker image tag --help
docker image inspect Inspect image metadata docker image inspect --help
docker image prune Remove unused images docker image prune --help

🔍 Explore: docker image --help

🐳 B. Docker Container Commands

Command Description Help Command
docker container ls List containers docker container ls --help
docker container run Create & start new container docker run --help
docker container start/stop Start/Stop container docker container start --help
docker container exec Execute inside running container docker exec --help
docker container logs Show logs docker logs --help
docker container rm Remove container docker container rm --help
docker container inspect Inspect container info docker container inspect --help
docker container prune Remove all stopped containers docker container prune --help

🔍 Explore: docker container --help

📂 C. Docker Volume Commands

Command Description Help Command
docker volume create Create volume docker volume create --help
docker volume ls List volumes docker volume ls --help
docker volume inspect Inspect volume docker volume inspect --help
docker volume rm Remove volume docker volume rm --help
docker volume prune Delete unused volumes docker volume prune --help

🔍 Explore: docker volume --help

🌐 D. Docker Network Commands

Command Description Help Command
docker network create Create a custom network docker network create --help
docker network ls List all networks docker network ls --help
docker network connect Connect container to network docker network connect --help
docker network inspect Network details docker network inspect --help
docker network rm Remove network docker network rm --help

🔍 Explore: docker network --help

🔄 E. Docker System Cleanup

Command Description Help Command
docker system df Show disk usage docker system df --help
docker system prune Remove unused data docker system prune --help
docker image/container/volume prune Cleanup individual resources Add --help accordingly

🔍 Explore: docker system --help

☁ F. Docker Registry (DockerHub)

Command Description Help Command
docker login Login to DockerHub docker login --help
docker logout Logout docker logout --help
docker push Push image to registry docker push --help
docker pull Pull image from registry docker pull --help

🧪 G. Docker Exec/Inspect/Debug

Command Description Help Command
docker exec Run inside container docker exec --help
docker logs Show logs docker logs --help
docker inspect Deep object metadata docker inspect --help
docker stats Real-time resource usage docker stats --help
docker top Processes inside container docker top --help

🧱 H. Docker Build Context

Command Description Help Command
docker build Build image from Dockerfile docker build --help
docker commit Create image from container state docker commit --help
docker history Layer history of image docker history --help

💡 BONUS: Global Docker Options (docker --help)

At the very top level, Docker offers global flags too:

Option Description
--config Use custom Docker config path
--context Use a specific context
--debug Enable debug mode
--version Show Docker version
--help Show help for any command

📦 Final Tip: Combine Flags for Mastery

Example of full command:

docker run -it --rm -v $(pwd):/app -p 3000:3000 --name myapp node bash

🐳 Docker CLI Cheat Sheet

Your one-stop guide to mastering Docker commands 🚀

📦 SECTION 1: Image Commands

Command Description Example
docker pull <image> ⬇ Pull an image from Docker Hub docker pull ubuntu
docker images 📸 List all local images docker images
docker rmi <image> 🗑 Remove an image docker rmi ubuntu
docker tag <img> <repo>:<tag> 🏷 Tag image for push or rename docker tag myimg myrepo:v1
docker build -t <tag> . 🏗 Build image from Dockerfile docker build -t myapp .

🐳 SECTION 2: Container Lifecycle

Command Description Example
docker run <image> 🚀 Run a container docker run ubuntu
docker run -it <image> 🖥 Interactive container with terminal docker run -it ubuntu bash
docker run -d <image> 🔄 Run in background (detached mode) docker run -d nginx
docker ps 📋 List running containers docker ps
docker ps -a 📋 List all containers (including stopped) docker ps -a
docker stop <id> 🛑 Stop a running container docker stop 123abc
docker start <id> ▶ Start a stopped container docker start 123abc
docker restart <id> 🔁 Restart a container docker restart 123abc
docker rm <id> ❌ Remove a container docker rm 123abc
docker logs <id> 📜 View container logs docker logs 123abc

📂 SECTION 3: Volume and Data Management

Command Description Example
docker volume create <name> 🗃 Create a volume docker volume create myvol
docker volume ls 📋 List volumes docker volume ls
docker volume rm <name> 🧹 Delete a volume docker volume rm myvol
-v host:container 🔗 Mount volume inside container docker run -v $(pwd):/app ubuntu

🌐 SECTION 4: Networking

Command Description Example
docker network ls 🌐 List networks docker network ls
docker network create <name> 🛠 Create a custom network docker network create mynet
docker network connect <net> <container> 🔌 Connect a container to a network docker network connect mynet webapp
-p host:container 🌍 Publish port to host docker run -p 8080:80 nginx

🧪 SECTION 5: Exec & Inspect

Command Description Example
docker exec -it <id> bash 🛠 Run command inside running container docker exec -it web bash
docker inspect <id> 🔍 Detailed info on container/image docker inspect 123abc
docker stats 📈 Real-time usage (CPU, MEM) docker stats
docker top <id> 👨‍💻 Show running processes inside container docker top web

🔄 SECTION 6: Save, Load, and Export

Command Description Example
docker save -o <file>.tar <img> 💾 Save image to .tar file docker save -o ubuntu.tar ubuntu
docker load -i <file>.tar 📤 Load image from tar file docker load -i ubuntu.tar
docker export <id> > file.tar 📦 Export container filesystem docker export 123abc > ubuntu.tar
docker import <file> 🔁 Import tar as image docker import ubuntu.tar

☁ SECTION 7: DockerHub Login & Push

Command Description Example
docker login 🔐 Login to DockerHub docker login
docker logout 🔓 Logout from DockerHub docker logout
docker push <user>/<image> 📤 Push image to DockerHub docker push myuser/myapp

📄 SECTION 8: Dockerfile Related

Command Description Example
FROM 📦 Base image FROM node:18
COPY 📁 Copy files COPY . /app
RUN 🔧 Execute command in build RUN npm install
CMD 🚀 Default container command CMD ["node", "app.js"]
EXPOSE 🌐 Document exposed port EXPOSE 3000

🚮 SECTION 9: Clean Up Docker

Command Description Example
docker system prune 🧹 Remove all unused containers/images/volumes docker system prune
docker image prune 🖼 Remove dangling images docker image prune
docker container prune 🗑 Remove stopped containers docker container prune
docker volume prune 💾 Remove unused volumes docker volume prune

🧠 Quick Tips

  • Use --rm to auto-remove container on exit: 
  docker run --rm ubuntu
  • Run detached with name and port: 
  docker run -d --name web -p 80:80 nginx
  • Access logs live: 
  docker logs -f <container_id>

🐳 Docker CLI Mastery with --help

“Learn how to teach yourself every command with confidence.”

🔍 1. Understanding docker --help

Start with:

docker --help

👉 Shows all major command groups like:

Commands:
  build       Build an image from a Dockerfile
  commit      Create a new image from a container's changes
  container   Manage containers
  image       Manage images
  volume      Manage volumes
  network     Manage networks
  ...

🧠 2. Drill Down into Subcommands with --help

You can add --help to any subcommand to discover available options.

Examples:

What to Explore Command
See all image-related commands docker image --help
See all container commands docker container --help
See all run options docker run --help
See help for specific action docker container start --help

📚 3. Section-Wise Docker Command Reference

Let’s now organize all commands by category — and how to learn more using --help.

📦 A. Docker Image Commands

Command Description Help Command
docker image ls List images docker image ls --help
docker image pull Pull image from registry docker image pull --help
docker image rm Remove image docker image rm --help
docker image build Build image from Dockerfile docker image build --help
docker image tag Tag image docker image tag --help
docker image inspect Inspect image metadata docker image inspect --help
docker image prune Remove unused images docker image prune --help

🔍 Explore: docker image --help

🐳 B. Docker Container Commands

Command Description Help Command
docker container ls List containers docker container ls --help
docker container run Create & start new container docker run --help
docker container start/stop Start/Stop container docker container start --help
docker container exec Execute inside running container docker exec --help
docker container logs Show logs docker logs --help
docker container rm Remove container docker container rm --help
docker container inspect Inspect container info docker container inspect --help
docker container prune Remove all stopped containers docker container prune --help

🔍 Explore: docker container --help

📂 C. Docker Volume Commands

Command Description Help Command
docker volume create Create volume docker volume create --help
docker volume ls List volumes docker volume ls --help
docker volume inspect Inspect volume docker volume inspect --help
docker volume rm Remove volume docker volume rm --help
docker volume prune Delete unused volumes docker volume prune --help

🔍 Explore: docker volume --help

🌐 D. Docker Network Commands

Command Description Help Command
docker network create Create a custom network docker network create --help
docker network ls List all networks docker network ls --help
docker network connect Connect container to network docker network connect --help
docker network inspect Network details docker network inspect --help
docker network rm Remove network docker network rm --help

🔍 Explore: docker network --help

🔄 E. Docker System Cleanup

Command Description Help Command
docker system df Show disk usage docker system df --help
docker system prune Remove unused data docker system prune --help
docker image/container/volume prune Cleanup individual resources Add --help accordingly

🔍 Explore: docker system --help

☁ F. Docker Registry (DockerHub)

Command Description Help Command
docker login Login to DockerHub docker login --help
docker logout Logout docker logout --help
docker push Push image to registry docker push --help
docker pull Pull image from registry docker pull --help

🧪 G. Docker Exec/Inspect/Debug

Command Description Help Command
docker exec Run inside container docker exec --help
docker logs Show logs docker logs --help
docker inspect Deep object metadata docker inspect --help
docker stats Real-time resource usage docker stats --help
docker top Processes inside container docker top --help

🧱 H. Docker Build Context

Command Description Help Command
docker build Build image from Dockerfile docker build --help
docker commit Create image from container state docker commit --help
docker history Layer history of image docker history --help

💡 BONUS: Global Docker Options (docker --help)

At the very top level, Docker offers global flags too:

Option Description
--config Use custom Docker config path
--context Use a specific context
--debug Enable debug mode
--version Show Docker version
--help Show help for any command

📦 Final Tip: Combine Flags for Mastery

Example of full command:

docker run -it --rm -v $(pwd):/app -p 3000:3000 --name myapp node bash


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Darshan Vasani