Docker Cheat Sheet

This cheat sheet provides a quick reference for common Docker and Docker Compose commands.

Image Management

# Build an image from a Dockerfile
docker build -t <image_name>:<tag> .
 
# List all local images
docker images
 
# Remove an image
docker rmi <image_id_or_name>
 
# Pull an image from a registry (e.g., Docker Hub)
docker pull <image_name>:<tag>
 
# Push an image to a registry
docker push <image_name>:<tag>

Container Management

# Create and run a container from an image
docker run <image_name>
 
# Run a container in detached mode (in the background)
docker run -d <image_name>
 
# Run a container and map a port
docker run -p <host_port>:<container_port> <image_name>
 
# Run a container with a volume mount
docker run -v /path/on/host:/path/in/container <image_name>
 
# List running containers
docker ps
 
# List all containers (running and stopped)
docker ps -a
 
# Stop a running container
docker stop <container_id_or_name>
 
# Start a stopped container
docker start <container_id_or_name>
 
# Remove a stopped container
docker rm <container_id_or_name>
 
# View logs of a container
docker logs <container_id_or_name>
 
# Execute a command inside a running container
docker exec -it <container_id_or_name> /bin/bash

Docker Compose

Manage multi-container applications using a docker-compose.yml file.

# Build services and start containers in detached mode
docker-compose up -d --build
 
# Start existing containers
docker-compose start
 
# Stop running containers
docker-compose stop
 
# Stop and remove containers, networks, and volumes
docker-compose down
 
# List services
docker-compose ps
 
# View logs from all services
docker-compose logs -f
 
# Execute a command in a service container
docker-compose exec <service_name> /bin/bash

System and Cleanup

# Show Docker disk usage
docker system df
 
# Remove all stopped containers, unused networks, and dangling images
docker system prune
 
# Remove all unused local volumes
docker volume prune

Dockerfile Basics

Common instructions for your Dockerfile.

# Set the base image
FROM node:18-alpine
 
# Set the working directory
WORKDIR /app
 
# Copy files from host to container
COPY package.json .
 
# Run a command during the build process
RUN npm install
 
# Copy the rest of the application code
COPY . .
 
# Expose a port
EXPOSE 3000
 
# Command to run when the container starts
CMD ["node", "server.js"]