10 Useful Docker Commands Every Developer Should Know

Main Docker commands for controlling containerization.

Docker has become an indispensable tool for developers, enabling consistent environments and simplifying application deployment. Understanding key Docker commands can significantly improve your efficiency and mastery of containerization. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to perfect your skills, knowing the right commands can make all the difference.

Hello, my name is CyCoderX and in this article we will explore 10 essential Docker commands that every developer should have in their toolbox, accompanied by explanations and practical examples.

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1. docker run

Starting with the most used command. THE docker run The command creates and starts a container from a specified image.

Syntax:

docker run [OPTIONS] IMAGE [COMMAND] [ARG...]

Example:

docker run -d -p 8080:80 nginx

• Starts an NGINX container in detached mode (-d) and maps port 8080 on the host to port 80 in the container.

2. docker ps

This command lists all running containers, providing useful details such as container ID, image, status, and ports.

Syntax:

docker ps [OPTIONS]

Example:

docker ps

• Displays a list of currently running containers.

Use the -a flag to see all containers, including stopped ones:

docker ps -a

3. docker build

Builds an image from a specified Dockerfile.

Syntax:

docker build [OPTIONS] PATH

Example:

docker build -t my-image .

• Builds a Docker image from the Dockerfile in the current directory and marks it as my-image.

4. docker exec

Runs a command in an existing container.

Syntax:

docker exec [OPTIONS] CONTAINER COMMAND [ARG...]

Example:

docker exec -it my-container bash

• Opens an interactive terminal (-it) in the container my-container.

5. docker logs

Retrieves logs from a container, which is useful for debugging and monitoring.

Syntax:

docker logs [OPTIONS] CONTAINER

Example:

docker logs my-container

• Shows container logs my-container.

Use the -f flag to follow logs in real time:

docker logs -f my-container

6. docker images

Lists all Docker images available on the host machine.

Syntax:

docker images [OPTIONS]

Example:

docker images

• Shows a list of all images, including their repository names, tags, and sizes.

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7. docker rmi

Deletes one or more Docker images.

Syntax:

docker rmi [OPTIONS] IMAGE [IMAGE...]

Example:

docker rmi my-image

• Delete the image my-image of the local machine.

8. docker stop

Stops a running container.

Syntax:

docker stop [OPTIONS] CONTAINER [CONTAINER...]

Example:

docker stop my-container

• Stop the container my-container.

9. docker rm

Deletes one or more containers.

Syntax:

docker rm [OPTIONS] CONTAINER [CONTAINER...]

Example:

docker rm my-container

• Delete stopped container my-container.

To use docker rm -f to forcefully remove running containers.

10. docker pull

Downloads an image from a Docker registry (for example, Docker Hub).

Syntax:

docker pull [OPTIONS] NAME[:TAG]

Example:

docker pull python:3.10

• Extract the Python 3.10 image from Docker Hub.