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Cover image for Docker Cheat-sheet for beginners 🐳
keshav Sandhu
keshav Sandhu

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Docker Cheat-sheet for beginners 🐳

#webdev #programming #docker #beginners

🔧 Common Docker Commands

  • Start Docker: 
 systemctl start docker # Linux open -a Docker # macOS
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  • Check Docker Version: 
 docker --version
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📦 Working with Containers

  • List Running Containers: 
 docker ps
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  • List All Containers (Running + Stopped): 
 docker ps -a
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  • Run a Container (starts and attaches): 
 docker run <image_name>
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  • Run in Detached Mode: 
 docker run -d <image_name>
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  • Run with Port Mapping: 
 docker run -p <host_port>:<container_port> <image_name>
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  • Stop a Running Container: 
 docker stop <container_id>
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  • Start a Stopped Container: 
 docker start <container_id>
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  • Remove a Stopped Container: 
 docker rm <container_id>
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📜 Images

  • List Docker Images: 
 docker images
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  • Pull an Image from Docker Hub: 
 docker pull <image_name>
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  • Build an Image from Dockerfile: 
 docker build -t <image_name> .
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  • Tag an Image: 
 docker tag <image_id> <new_image_name>:<tag>
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  • Remove an Image: 
 docker rmi <image_id>
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🔄 Container Management

  • View Logs of a Container: 
 docker logs <container_id>
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  • Access a Running Container (Interactive Shell): 
 docker exec -it <container_id> /bin/bash
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  • Copy Files from Container to Host: 
 docker cp <container_id>:<path_inside_container> <host_path>
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🏗 Docker Networks

  • List Networks: 
 docker network ls
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  • Create a Network: 
 docker network create <network_name>
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  • Connect a Running Container to a Network: 
 docker network connect <network_name> <container_id>
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🐳 Docker Compose

  • Start Services in Detached Mode: 
 docker-compose up -d
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  • Stop Services: 
 docker-compose down
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  • Build and Start Containers: 
 docker-compose up --build
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📊 Inspecting and Monitoring

  • Inspect Container Details: 
 docker inspect <container_id>
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  • Display Resource Usage (CPU, Memory): 
 docker stats
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🛠 Volumes

  • List Volumes: 
 docker volume ls
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  • Create a Volume: 
 docker volume create <volume_name>
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  • Mount a Volume (during docker run): 
 docker run -v <volume_name>:<path_inside_container> <image_name>
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💡 Pro Tip: Use docker system prune to remove unused containers, networks, and images.

Feel free to save or bookmark this cheat sheet for quick reference!

Docker #CheatSheet #Containers #DevOps

Top comments (26)

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andreitelteu profile image
Andrei Telteu •

You can also make a helper script:
New file at the root folder called dc without extension.
Content example. Modify for your needs.

#!/bin/bash trap "exit" 0 DC="docker compose" # add `-f docker/compose.yml` if it's in another folder if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then $DC ps -a elif [ $1 == "up" ]; then $DC up -d elif [ $1 == "nr" ]; then if [ $# -gt 1 ]; then $DC exec node su node -c "${*:2}" else $DC exec node su node fi elif [ $1 == "npm" ]; then $DC exec node su node -c "npm ${*:2}" elif [ $1 == "install" ]; then $DC exec node su node -c 'npm install' elif [ $1 == "recreate" ]; then $DC up -d --force-recreate ${*:2} elif [ $1 == "build" ]; then $DC up -d --force-recreate --build ${*:2} else $DC $* fi
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Give execute permission with chmod +x ./dc
And now you can run:

  • ./dc to show all containers with status
  • ./dc up to start in detached mode
  • ./dc install to run npm install in the node container as user node
  • ./dc npm install package-name-here to run any npm command inside node container. Works with ./dc npm run start too
  • ./dc nr interactive exec inside node container
  • ./dc nr node index.js run any command inside node container
  • ./dc recreate applies any modifications to docker-compose.yml
  • ./dc recreate node applies modifications to compose, only for node container
  • ./dc build if you have a custom dockerfile, does run dc up with a fresh build.
  • ./dc logs -n 10 -f node - any other docker-compose command works as expected.
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abdullah-dev0 profile image
Abdullah •

Adding one more

docker system prune

This will remove:
- all stopped containers
- all networks not used by at least one container
- all dangling images
- unused build cache

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devmount profile image
Andreas •

This is awesome! Instantly added to github.com/devmount/CheatSheets

Thank you!

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mahendrarao profile image
Raavan •

@devmount Your Github profile is super cool, bro. Much to learn

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devmount profile image
Andreas •

Thank you so much 🤗

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mahmoud974 profile image
Mahmoud Zakaria •

Thanks!!

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vishalvivekm profile image
Vivek Vishal •

Thank you @keshav___dev

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prathmeshjagtap profile image
Prathmesh Jagtap •

The most used commands in docker.
Thank for Writing.

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jangelodev profile image
João Angelo •

Hi keshav Sandhu,
Top, very nice and helpful !
Thanks for sharing.

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orashus profile image
Rash Edmund •

Thanks man

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awinooliyo profile image
Erick Otieno Awino •

This is incredible.

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tiru5 profile image
Tyrus Malmström •

Excellent article, thank you! 💯

Something that made me smile, you can tell that the banner image was created using AI :D

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keshav___dev profile image
keshav Sandhu •

If service is there, why not use it 😉

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