{"id":82911,"date":"2023-04-05T12:59:14","date_gmt":"2023-04-05T12:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"\/tutorials\/?p=82911"},"modified":"2025-04-26T02:57:56","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T02:57:56","slug":"docker-cheat-sheet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/in\/tutorials\/docker-cheat-sheet","title":{"rendered":"Docker Cheat Sheet: All the Most Essential Commands in One Place + Downloadable PDF"},"content":{"rendered":"

Docker is a popular open-source platform that makes it easy to build, test, deploy, and manage containerized applications in a consistent, portable, or virtual environment such as VPS.<\/p>

While a powerful tool in your development arsenal, learning the different Docker commands can take time and effort. New users often benefit from having a Docker cheat sheet readily at hand.<\/p>

In this tutorial, we will explain how Docker works and provide the most common Docker commands, along with a downloadable cheat sheet for you to use.<\/p>

Download free docker cheat sheet<\/a><\/p>

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Docker Architecture<\/h2>

Docker architecture consists of five main components: server, client, container, image, and registry.<\/p>

Docker Server<\/strong><\/p>

A Docker server or Docker daemon is a program that runs in the background of your computer and manages Docker containers and images. When you use the Docker command line interface.<\/p>

(CLI) to create, run, or manage containers, you interact with the Docker daemon.<\/p>

The Docker daemon is an essential platform component that ensures containers can be started and stopped automatically when the system boots up.<\/p>

Docker Client <\/strong><\/p>

The Docker client lets users interact with the Docker daemon with its command-line interface (CLI). In simple terms, it’s the main part of the Docker architecture for creating, managing, and running container applications.<\/p>

When you use the Docker CLI to pass a command, the Docker client sends the command to the Docker daemon running on your computer, which then carries out the requested operation. The Docker client can be installed<\/a> on any machine that needs to interact with the Docker daemon, including your local machine, a remote server, or a virtual server<\/a>.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>

Docker Container<\/strong><\/p>

A Docker container is a package that contains all the required prerequisites to run an application.<\/p>

Containers are designed to be highly portable, meaning that they can be easily moved from one environment to another, such as from a developer’s laptop to a testing environment or from a testing environment to a production environment.<\/p>

Docker Image<\/strong><\/p>

A Docker image is a preconfigured template that specifies what should be included in a Docker container. Usually, images are downloaded from websites like Docker Hub<\/a>. However, it’s also possible to create a custom image with the help of Dockerfile.<\/p>

Docker Registry<\/strong><\/p>

The Docker registry is a central repository that stores and manages Docker images. It is a server-based system that lets users store and share Docker images with others, making it easy to distribute and deploy applications. The most notable Docker registry is Docker Hub.<\/p>

Docker Commands Cheat Sheet<\/h2>

Now that you know how Docker functions, let’s look at some of the most popular Docker command examples.<\/p>

Build Commands<\/h3>

Docker uses the build command for building images from a Docker file. Some of the most common commands include:<\/p>

Command<\/strong><\/td>Explanation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
docker build<\/td>Builds an image from a Dockerfile in the current directory <\/td><\/tr>
docker build https:\/\/github.com\/docker\/
rootfs.git#container:docker<\/td>		Builds an image from a remote GIT repository <\/td><\/tr>
docker build -t imagename\/tag<\/td>Builds and tags an image for easier tracking<\/td><\/tr>
docker build https:\/\/yourserver\/file.tar.gz<\/td>Builds an image from a remote tar archive<\/td><\/tr>
docker build -t image:1.0
-<<EOFFROM busyboxRUN echo “hello world”EOF<\/td>		Builds an image via a Dockerfile that is passed through STDIN<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

Clean Up Commands<\/h3>

To keep your system clean and save disk space, it’s a great idea to clean up unused images<\/a>, containers, and volumes. Check the commands below for more details:<\/p>

Command<\/strong><\/td>Explanation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
docker image prune<\/code><\/td>Clears an unused image<\/td><\/tr>
docker image prune -a<\/code><\/td>Clears all images that are not being used by containers<\/td><\/tr>
docker system prune<\/code><\/td>Removes all stopped containers, all networks not used by containers, all dangling images, and all build cache<\/td><\/tr>
docker image rm image<\/code><\/td>Removes an image<\/td><\/tr>
docker rm container<\/code><\/td>Removes a running container<\/td><\/tr>
docker swarm leave<\/code><\/td>Leaves a swarm<\/td><\/tr>
docker stack rm stackname<\/code><\/td>Removes a swarm<\/td><\/tr>
docker volume rm $(docker volume ls -f dangling=true -q)<\/code><\/td>Removes all dangling volumes<\/td><\/tr>
docker rm $(docker ps -a -q)<\/code><\/td>Removes all stopped containers<\/td><\/tr>
docker kill $ (docker ps -q)<\/code><\/td>Stops all running containers<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

Container Interaction Commands<\/h3>

Interact with your Docker container with the following common commands:<\/p>

Command<\/strong><\/td>Explanation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
docker start container<\/code><\/td>Starts a new container<\/a> <\/td><\/tr>
docker stop container<\/code><\/td>Stops a container<\/td><\/tr>
docker pause container<\/code><\/td>Pauses a container<\/td><\/tr>
docker unpause container<\/code><\/td>Unpauses a container<\/td><\/tr>
docker restart container<\/code><\/td>Restarts a container<\/td><\/tr>
docker wait container<\/code><\/td>Blocks a container<\/td><\/tr>
docker export container<\/code><\/td>Exports container contents to a tar archive<\/td><\/tr>
docker attach container<\/code><\/td>Attaches to a running container<\/td><\/tr>
docker wait container<\/code><\/td>Waits until the container is terminated and shows the exit code<\/td><\/tr>
docker commit -m “commit message” -a “author” container username\/image_name: tag<\/code><\/td>Saves a running container as an image<\/td><\/tr>
docker logs -ft container<\/code><\/td>Follows container logs<\/td><\/tr>
docker exec -ti container script.sh<\/code><\/td>Runs a command in a container<\/td><\/tr>
docker commit container image<\/code><\/td>Creates a new image from a container<\/td><\/tr>
docker create image<\/code><\/td>Creates a new container from an image<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

Container Inspection Commands<\/h3>

Sometimes, you need to inspect your containers for quality assurance or troubleshooting purposes. These commands help you get an overview of what different containers are doing:<\/p>

Command<\/strong><\/td>Explanation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
docker ps<\/code><\/td>Lists all running containers<\/td><\/tr>
docker -ps -a<\/code><\/td>Lists all containers<\/td><\/tr>
docker diff container<\/code><\/td>Inspects changes to directories and files in the container filesystem<\/td><\/tr>
docker top container<\/code><\/td>Shows all running processes in an existing container<\/td><\/tr>
docker inspect container<\/code><\/td>Displays low-level information about a container<\/td><\/tr>
docker logs container<\/code><\/td>Gathers the logs for a container<\/td><\/tr>
docker stats container<\/code><\/td>Shows container resource usage statistics<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

Manage Images Commands<\/h3>

Some of the most common image management commands include:<\/p>

Command<\/strong><\/td>Explanation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
docker image ls<\/code><\/td>Lists images<\/td><\/tr>
docker image rm mysql<\/code><\/td>Removes an image<\/td><\/tr>
docker tag image tag<\/code><\/td>Tags an image<\/td><\/tr>
docker history image<\/code><\/td>Displays the image history<\/td><\/tr>
docker inspect image<\/code><\/td>Displays low-level information about an image<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

Run Commands<\/h3>

Docker uses the run command to create containers from provided images. The default syntax for this command looks like this:<\/p>

docker run (options) image (command) (arg...)<\/pre>
After the default syntax, use one of the following flags:<\/p>
Flag<\/strong><\/td>Explanation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
--detach , -d<\/code><\/td>Runs a container in the background and prints the container ID<\/td><\/tr>
--env , -e<\/code><\/td>Sets environment variables<\/td><\/tr>
--hostname , -h<\/code><\/td>Sets a hostname to a container<\/td><\/tr>
--label , -l<\/code><\/td>Creates a meta data label for a container<\/td><\/tr>
--name<\/code><\/td>Assigns a name to a container<\/td><\/tr>
--network<\/code><\/td>Connects a container to a network<\/td><\/tr>
--rm<\/code><\/td>Removes container when it stops<\/td><\/tr>
--read-only<\/code><\/td>Sets the container filesystem as read-only<\/td><\/tr>
--workdir , -w<\/code><\/td>Sets a working directory in a container<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>
Registry Commands<\/h3>
If you need to interact with Docker Hub, use the following commands:<\/p>
Command<\/strong><\/td>Explanation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
docker login<\/code><\/td>Logs in to a registry<\/td><\/tr>
docker logout<\/code><\/td>Logs out from a registry<\/td><\/tr>
docker pull mysql<\/code><\/td>Pulls an image from a registry<\/td><\/tr>
docker push repo\/ rhel-httpd:latest<\/code><\/td>Pushes an image to a registry<\/td><\/tr>
docker search term<\/code><\/td>Searches Docker Hub for images with the specified term<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>
Service Commands<\/h3>
Manage all Docker services with these basic commands:<\/p>
Command<\/strong><\/td>Explanation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
docker service ls<\/code><\/td>Lists all services running in a swarm<\/td><\/tr>
docker stack services stackname<\/code><\/td>Lists all running services<\/td><\/tr>
docker service ps servicename<\/code><\/td>Lists the tasks of a service<\/td><\/tr>
docker service update servicename<\/code><\/td>Updates a service<\/td><\/tr>
docker service create image<\/code><\/td>Creates a new service<\/td><\/tr>
docker service scale servicename=10<\/code><\/td>Scales one or more replicated services<\/td><\/tr>
docker service logs stackname servicename<\/code><\/td>Lists all service logs<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>
Network Commands<\/h3>
If you need to interact with the Docker network, use one of the following commands:<\/p>
Command<\/strong><\/td>Explanation<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
docker network create networkname<\/code><\/td>Creates a new network<\/td><\/tr>
docker network rm networkname<\/code><\/td>Removes a specified network<\/td><\/tr>
docker network ls<\/code><\/td>Lists all networks<\/td><\/tr>
docker network connect networkname container<\/code><\/td>Connects a container to a network<\/td><\/tr>
docker network disconnect networkname container<\/code><\/td>Disconnects a container from a network<\/td><\/tr>
docker network inspect networkname<\/code><\/td>Displays detailed information about a network<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>
Download Free Docker Cheat Sheet<\/a><\/p>
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Suggested Readings<\/h4>\n                    
Check out our other Docker tutorials
\n How to Install Docker on Ubuntu<\/a>
\n How to Install WordPress on Docker<\/a>
\n How to Create a Docker Container<\/a><\/p>\n                <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>
Conclusion<\/h2>
Docker is a great tool for anyone willing to try out containers. The learning curve can be steep if you’re unfamiliar with container-based development. Luckily, having a cheat sheet at hand can speed up the process, as all common commands are easily reachable, and you don’t need to look them up on the internet.<\/p>
In this tutorial, we’ve covered the basics of Docker architecture and gone through all the basic Docker commands, all of which can be found in our downloadable Docker cheat sheet<\/a>.<\/p>
We hope that you found this Docker tutorial useful. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments section below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Docker is a popular open-source platform that makes it easy to build, test, deploy, and manage containerized applications in a consistent, portable, or virtual environment such as VPS. While a powerful tool in your development arsenal, learning the different Docker commands can take time and effort. New users often benefit from having a Docker cheat […]<\/p>\n
Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":279,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"","rank_math_focus_keyword":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22642,22640],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-82911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pre-installed-applications","category-vps"],"hreflangs":[{"locale":"en-US","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/docker-cheat-sheet","default":0},{"locale":"pt-BR","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/br\/tutoriais\/docker-cheat-sheet","default":0},{"locale":"fr-FR","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/fr\/tutoriels\/cheat-sheet-docker","default":0},{"locale":"es-ES","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/es\/tutoriales\/comandos-docker","default":0},{"locale":"ja-JP","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/jp\/tutorials\/docker-cheat-sheet\/","default":0},{"locale":"en-UK","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/uk\/tutorials\/docker-cheat-sheet","default":0},{"locale":"en-MY","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/my\/tutorials\/docker-cheat-sheet-all-the-most-essential-commands-in-one-place-downloadable-pdf","default":0},{"locale":"en-PH","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ph\/tutorials\/docker-cheat-sheet-all-the-most-essential-commands-in-one-place-downloadable-pdf","default":0},{"locale":"pt-PT","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/pt\/tutoriais\/docker-cheat-sheet","default":0},{"locale":"en-IN","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/docker-cheat-sheet","default":0},{"locale":"en-CA","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/docker-cheat-sheet","default":0},{"locale":"es-AR","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ar\/tutoriales\/comandos-docker","default":0},{"locale":"es-MX","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/mx\/tutoriales\/comandos-docker","default":0},{"locale":"es-CO","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/co\/tutoriales\/comandos-docker","default":0},{"locale":"en-AU","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/au\/tutorials\/docker-cheat-sheet","default":0},{"locale":"en-NG","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/docker-cheat-sheet","default":0}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82911","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/279"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82911"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82911\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107387,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82911\/revisions\/107387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}