Commands
Top Docker Commands You Should Know
Whether you're building images, running containers, or debugging a stack, these are the Docker CLI commands you'll reach for most often. They're grouped by what you're working with — images, containers, volumes, networks, and Docker Compose.
Image Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|
docker build -t <name> . | Build an image from a Dockerfile in the current directory. |
docker images | List all local images. |
docker pull <image> | Download an image from a registry (e.g., Docker Hub). |
docker push <image> | Upload an image to a registry. |
docker rmi <image> | Remove a local image. |
docker tag <src> <target> | Create a new tag for an existing image. |
Container Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|
docker run -d -p 8080:80 <image> | Run a container in detached mode with port mapping. |
docker ps | List running containers. |
docker ps -a | List all containers, including stopped ones. |
docker stop <container> | Gracefully stop a running container. |
docker start <container> | Start a stopped container. |
docker restart <container> | Restart a container. |
docker rm <container> | Remove a stopped container. |
docker logs -f <container> | Stream logs from a container. |
docker exec -it <container> sh | Open an interactive shell inside a running container. |
docker inspect <container> | View detailed configuration and state as JSON. |
Volume & Network Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|
docker volume create <name> | Create a named volume for persistent data. |
docker volume ls | List volumes. |
docker network create <name> | Create a custom network so containers can communicate by name. |
docker network ls | List networks. |
Docker Compose Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|
docker compose up -d | Start all services defined in docker-compose.yml in the background. |
docker compose down | Stop and remove all services, networks, and default volumes. |
docker compose logs -f | Stream logs from all services. |
docker compose build | Rebuild images defined in the compose file. |
Cleanup Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|
docker system prune | Remove unused containers, networks, and dangling images. |
docker system prune -a | Remove all unused images too, not just dangling ones. |
docker container prune | Remove all stopped containers. |
Key Takeaway: You don't need to memorize every Docker flag — focus on the core lifecycle commands (build, run, ps, stop, logs, exec) and Compose commands first. The rest become second nature with daily use.
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