This cheatsheet provides a quick reference for common Docker commands and concepts to help you streamline your containerized workflows.
Docker is a powerful platform for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of applications in lightweight, portable containers. This cheatsheet provides a quick reference for common Docker commands and concepts to help you streamline your containerized workflows.
| # | Command | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | docker --version |
Display Docker version |
| 2 | docker info |
Display system-wide information about Docker |
| 3 | docker run [options] image [command] [args] |
Run a command in a new container |
| 4 | docker ps |
List running containers |
| 5 | docker ps -a |
List all containers (running and stopped) |
| 6 | docker images |
List locally available images |
| 7 | docker pull image |
Download an image from a registry |
| 8 | docker build [options] path |
Build an image from a Dockerfile in the specified path |
| 9 | docker push image |
Push an image to a registry |
| 10 | docker rmi image |
Remove an image |
| 11 | docker rm container |
Remove a container |
| 12 | docker exec [options] container command |
Run a command in a running container |
| 13 | docker stop container |
Stop a running container |
| 14 | docker start container |
Start a stopped container |
| 15 | docker restart container |
Restart a running or stopped container |
| 16 | docker logs container |
View logs from a container |
| 17 | docker network ls |
List Docker networks |
| 18 | docker volume ls |
List Docker volumes |
| 19 | docker-compose up |
Start services defined in a docker-compose.yml file |
| 20 | docker-compose down |
Stop and remove containers, networks, and volumes |
| 21 | docker inspect [options] object |
Display detailed information on one or more objects |
| 22 | docker attach container |
Attach local standard input, output, and error streams to a running container |
| 23 | docker cp [options] source_path container:destination_path |
Copy files/folders between a container and the local filesystem |
| 24 | docker commit [options] container [repository[:tag]] |
Create a new image from a container’s changes |
| 25 | docker buildx create --use |
Create and use a new builder instance with BuildKit support |
| # | Directive | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FROM image [AS name] |
Set the base image for subsequent instructions |
| 2 | COPY source_path destination_path |
Copy files/folders from source to destination |
| 3 | RUN command |
Execute a command in a new layer |
| 4 | CMD ["executable", "param1", ...] |
Set the default command and/or parameters |
| 5 | EXPOSE port |
Inform Docker that the app will listen on the specified network ports at runtime |
| # | Command | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | docker-compose ps |
List containers defined in docker-compose.yml |
| 2 | docker-compose logs [service] |
View logs for a specific service in the docker-compose.yml |
| 3 | docker-compose exec service command |
Run a command in a service container |
| 4 | docker-compose down --volumes |
Stop and remove containers, networks, and volumes defined in docker-compose.yml |
| 5 | docker-compose build |
Build services defined in docker-compose.yml |
| 6 | docker-compose up -d |
Start services in the background |
| 7 | docker-compose scale service=num |
Scale a service to a specific number of containers |
| 8 | docker-compose pause |
Pause services in the docker-compose.yml |
| 9 | docker-compose unpause |
Unpause services in the docker-compose.yml |
| # | Command | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | docker swarm init |
Initialize a swarm |
| 2 | docker node ls |
List nodes in the swarm |
| 3 | docker service ls |
List services in the swarm |
| 4 | docker service ps service |
List tasks of a service in the swarm |
| 5 | docker service scale service=num |
Scale a service to a specific number of replicas |
| 6 | docker service update [options] service |
Update a service with new configuration |
| 7 | docker service rm service |
Remove a service from the swarm |
| 8 | docker swarm join-token [worker/manager] |
Display the join token for worker or manager nodes |
| 9 | docker swarm leave --force |
Force a node to leave the swarm |
| # | Tip/Trick | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Container Shell Access: docker exec -it container sh |
Access the shell inside a running container |
| 2 | Cleanup: docker system prune -a |
Remove all unused containers, networks, and images |
| 3 | Inspect Container IP: docker inspect -f '{{range .NetworkSettings.Networks}}{{.IPAddress}}{{end}}' container |
Get the IP address of a running container |
| 4 | View Container Resources: docker stats container |
Display a live stream of container resource usage |
| 5 | Docker Contexts: docker context use [context] |
Switch between Docker contexts |
| 6 | Interactive Build: docker build -t image:tag - < Dockerfile |
Build an image interactively from a Dockerfile |
| 7 | Docker Prune Images: docker image prune -a |
Remove all dangling and unused images |
| 8 | List Container IPs: docker inspect -f '{{.Name}} - {{range .NetworkSettings.Networks}}{{.IPAddress}}{{end}}' $(docker ps -aq) |
List container names and their IPs |
This cheatsheet covers a wide range of Docker commands, Dockerfile directives, Docker Compose, Docker Swarm, and includes some useful tips and tricks. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Docker user, this cheatsheet aims to make your containerization workflows more efficient and productive.