🐳 Docker Commands Cheat Sheet
1. Docker Version & Info
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
docker --version | Show Docker version |
docker info | Display system-wide info |
docker help | Show general help |
docker <command> --help | Help for specific command |
2. Images
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
docker images | List local images |
docker pull <image> | Pull from registry |
docker rmi <image> | Remove image |
docker tag <src> <target> | Tag image |
docker save -o file.tar <image> | Save image to tar |
docker load -i file.tar | Load image from tar |
3. Containers
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
docker ps | List running containers |
docker ps -a | List all containers (incl. stopped) |
docker run <image> | Run container (default foreground) |
docker run -d <image> | Run in detached mode |
docker run -it <image> bash | Run with interactive shell |
docker stop <id> | Stop container |
docker start <id> | Start stopped container |
docker restart <id> | Restart container |
docker rm <id> | Remove container |
docker rm -f <id> | Force remove running container |
docker logs <id> | View container logs |
docker exec -it <id> bash | Open shell inside running container |
docker inspect <id> | Full container details |
4. Build & Tag Images
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
docker build -t myapp . | Build image from Dockerfile |
docker build -f Dockerfile.dev -t myapp . | Build with custom Dockerfile |
docker build --platform linux/amd64 -t myapp . | Build for specific architecture |
docker commit <container> <image:tag> | Create image from container |
5. Docker Compose
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
docker compose up | Start services (foreground) |
docker compose up -d | Start in background |
docker compose down | Stop + remove services, network, volumes |
docker compose ps | List compose containers |
docker compose logs -f | Stream logs |
docker compose build | Build/rebuild services |
-
Check which container exist
docker-compose ps -a -
How to run docker compose
docker-compose up -
When you change the definition in docker-compose, need to re-run the container
docker-compose down
✅ Works for both docker compose (v2+) and legacy docker-compose.
6. Volumes & Networks
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
docker volume ls | List volumes |
docker volume rm <name> | Remove volume |
docker network ls | List networks |
docker network create <name> | Create network |
docker network inspect <name> | Inspect network |
7. Clean-up (Prune)
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
docker system prune | Remove stopped containers, unused networks, dangling images |
docker system prune -a | Remove all unused images + containers |
docker image prune -a | Remove unused images |
docker container prune | Remove stopped containers |
docker volume prune | Remove unused volumes |
⚠️ Be careful with -a → deletes unused images
8. Registry & Login
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
docker login | Login to registry |
docker logout | Logout |
docker push <image> | Push to registry |
docker pull <image> | Pull from registry |
9. Debugging & Stats
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
docker top <container> | View running processes |
docker stats | Live container resource usage |
docker events | Real-time Docker events |
docker diff <container> | Show filesystem changes |
10. Multi-Platform Build (Useful for ARM/M1/M2)
docker buildx create --use
docker buildx build --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 -t myapp:latest --push .