Tools

Docker Cheat Sheet — Commands Reference

The Docker commands you need for everyday container work, from building images to cleaning up disk space.

Put it into practice with the matching tool.

Images

docker build -t name:tag .Build an image from the Dockerfile here

docker imagesList local images

docker pull nginx:alpineDownload an image from a registry

docker rmi <image>Remove an image

docker tag src targetGive an image another name/tag

docker run -it image shRun interactively with a shell

docker run -d -p 8080:80 imageRun detached, mapping host:container ports

docker run --rm imageAuto-remove the container when it exits

docker run -e KEY=value imagePass an environment variable

docker run -v $(pwd):/app imageMount the current directory into the container

docker psList running containers (-a for all)

docker stop <id>Stop a container gracefully

docker start <id>Start a stopped container

docker rm <id>Remove a stopped container

docker exec -it <id> shOpen a shell inside a running container

docker logs -f <id>Follow a container’s logs

docker compose up -dStart all services in the background

docker compose downStop and remove services

docker compose logs -fFollow logs for all services

docker compose buildRebuild service images

docker compose psList service containers

docker system pruneRemove stopped containers, unused networks, dangling images

docker system prune -a --volumesAggressive cleanup, including volumes (careful)

docker volume lsList volumes

docker system dfShow how much disk Docker is using

Docker Compose vs docker run