Mastering Docker: Essential Commands for Efficient Container Management

Containerization has emerged as a game-changer in the world of software development and deployment. Docker, an open-source platform, has become a popular choice for containerization due to its simplicity, portability, and flexibility. Docker commands play a vital role in managing containers and images in the Docker ecosystem. In this article, we will delve deeper into the most common Docker commands.

Docker Run

The Docker Run command is used to create a new container from an existing image. An image is a pre-built package that contains all the necessary dependencies and configurations required to run an application. When we use the Docker Run command, a new container is created from the image, and the application is started. The command syntax for Docker Run is:

rachana-uniyal@rachanauniyal:~$ docker run [OPTIONS] IMAGE [COMMAND] [ARG...]

Docker Pull

The Docker Pull command is used to download images from the Docker Hub or any other Docker registry. Docker Hub is a public repository that contains a vast collection of pre-built images that can be used to create containers. The command syntax for Docker Pull is:

rachana-uniyal@rachanauniyal:~$ docker pull [OPTIONS] NAME[:TAG|@DIGEST]

Docker Start

The Docker Start command is used to start one or more stopped containers. When a container is stopped, its state is saved, and all the processes running inside the container are stopped. The Docker Start command resumes the container from its saved state. The command syntax for Docker Start is:

rachana-uniyal@rachanauniyal:~$ docker start [OPTIONS] CONTAINER [CONTAINER...]

Docker Stop

The Docker Stop command is used to stop a running container. When a container is stopped, its state is saved, and all the processes running inside the container are stopped. The command syntax for Docker Stop is:

rachana-uniyal@rachanauniyal:~$ docker stop [OPTIONS] CONTAINER [CONTAINER...]

Docker Images

The Docker Images command is used to list all the locally stored Docker images. When an image is downloaded using the Docker Pull command, it is stored locally on the host system. The command syntax for Docker Images is:

rachana-uniyal@rachanauniyal:~$ docker images [OPTIONS] [REPOSITORY[:TAG]]

Docker PS

The Docker PS command is used to list the running containers. When a container is started using the Docker Run command, it is listed as a running container. The command syntax for Docker PS is:

rachana-uniyal@rachanauniyal:~$ docker ps [OPTIONS]

Docker PS -a

The Docker PS -a command is used to list all the running and exited containers. When a container is stopped using the Docker Stop command, it is listed as an exited container. The command syntax for Docker PS -a is:

rachana-uniyal@rachanauniyal:~$ docker ps -a [OPTIONS]

Docker Logs

The Docker Logs command is used to fetch the logs of a container. When an application is running inside a container, it generates logs that can be used for debugging and monitoring. The Docker Logs command fetches the logs of the container and displays them on the console. The command syntax for Docker Logs is:

rachana-uniyal@rachanauniyal:~$ docker logs [OPTIONS] CONTAINER

Docker Exec -it

The Docker Exec -it command is used to create a new bash session inside the container. When we use the Docker Exec -it command, a new bash session is created, and we can execute commands inside the container. The command syntax for Docker Exec -it is:

rachana-uniyal@rachanauniyal:~$ docker exec -it [OPTIONS] CONTAINER [COMMAND] [ARG...]

Docker commands play a vital role in managing containers and images in the Docker ecosystem. The above-listed Docker commands are the most commonly used commands that every Docker user should know.