Docker commands list organized by category

Comprehensive list of essential Docker commands organized by category:

Container Management

List containers:

docker ps                    # List running containers
docker ps -a                 # List all containers (running + stopped)
docker container ls          # Alternative to docker ps
docker container ls -a       # Alternative to docker ps -a

Start/Stop containers:

docker start <container_id>     # Start a stopped container
docker stop <container_id>      # Stop a running container
docker restart <container_id>   # Restart a container
docker pause <container_id>     # Pause a container
docker unpause <container_id>   # Unpause a container

Create and run containers:

docker run <image_name>                    # Run a container from image
docker run -d <image_name>                 # Run in detached mode (background)
docker run -it <image_name>                # Run interactively with terminal
docker run -p 8080:80 <image_name>        # Map port 8080 to container port 80
docker run --name <container_name> <image> # Assign custom name
docker create <image_name>                 # Create container without starting

Access containers:

docker exec -it <container_id> /bin/bash   # Go inside running container (bash)
docker exec -it <container_id> /bin/sh     # Go inside running container (sh)
docker exec -it <container_id> bash        # Simplified bash access
docker attach <container_id>               # Attach to running container

Remove containers:

docker rm <container_id>        # Remove stopped container
docker rm -f <container_id>     # Force remove running container
docker container prune         # Remove all stopped containers

Image Management

List images:

docker images               # List all images
docker image ls             # Alternative to docker images
docker images -a            # Show all images (including intermediate)

Pull/Push images:

docker pull <image_name>           # Download image from registry
docker pull <image_name>:<tag>     # Pull specific tag
docker push <image_name>           # Push image to registry

Build images:

docker build .                     # Build from Dockerfile in current directory
docker build -t <image_name> .     # Build and tag image
docker build -f <dockerfile> .     # Build from specific Dockerfile

Remove images:

docker rmi <image_id>          # Remove image
docker rmi -f <image_id>       # Force remove image
docker image prune            # Remove unused images
docker image prune -a         # Remove all unused images

Tag images:

docker tag <image_id> <new_name>:<tag>     # Tag an image

Docker Compose Commands

Start services:

docker-compose up                    # Start all services
docker-compose up -d                 # Start in detached mode
docker-compose up <service_name>     # Start specific service

Stop services:

docker-compose down                  # Stop and remove containers
docker-compose down -v               # Stop and remove containers + volumes
docker-compose stop                  # Stop services without removing
docker-compose stop <service_name>   # Stop specific service

Other compose commands:

docker-compose ps              # List compose containers
docker-compose logs            # View logs
docker-compose logs <service>  # View logs for specific service
docker-compose build           # Build services
docker-compose restart         # Restart services

System and Cleanup Commands

System information:

docker info                # Display system information
docker version             # Show Docker version
docker system df           # Show disk usage

Cleanup commands:

docker system prune        # Remove unused data (containers, networks, images)
docker system prune -a     # Remove all unused data
docker volume prune        # Remove unused volumes
docker network prune       # Remove unused networks

Logs and Monitoring

docker logs <container_id>         # View container logs
docker logs -f <container_id>      # Follow log output
docker stats                       # Show running container statistics
docker top <container_id>          # Show running processes in container
docker inspect <container_id>      # Show detailed container information

Volume Management

docker volume ls               # List volumes
docker volume create <name>    # Create volume
docker volume rm <name>        # Remove volume
docker volume inspect <name>   # Inspect volume

Network Management

docker network ls             # List networks
docker network create <name>  # Create network
docker network rm <name>      # Remove network
docker network inspect <name> # Inspect network

Check resource usage:

# Real-time resource monitoring
docker stats

# Detailed container info
docker inspect postgres_pgvector | grep -A 5 "Memory\|Cpu"

These commands cover most common Docker operations. You can always use docker --help or docker <command> --help for more detailed information about specific commands and their options.