What are the images in Docker?

docker build -t myapp . — Build image from Dockerfile in current dir; docker build -t myapp:v2 -f Dockerfile.prod . — Build with specific Dockerfile and tag; docker images — List all local images; docker pull nginx:alpine — Pull image from Docker Hub; docker push user/myapp:v1 — Push image to registry; docker rmi image_id — Remove an image; docker image prune — Remove unused images; docker tag myapp user/myapp:v1 — Tag image for registry push

What are the containers in Docker?

docker run -d -p 8080:80 nginx — Run detached, map port 8080→80; docker run -it ubuntu bash — Run interactive shell; docker run --rm myapp — Run and auto-remove on exit; docker run -v ./data:/app/data myapp — Mount host directory; docker run -e API_KEY=secret myapp — Set environment variable; docker run --name web -d nginx — Run with a custom name; docker ps — List running containers; docker ps -a — List all containers (including stopped); docker stop container_id — Gracefully stop a container; docker rm container_id — Remove a stopped container; docker exec -it container_id bash — Open shell in running container; docker logs -f container_id — Follow container logs (live)

What are the volumes in Docker?

docker volume create mydata — Create a named volume; docker volume ls — List all volumes; docker run -v mydata:/app/data myapp — Mount named volume; docker volume rm mydata — Remove a volume; docker volume prune — Remove all unused volumes

Docker Cheat Sheet

Essential Docker commands in one page. Images, containers, volumes, networks, Docker Compose, and troubleshooting — the commands you use daily.

Images Containers Volumes Networks Docker Compose Dockerfile Instructions Cleanup & Troubleshooting

Images

docker build -t myapp .	Build image from Dockerfile in current dir
docker build -t myapp:v2 -f Dockerfile.prod .	Build with specific Dockerfile and tag
docker images	List all local images
docker pull nginx:alpine	Pull image from Docker Hub
docker push user/myapp:v1	Push image to registry
docker rmi image_id	Remove an image
docker image prune	Remove unused images
docker tag myapp user/myapp:v1	Tag image for registry push

Containers

docker run -d -p 8080:80 nginx	Run detached, map port 8080→80
docker run -it ubuntu bash	Run interactive shell
docker run --rm myapp	Run and auto-remove on exit
docker run -v ./data:/app/data myapp	Mount host directory
docker run -e API_KEY=secret myapp	Set environment variable
docker run --name web -d nginx	Run with a custom name
docker ps	List running containers
docker ps -a	List all containers (including stopped)
docker stop container_id	Gracefully stop a container
docker rm container_id	Remove a stopped container
docker exec -it container_id bash	Open shell in running container
docker logs -f container_id	Follow container logs (live)

Volumes

docker volume create mydata	Create a named volume
docker volume ls	List all volumes
docker run -v mydata:/app/data myapp	Mount named volume
docker volume rm mydata	Remove a volume
docker volume prune	Remove all unused volumes

Networks

docker network create mynet	Create a custom network
docker network ls	List all networks
docker run --network mynet myapp	Connect container to network
docker network connect mynet container_id	Add running container to network
docker network inspect mynet	Show network details and connected containers

Docker Compose

docker compose up -d	Start all services (detached)
docker compose down	Stop and remove all services
docker compose down -v	Stop, remove services and volumes
docker compose build	Build/rebuild all service images
docker compose logs -f web	Follow logs for "web" service
docker compose exec web bash	Shell into running service
docker compose ps	List running compose services
docker compose pull	Pull latest images for all services
docker compose up -d --build	Rebuild and restart all services

Dockerfile Instructions

FROM node:20-alpine	Base image
WORKDIR /app	Set working directory
COPY package*.json ./	Copy files into image
RUN npm ci --production	Run command during build
EXPOSE 3000	Document exposed port
ENV NODE_ENV=production	Set environment variable
CMD ["node", "server.js"]	Default command when container starts
ENTRYPOINT ["node"]	Fixed executable (CMD becomes args)
HEALTHCHECK CMD curl -f http://localhost/	Container health check
.dockerignore	File listing patterns to exclude from COPY

Cleanup & Troubleshooting

docker system prune -a	Remove all unused images, containers, networks
docker system df	Show Docker disk usage
docker inspect container_id	Detailed container/image info (JSON)
docker stats	Live resource usage for all containers
docker top container_id	Show processes in container
docker cp container_id:/path ./local	Copy file from container to host

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