Top 10 Useful Docker Commands

Docker is a powerful tool for containerization that has become increasingly popular in recent years. It allows you to easily deploy and manage applications in a portable and scalable way. Docker also comes with a variety of commands that can make your container management more efficient. In this article, we'll look at the top 10 useful Docker commands that you should know.

1. docker run

   The docker run command is used to start a container from an image. It can be used to start a container with default settings or with customized settings specified through command-line options. For example, to start a container from the Ubuntu image, you can use the following command:
   

   docker run ubuntu

2. docker ps

   The docker ps command is used to list all running containers. It can be used to view basic information about each container such as the container ID, image used to create the container, and the command that is running inside the container.

3. docker stop

   The docker stop command is used to stop a running container. It sends a SIGTERM signal to the main process running inside the container, giving it time to gracefully shut down before forcefully terminating it.

4. docker rm

   The docker rm command is used to remove a container. Before removing a container, it must be stopped. If you want to remove all stopped containers, you can use the following command:
   

   docker rm $(docker ps -a -q)

5. docker images

   The docker images command is used to list all images that are currently available on the host. It displays basic information about each image such as the repository, tag, and image ID.

6. docker rmi

   The docker rmi command is used to remove an image. Before removing an image, all containers that were created from it must be removed. You can remove all unused images by running the following command:
   

   docker image prune

7. docker exec

   The docker exec command is used to run a command inside a running container. It is useful when you need to perform tasks inside a container, such as installing additional packages or executing a shell script. For example, to start a bash shell inside a running Ubuntu container, you can use the following command:
   

   docker exec -it <container_name> bash

8. docker logs

   The docker logs command is used to view the logs generated by a container. It can be used to troubleshoot issues that may occur inside a container. By default, it shows the last 10 lines of the log. To view the entire log, you can use the following command:
   

   docker logs <container_name>

9. docker build

   The docker build command is used to build a new image from a Dockerfile. A Dockerfile is a text file that contains instructions on how to build an image. For example, to build an image from a Dockerfile in the current directory, you can use the following command:
   

   docker build -t <image_name> .

10. docker-compose

    The docker-compose command is used to manage multi-container applications. It allows you to define a set of containers that work together to form an application. The docker-compose.yml file contains the configuration for the containers, and the docker-compose command can be used to start, stop, and manage the application.

With these useful Docker commands, you can more effectively manage your containers and make your development workflow more efficient. By mastering these commands, you will be able to deploy and manage containers with greater ease.

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That's it for this post. Keep practicing and have fun. Leave your comments if any.