Docker Comprehensive Cheat Sheet

1. Docker Basics

Command Description

docker --version Show Docker version

docker info Display system-wide information

docker help Show help for Docker commands

2. Working with Images

Command Description

docker pull <image> Download image from Docker Hub

docker images List all local images

docker rmi <image> Remove an image

docker build -t <name>:<tag> <path> Build an image from a Dockerfile

docker tag <image> <repo>/<image>:<tag> Tag an image

docker push <repo>/<image>:<tag> Push image to registry

docker save -o <file>.tar <image> Save image to a tar archive

docker load -i <file>.tar Load image from a tar archive

3. Container Management

Command Description

docker run <image> Run a container from image

docker run -d <image> Run in detached mode

docker run -it <image> /bin/bash Run interactively with a shell

docker run --name <name> <image> Assign a name to the container

 docker ps List running containers

docker ps -a List all containers

docker stop <container> Stop a running container

docker start <container> Start a stopped container

docker restart <container> Restart a container

docker rm <container> Remove a container

docker exec -it <container> /bin/bash Run a command in a running container

docker logs <container> View logs of a container

docker inspect <container|image> View detailed information

docker top <container> Show running processes in container

4. Networking

Command Description

docker network ls List all networks

docker network create <network> Create a new network

docker network rm <network> Remove a network

docker network inspect <network> View network details

docker run --network <network> <image> Connect container to a network

5. Volumes & Data

Command Description

docker volume ls List all volumes

docker volume create <volume> Create a new volume

docker volume rm <volume> Remove a volume

docker run -v <host_path>:<container_path> Mount host directory as a volume

<image>
 docker run -v <volume>:<container_path> Mount Docker volume
<image>

docker volume inspect <volume> View volume details

6. Cleaning Up

Command Description

docker system prune Remove unused data

docker rm $(docker ps -aq) Remove all containers

docker rmi $(docker images -q) Remove all images

docker volume prune Remove all unused volumes

docker network prune Remove all unused networks

7. Docker Compose

Command Description

docker compose up Start services defined in docker-compose.yml

docker compose up -d Start in detached mode

docker compose down Stop and remove containers, networks, etc.

docker compose ps List containers

docker compose logs View logs

docker compose build Build or rebuild services

8. Dockerfile Essentials

Instruction Description

FROM Base image

RUN Execute command during build

CMD Default command to run

 ENTRYPOINT Set container entrypoint

COPY Copy files/directories

ADD Copy files/directories (with extra features)

WORKDIR Set working directory

ENV Set environment variable

EXPOSE Expose port

VOLUME Create mount point for volumes

9. Docker Swarm (Orchestration)

Command Description

docker swarm init Initialize a swarm

docker swarm join ... Join a node to a swarm

docker service create ... Create a new service

docker service ls List services

docker service ps <service> List tasks of a service

docker stack deploy -c <file> <name> Deploy a stack

docker node ls List swarm nodes

docker stack rm <name> Remove a stack

10. Miscellaneous

Command Description

docker stats Show container resource usage

docker history <image> Show image history

docker export <container> > file.tar Export container filesystem

docker import <file.tar> Import from a tarball

docker login Log in to Docker Hub

 docker logout Log out from Docker Hub

11. Useful Shortcuts

 Stop all running containers:

docker stop $(docker ps -q)

 Remove all stopped containers:

docker rm $(docker ps -a -q)

 Remove all images:

docker rmi $(docker images -q)

 Remove dangling volumes:

docker volume rm $(docker volume ls -qf dangling=true)

12. References & Further Reading

 Official Docker CLI Cheat Sheet (PDF)[1]

 The Ultimate Docker Cheat Sheet (dockerlabs)[2]

 Docker Commands Cheat Sheet (Spacelift)[3]

 Complete Guide (GeeksforGeeks)[4]

 Quick Reference (quickref.me)[5]

 Hostinger Docker Cheat Sheet[6]

This cheat sheet covers the most essential Docker commands and concepts for daily
development, deployment, and troubleshooting. For more advanced usage and updates,
refer to the official Docker documentation or downloadable cheat sheets from trusted
sources.

1. https://docs.docker.com/get-started/docker_cheatsheet.pdf

2. https://dockerlabs.collabnix.com/docker/cheatsheet/

3. https://spacelift.io/blog/docker-commands-cheat-sheet

4. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/devops/docker-cheat-sheet/
5. https://quickref.me/docker.html

6. https://www.hostinger.com/in/tutorials/docker-cheat-sheet