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Docker Common Commands🌱 Beginner
A handful of commands cover almost all daily container work — running, inspecting, debugging, and cleaning up.
Containers
| Command | Does |
|---|---|
docker ps / docker ps -a | list running / all containers |
docker run <image> | create and start a container |
docker stop <name> / start | stop / restart a container |
docker rm <name> | remove a stopped container |
docker logs -f <name> | view (and follow) its logs |
docker exec -it <name> bash | open a shell inside it |
Images
| Command | Does |
|---|---|
docker images | list local images |
docker pull <image> | download an image |
docker build -t name . | build an image from a Dockerfile |
docker rmi <image> | remove an image |
Inspect and debug
bash
docker logs -f web # stream logs
docker exec -it web sh # shell inside a running container
docker inspect web # full JSON details (config, network, mounts)
docker stats # live CPU/memory usageCleaning up
bash
docker system df # see disk usage
docker container prune # remove all stopped containers
docker image prune -a # remove unused images
docker system prune -a # remove everything unused (careful!)Warning:
docker system prune -a deletes all stopped containers, unused networks, and unused images — it can free a lot of space but will re-download images later. Run it deliberately, not on a whim.Tip:
docker exec -it <name> sh (or bash) is your go-to for debugging — it drops you into a shell inside the running container to inspect files, environment, and processes. Use docker logs -f to watch output in real time.Docker Container Takeaway: Docker containers isolate application runtimes using Linux kernel namespaces (for processes) and control groups (cgroups for resources).
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