Docker Basic Commands on Linux

Docker provides a way to package and run applications in isolated environments called containers. Let’s explore the fundamental Docker commands you’ll need when working on a Linux system.

Container Management

Command	Description	Example
docker run	Start a new container	docker run -d --name my_nginx -p 8080:80 nginx
docker ps	List running containers	docker ps -a (show all containers)
docker stop	Stop a running container	docker stop my_nginx
docker start	Start a stopped container	docker start my_nginx
docker restart	Restart a container	docker restart my_nginx
docker rm	Remove a stopped container	docker rm my_nginx (add -f to force)
docker exec	Run a command in a running container	docker exec -it my_nginx bash
docker logs	View container logs	docker logs -f my_nginx (follow logs)
docker cp	Copy files between host/container	docker cp my_nginx:/file.txt ./

Image Management

Command	Description	Example
docker images	List downloaded images	docker images
docker rmi	Remove an image	docker rmi nginx (add -f to force)
docker pull	Download an image	docker pull ubuntu:latest
docker push	Upload to a registry	docker push my_image:tag
docker build	Build an image from a Dockerfile	docker build -t my_image:tag .

Network Management

Command	Description	Example
docker network ls	List networks	docker network ls
docker network create	Create a custom network	docker network create my_net
docker network inspect	Inspect network details	docker network inspect my_net

Volume Management

Command	Description	Example
docker volume create	Create a volume	docker volume create my_vol
docker volume ls	List volumes	docker volume ls
docker volume rm	Remove a volume	docker volume rm my_vol

System & Maintenance

Command	Description	Example
docker info	Display system-wide info	docker info
docker system prune	Clean up unused resources	docker system prune -a (⚠️ removes all unused data)
docker version	Show Docker version	docker version

Common Use Cases

1. Run a MySQL container with volume and env vars:

   docker run -d --name mysql_db \
     -v mysql_data:/var/lib/mysql \
     -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=secret \
     mysql:latest

2. Build and tag a custom image:

   docker build -t my_app:v1 -f Dockerfile .

3. Bind host port to container port:

   docker run -d -p 8080:80 --name webserver nginx

Tips

• Use -d for detached mode (run in background).
• Use -it for interactive shells (e.g., docker exec -it).
• Use --rm to auto-remove containers after they exit.

For advanced workflows, explore Docker Compose for multi-container setups.