This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Yash Sonawane
🎬 "You've built your first Docker image — high five! 🖐️ Now it's time to command Docker like a boss. No more googling basic commands. Here’s your go-to cheat sheet, packed with real examples."
🧠 Why Learn Docker CLI?
GUI tools are fine, but the real power of Docker lies in the terminal. If you want to:
- Automate workflows
- Debug faster
- Build better CI/CD pipelines
Then mastering the Docker CLI is non-negotiable. Let’s dive into the commands that matter.
🚀 Image Commands
📦 1. docker pull
Download an image from Docker Hub.
docker pull node:18
📦 2. docker images
List all downloaded images.
docker images
🧹 3. docker rmi
Remove an image.
docker rmi node:18
🧪 Container Commands
🏃 4. docker run
Run a container from an image.
docker run -d -p 3000:3000 my-node-app
🧭 5. docker ps
List running containers.
docker ps
👁️ 6. docker ps -a
List all containers (including stopped ones).
docker ps -a
🛑 7. docker stop
Stop a running container.
docker stop <container_id>
❌ 8. docker rm
Remove a container.
docker rm <container_id>
🔍 Debugging & Logs
📜 9. docker logs
View logs from a container.
docker logs <container_id>
🐚 10. docker exec
Run a command inside a running container.
docker exec -it <container_id> bash
🔎 11. docker inspect
View detailed info (network, config, volumes, etc.).
docker inspect <container_id>
🛠️ Image Building & Tagging
🧱 12. docker build
Build a Docker image from a Dockerfile.
docker build -t my-node-app .
🏷️ 13. docker tag
Tag an image for pushing to Docker Hub.
docker tag my-node-app yashsonawane/my-node-app:latest
☁️ 14. docker push
Push an image to Docker Hub.
docker push yashsonawane/my-node-app:latest
🧹 Cleanup Commands
🧽 15. docker system prune
Remove all unused data — WARNING: this will free space aggressively.
docker system prune
📌 Pro Tips
- Use
-itfor interactive terminals (bash,sh, etc.) - Use container/image names instead of long IDs
- Keep a
.dockerignorefile to reduce image size
🧠 What’s Next?
In Episode 6, we’ll cover:
- Docker Volumes: Why data disappears when you stop containers
- How to persist data like a pro
- Real use cases (MySQL, logs, etc.)
💬 Over to You
What’s your favorite Docker command?
What confused you the most when using the CLI for the first time?
Drop it in the comments — let’s learn from each other!
❤️ If this cheat sheet helped, give it a like, bookmark it, or share it with your fellow devs.
🎬 Next: “Docker Volumes — The Secret to Saving Your Data”
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Yash Sonawane
Yash Sonawane | Sciencx (2025-08-27T02:37:00+00:00) 🛳️ Docker Series: Episode 5 — Docker CLI Cheat Sheet: 15 Commands You’ll Actually Use. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/08/27/%f0%9f%9b%b3%ef%b8%8f-docker-series-episode-5-docker-cli-cheat-sheet-15-commands-youll-actually-use/
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