This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Darshan Vasani

🐳 Docker CLI Cheat Sheet

Your one-stop guide to mastering Docker commands 🚀

📦 SECTION 1: Image Commands

Command	Description	Example
`docker pull <image>`	⬇️ Pull an image from Docker Hub	`docker pull ubuntu`
`docker images`	📸 List all local images	`docker images`
`docker rmi <image>`	🗑️ Remove an image	`docker rmi ubuntu`
`docker tag <img> <repo>:<tag>`	🏷️ Tag image for push or rename	`docker tag myimg myrepo:v1`
`docker build -t <tag> .`	🏗️ Build image from Dockerfile	`docker build -t myapp .`

🐳 SECTION 2: Container Lifecycle

Command	Description	Example
`docker run <image>`	🚀 Run a container	`docker run ubuntu`
`docker run -it <image>`	🖥️ Interactive container with terminal	`docker run -it ubuntu bash`
`docker run -d <image>`	🔄 Run in background (detached mode)	`docker run -d nginx`
`docker ps`	📋 List running containers	`docker ps`
`docker ps -a`	📋 List all containers (including stopped)	`docker ps -a`
`docker stop <id>`	🛑 Stop a running container	`docker stop 123abc`
`docker start <id>`	▶️ Start a stopped container	`docker start 123abc`
`docker restart <id>`	🔁 Restart a container	`docker restart 123abc`
`docker rm <id>`	❌ Remove a container	`docker rm 123abc`
`docker logs <id>`	📜 View container logs	`docker logs 123abc`

📂 SECTION 3: Volume and Data Management

Command	Description	Example
`docker volume create <name>`	🗃️ Create a volume	`docker volume create myvol`
`docker volume ls`	📋 List volumes	`docker volume ls`
`docker volume rm <name>`	🧹 Delete a volume	`docker volume rm myvol`
`-v host:container`	🔗 Mount volume inside container	`docker run -v $(pwd):/app ubuntu`

🌐 SECTION 4: Networking

Command	Description	Example
`docker network ls`	🌐 List networks	`docker network ls`
`docker network create <name>`	🛠️ Create a custom network	`docker network create mynet`
`docker network connect <net> <container>`	🔌 Connect a container to a network	`docker network connect mynet webapp`
`-p host:container`	🌍 Publish port to host	`docker run -p 8080:80 nginx`

🧪 SECTION 5: Exec & Inspect

Command	Description	Example
`docker exec -it <id> bash`	🛠️ Run command inside running container	`docker exec -it web bash`
`docker inspect <id>`	🔍 Detailed info on container/image	`docker inspect 123abc`
`docker stats`	📈 Real-time usage (CPU, MEM)	`docker stats`
`docker top <id>`	👨‍💻 Show running processes inside container	`docker top web`

🔄 SECTION 6: Save, Load, and Export

Command	Description	Example
`docker save -o <file>.tar <img>`	💾 Save image to `.tar` file	`docker save -o ubuntu.tar ubuntu`
`docker load -i <file>.tar`	📤 Load image from tar file	`docker load -i ubuntu.tar`
`docker export <id> > file.tar`	📦 Export container filesystem	`docker export 123abc > ubuntu.tar`
`docker import <file>`	🔁 Import tar as image	`docker import ubuntu.tar`

☁️ SECTION 7: DockerHub Login & Push

Command	Description	Example
`docker login`	🔐 Login to DockerHub	`docker login`
`docker logout`	🔓 Logout from DockerHub	`docker logout`
`docker push <user>/<image>`	📤 Push image to DockerHub	`docker push myuser/myapp`

📄 SECTION 8: Dockerfile Related

Command	Description	Example
`FROM`	📦 Base image	`FROM node:18`
`COPY`	📁 Copy files	`COPY . /app`
`RUN`	🔧 Execute command in build	`RUN npm install`
`CMD`	🚀 Default container command	`CMD ["node", "app.js"]`
`EXPOSE`	🌐 Document exposed port	`EXPOSE 3000`

🚮 SECTION 9: Clean Up Docker

Command	Description	Example
`docker system prune`	🧹 Remove all unused containers/images/volumes	`docker system prune`
`docker image prune`	🖼️ Remove dangling images	`docker image prune`
`docker container prune`	🗑️ Remove stopped containers	`docker container prune`
`docker volume prune`	💾 Remove unused volumes	`docker volume prune`

🧠 Quick Tips

Use --rm to auto-remove container on exit:

  docker run --rm ubuntu

Run detached with name and port:

  docker run -d --name web -p 80:80 nginx

Access logs live:

  docker logs -f <container_id>

🐳 Docker CLI Mastery with `--help`

“Learn how to teach yourself every command with confidence.”

🔍 1. Understanding `docker --help`

Start with:

docker --help

👉 Shows all major command groups like:

Commands:
  build       Build an image from a Dockerfile
  commit      Create a new image from a container's changes
  container   Manage containers
  image       Manage images
  volume      Manage volumes
  network     Manage networks
  ...

🧠 2. Drill Down into Subcommands with `--help`

You can add --help to any subcommand to discover available options.

Examples:

What to Explore	Command
See all image-related commands	`docker image --help`
See all container commands	`docker container --help`
See all run options	`docker run --help`
See help for specific action	`docker container start --help`

📚 3. Section-Wise Docker Command Reference

Let’s now organize all commands by category — and how to learn more using --help.

📦 A. Docker Image Commands

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker image ls`	List images	`docker image ls --help`
`docker image pull`	Pull image from registry	`docker image pull --help`
`docker image rm`	Remove image	`docker image rm --help`
`docker image build`	Build image from Dockerfile	`docker image build --help`
`docker image tag`	Tag image	`docker image tag --help`
`docker image inspect`	Inspect image metadata	`docker image inspect --help`
`docker image prune`	Remove unused images	`docker image prune --help`

🔍 Explore: docker image --help

🐳 B. Docker Container Commands

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker container ls`	List containers	`docker container ls --help`
`docker container run`	Create & start new container	`docker run --help`
`docker container start/stop`	Start/Stop container	`docker container start --help`
`docker container exec`	Execute inside running container	`docker exec --help`
`docker container logs`	Show logs	`docker logs --help`
`docker container rm`	Remove container	`docker container rm --help`
`docker container inspect`	Inspect container info	`docker container inspect --help`
`docker container prune`	Remove all stopped containers	`docker container prune --help`

🔍 Explore: docker container --help

📂 C. Docker Volume Commands

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker volume create`	Create volume	`docker volume create --help`
`docker volume ls`	List volumes	`docker volume ls --help`
`docker volume inspect`	Inspect volume	`docker volume inspect --help`
`docker volume rm`	Remove volume	`docker volume rm --help`
`docker volume prune`	Delete unused volumes	`docker volume prune --help`

🔍 Explore: docker volume --help

🌐 D. Docker Network Commands

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker network create`	Create a custom network	`docker network create --help`
`docker network ls`	List all networks	`docker network ls --help`
`docker network connect`	Connect container to network	`docker network connect --help`
`docker network inspect`	Network details	`docker network inspect --help`
`docker network rm`	Remove network	`docker network rm --help`

🔍 Explore: docker network --help

🔄 E. Docker System Cleanup

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker system df`	Show disk usage	`docker system df --help`
`docker system prune`	Remove unused data	`docker system prune --help`
`docker image/container/volume prune`	Cleanup individual resources	Add `--help` accordingly

🔍 Explore: docker system --help

☁️ F. Docker Registry (DockerHub)

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker login`	Login to DockerHub	`docker login --help`
`docker logout`	Logout	`docker logout --help`
`docker push`	Push image to registry	`docker push --help`
`docker pull`	Pull image from registry	`docker pull --help`

🧪 G. Docker Exec/Inspect/Debug

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker exec`	Run inside container	`docker exec --help`
`docker logs`	Show logs	`docker logs --help`
`docker inspect`	Deep object metadata	`docker inspect --help`
`docker stats`	Real-time resource usage	`docker stats --help`
`docker top`	Processes inside container	`docker top --help`

🧱 H. Docker Build Context

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker build`	Build image from Dockerfile	`docker build --help`
`docker commit`	Create image from container state	`docker commit --help`
`docker history`	Layer history of image	`docker history --help`

💡 BONUS: Global Docker Options (`docker --help`)

At the very top level, Docker offers global flags too:

Option	Description
`--config`	Use custom Docker config path
`--context`	Use a specific context
`--debug`	Enable debug mode
`--version`	Show Docker version
`--help`	Show help for any command

📦 Final Tip: Combine Flags for Mastery

Example of full command:

docker run -it --rm -v $(pwd):/app -p 3000:3000 --name myapp node bash

🐳 Docker CLI Cheat Sheet

Your one-stop guide to mastering Docker commands 🚀

📦 SECTION 1: Image Commands

Command	Description	Example
`docker pull <image>`	⬇️ Pull an image from Docker Hub	`docker pull ubuntu`
`docker images`	📸 List all local images	`docker images`
`docker rmi <image>`	🗑️ Remove an image	`docker rmi ubuntu`
`docker tag <img> <repo>:<tag>`	🏷️ Tag image for push or rename	`docker tag myimg myrepo:v1`
`docker build -t <tag> .`	🏗️ Build image from Dockerfile	`docker build -t myapp .`

🐳 SECTION 2: Container Lifecycle

Command	Description	Example
`docker run <image>`	🚀 Run a container	`docker run ubuntu`
`docker run -it <image>`	🖥️ Interactive container with terminal	`docker run -it ubuntu bash`
`docker run -d <image>`	🔄 Run in background (detached mode)	`docker run -d nginx`
`docker ps`	📋 List running containers	`docker ps`
`docker ps -a`	📋 List all containers (including stopped)	`docker ps -a`
`docker stop <id>`	🛑 Stop a running container	`docker stop 123abc`
`docker start <id>`	▶️ Start a stopped container	`docker start 123abc`
`docker restart <id>`	🔁 Restart a container	`docker restart 123abc`
`docker rm <id>`	❌ Remove a container	`docker rm 123abc`
`docker logs <id>`	📜 View container logs	`docker logs 123abc`

📂 SECTION 3: Volume and Data Management

Command	Description	Example
`docker volume create <name>`	🗃️ Create a volume	`docker volume create myvol`
`docker volume ls`	📋 List volumes	`docker volume ls`
`docker volume rm <name>`	🧹 Delete a volume	`docker volume rm myvol`
`-v host:container`	🔗 Mount volume inside container	`docker run -v $(pwd):/app ubuntu`

🌐 SECTION 4: Networking

Command	Description	Example
`docker network ls`	🌐 List networks	`docker network ls`
`docker network create <name>`	🛠️ Create a custom network	`docker network create mynet`
`docker network connect <net> <container>`	🔌 Connect a container to a network	`docker network connect mynet webapp`
`-p host:container`	🌍 Publish port to host	`docker run -p 8080:80 nginx`

🧪 SECTION 5: Exec & Inspect

Command	Description	Example
`docker exec -it <id> bash`	🛠️ Run command inside running container	`docker exec -it web bash`
`docker inspect <id>`	🔍 Detailed info on container/image	`docker inspect 123abc`
`docker stats`	📈 Real-time usage (CPU, MEM)	`docker stats`
`docker top <id>`	👨‍💻 Show running processes inside container	`docker top web`

🔄 SECTION 6: Save, Load, and Export

Command	Description	Example
`docker save -o <file>.tar <img>`	💾 Save image to `.tar` file	`docker save -o ubuntu.tar ubuntu`
`docker load -i <file>.tar`	📤 Load image from tar file	`docker load -i ubuntu.tar`
`docker export <id> > file.tar`	📦 Export container filesystem	`docker export 123abc > ubuntu.tar`
`docker import <file>`	🔁 Import tar as image	`docker import ubuntu.tar`

☁️ SECTION 7: DockerHub Login & Push

Command	Description	Example
`docker login`	🔐 Login to DockerHub	`docker login`
`docker logout`	🔓 Logout from DockerHub	`docker logout`
`docker push <user>/<image>`	📤 Push image to DockerHub	`docker push myuser/myapp`

📄 SECTION 8: Dockerfile Related

Command	Description	Example
`FROM`	📦 Base image	`FROM node:18`
`COPY`	📁 Copy files	`COPY . /app`
`RUN`	🔧 Execute command in build	`RUN npm install`
`CMD`	🚀 Default container command	`CMD ["node", "app.js"]`
`EXPOSE`	🌐 Document exposed port	`EXPOSE 3000`

🚮 SECTION 9: Clean Up Docker

Command	Description	Example
`docker system prune`	🧹 Remove all unused containers/images/volumes	`docker system prune`
`docker image prune`	🖼️ Remove dangling images	`docker image prune`
`docker container prune`	🗑️ Remove stopped containers	`docker container prune`
`docker volume prune`	💾 Remove unused volumes	`docker volume prune`

🧠 Quick Tips

Use --rm to auto-remove container on exit:

  docker run --rm ubuntu

Run detached with name and port:

  docker run -d --name web -p 80:80 nginx

Access logs live:

  docker logs -f <container_id>

🐳 Docker CLI Mastery with `--help`

“Learn how to teach yourself every command with confidence.”

🔍 1. Understanding `docker --help`

Start with:

docker --help

👉 Shows all major command groups like:

Commands:
  build       Build an image from a Dockerfile
  commit      Create a new image from a container's changes
  container   Manage containers
  image       Manage images
  volume      Manage volumes
  network     Manage networks
  ...

🧠 2. Drill Down into Subcommands with `--help`

You can add --help to any subcommand to discover available options.

Examples:

What to Explore	Command
See all image-related commands	`docker image --help`
See all container commands	`docker container --help`
See all run options	`docker run --help`
See help for specific action	`docker container start --help`

📚 3. Section-Wise Docker Command Reference

Let’s now organize all commands by category — and how to learn more using --help.

📦 A. Docker Image Commands

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker image ls`	List images	`docker image ls --help`
`docker image pull`	Pull image from registry	`docker image pull --help`
`docker image rm`	Remove image	`docker image rm --help`
`docker image build`	Build image from Dockerfile	`docker image build --help`
`docker image tag`	Tag image	`docker image tag --help`
`docker image inspect`	Inspect image metadata	`docker image inspect --help`
`docker image prune`	Remove unused images	`docker image prune --help`

🔍 Explore: docker image --help

🐳 B. Docker Container Commands

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker container ls`	List containers	`docker container ls --help`
`docker container run`	Create & start new container	`docker run --help`
`docker container start/stop`	Start/Stop container	`docker container start --help`
`docker container exec`	Execute inside running container	`docker exec --help`
`docker container logs`	Show logs	`docker logs --help`
`docker container rm`	Remove container	`docker container rm --help`
`docker container inspect`	Inspect container info	`docker container inspect --help`
`docker container prune`	Remove all stopped containers	`docker container prune --help`

🔍 Explore: docker container --help

📂 C. Docker Volume Commands

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker volume create`	Create volume	`docker volume create --help`
`docker volume ls`	List volumes	`docker volume ls --help`
`docker volume inspect`	Inspect volume	`docker volume inspect --help`
`docker volume rm`	Remove volume	`docker volume rm --help`
`docker volume prune`	Delete unused volumes	`docker volume prune --help`

🔍 Explore: docker volume --help

🌐 D. Docker Network Commands

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker network create`	Create a custom network	`docker network create --help`
`docker network ls`	List all networks	`docker network ls --help`
`docker network connect`	Connect container to network	`docker network connect --help`
`docker network inspect`	Network details	`docker network inspect --help`
`docker network rm`	Remove network	`docker network rm --help`

🔍 Explore: docker network --help

🔄 E. Docker System Cleanup

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker system df`	Show disk usage	`docker system df --help`
`docker system prune`	Remove unused data	`docker system prune --help`
`docker image/container/volume prune`	Cleanup individual resources	Add `--help` accordingly

🔍 Explore: docker system --help

☁️ F. Docker Registry (DockerHub)

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker login`	Login to DockerHub	`docker login --help`
`docker logout`	Logout	`docker logout --help`
`docker push`	Push image to registry	`docker push --help`
`docker pull`	Pull image from registry	`docker pull --help`

🧪 G. Docker Exec/Inspect/Debug

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker exec`	Run inside container	`docker exec --help`
`docker logs`	Show logs	`docker logs --help`
`docker inspect`	Deep object metadata	`docker inspect --help`
`docker stats`	Real-time resource usage	`docker stats --help`
`docker top`	Processes inside container	`docker top --help`

🧱 H. Docker Build Context

Command	Description	Help Command
`docker build`	Build image from Dockerfile	`docker build --help`
`docker commit`	Create image from container state	`docker commit --help`
`docker history`	Layer history of image	`docker history --help`

💡 BONUS: Global Docker Options (`docker --help`)

At the very top level, Docker offers global flags too:

Option	Description
`--config`	Use custom Docker config path
`--context`	Use a specific context
`--debug`	Enable debug mode
`--version`	Show Docker version
`--help`	Show help for any command

📦 Final Tip: Combine Flags for Mastery

Example of full command:

docker run -it --rm -v $(pwd):/app -p 3000:3000 --name myapp node bash

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Darshan Vasani

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Darshan Vasani | Sciencx (2025-07-03T09:33:39+00:00) Docker Command Line Interface. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/07/03/docker-command-line-interface/

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🐳 Docker CLI Cheat Sheet

📦 SECTION 1: Image Commands

🐳 SECTION 2: Container Lifecycle

📂 SECTION 3: Volume and Data Management

🌐 SECTION 4: Networking

🧪 SECTION 5: Exec & Inspect

🔄 SECTION 6: Save, Load, and Export

☁️ SECTION 7: DockerHub Login & Push

📄 SECTION 8: Dockerfile Related

🚮 SECTION 9: Clean Up Docker

🧠 Quick Tips

🐳 Docker CLI Mastery with --help

🔍 1. Understanding docker --help

🧠 2. Drill Down into Subcommands with --help

Examples:

📚 3. Section-Wise Docker Command Reference

📦 A. Docker Image Commands

🐳 B. Docker Container Commands

📂 C. Docker Volume Commands

🌐 D. Docker Network Commands

🔄 E. Docker System Cleanup

☁️ F. Docker Registry (DockerHub)

🧪 G. Docker Exec/Inspect/Debug

🧱 H. Docker Build Context

💡 BONUS: Global Docker Options (docker --help)

📦 Final Tip: Combine Flags for Mastery

🐳 Docker CLI Cheat Sheet

📦 SECTION 1: Image Commands

🐳 SECTION 2: Container Lifecycle

📂 SECTION 3: Volume and Data Management

🌐 SECTION 4: Networking

🧪 SECTION 5: Exec & Inspect

🔄 SECTION 6: Save, Load, and Export

☁️ SECTION 7: DockerHub Login & Push

📄 SECTION 8: Dockerfile Related

🚮 SECTION 9: Clean Up Docker

🧠 Quick Tips

🐳 Docker CLI Mastery with --help

🔍 1. Understanding docker --help

🧠 2. Drill Down into Subcommands with --help

Examples:

📚 3. Section-Wise Docker Command Reference

📦 A. Docker Image Commands

🐳 B. Docker Container Commands

📂 C. Docker Volume Commands

🌐 D. Docker Network Commands

🔄 E. Docker System Cleanup

☁️ F. Docker Registry (DockerHub)

🧪 G. Docker Exec/Inspect/Debug

🧱 H. Docker Build Context

💡 BONUS: Global Docker Options (docker --help)

📦 Final Tip: Combine Flags for Mastery

Related Posts

🐳 Docker CLI Mastery with `--help`

🔍 1. Understanding `docker --help`

🧠 2. Drill Down into Subcommands with `--help`

💡 BONUS: Global Docker Options (`docker --help`)

🐳 Docker CLI Mastery with `--help`

🔍 1. Understanding `docker --help`

🧠 2. Drill Down into Subcommands with `--help`

💡 BONUS: Global Docker Options (`docker --help`)