List all containers
Running and stopped containers with their status and ports.
docker ps -aDocker commands cheat sheet
Run, inspect and clean up Docker containers and images, work with Docker Compose, and reclaim disk space safely.
15 commands
Run a container on a port
Starts a container in the background and maps a port to your machine.
docker run -d -p : --name Throwaway interactive container
Opens a shell in a fresh container that is deleted when you exit.
docker run -it --rm bashOpen a shell inside a container
Use bash instead of sh if the image has it.
docker exec -it shFollow a container’s logs
Last 100 lines, then streams new ones.
docker logs -f --tail 100 Build an image
Builds from the Dockerfile in the current folder.
docker build -t .Copy a file out of a container
Works the other way round too.
docker cp : Start a Compose project
Builds images if needed and starts all services in the background.
docker compose up -d --buildFollow Compose logs
Leave out the service name to see all of them.
docker compose logs -f Stop a Compose project
Stops and removes the containers and network. Add -v to also delete volumes (data).
docker compose downStop all running containers
Gracefully stops every running container.
docker stop $(docker ps -q)How much space Docker uses
Space used by images, containers, volumes and build cache.
docker system dfRemove dangling images
Deletes untagged leftover layers from old builds. Asks before deleting.
docker image pruneRemove stopped containers
Deletes all stopped containers. Asks before deleting.
docker container pruneReclaim all unused Docker space
Removes stopped containers, unused networks, every image not used by a container, and the build cache.
docker system prune -aYou’ll need to re-download or rebuild images. Volumes are kept unless you add --volumes.
Every command copies as plain, clean text: no curly quotes, no long dashes, no invisible characters.