Basic Docker Commands

docker --version       # Docker version check
docker info        # System info
docker help        # Help commands

Image Commands

docker images         # List all images
docker pull nginx        # Download image
docker build -t myapp .     # Build image
docker rmi image_id          # Delete image
docker tag img newname        # Rename/tag image

Container Commands

docker run nginx                          # Run container
docker run -d -p 8080:80 nginx           # Run in background + port map
docker ps                                 # Running containers
docker ps -a                              # All containers
docker stop container_id                  # Stop container
docker start container_id                 # Start container
docker restart container_id               # Restart
docker rm container_id                    # Delete container

Inspect & Logs

docker logs container_id        # Show logs
docker logs -f container_id     # Live logs
docker inspect container_id     # Full details
docker top container_id         # Running processes

Exec / Attach

docker exec -it container_id bash   # Enter container
docker attach container_id          # Attach terminal

Copy Files

docker cp file.txt container_id:/app/
docker cp container_id:/app/file.txt .

Network Commands

docker network ls
docker network create mynet
docker network inspect mynet

Volume Commands

docker volume ls
docker volume create myvolume
docker volume inspect myvolume

Cleanup Commands

docker system prune        # Remove unused data
docker container prune     # Remove stopped containers
docker image prune         # Remove unused images

Docker Compose Commands

docker compose up -d       # Start services
docker compose down        # Stop services
docker compose ps          # List services
docker compose logs -f     # Live logs

Advanced Useful Commands

docker stats                     # Resource usage
docker exec -it <id> sh         # Shell access
docker save -o img.tar image    # Save image
docker load -i img.tar          # Load image

Interview Quick Lines

👉 docker run → container start
👉 docker build → image create
👉 docker ps → container list
👉 docker exec → container access

Pro Tips

✔ -d → background mode
✔ -p → port mapping
✔ -it → interactive terminal
✔ --name → custom name