Docker Cheat Sheet: Essential Commands for DevOps

 Docker Cheat Sheet: Essential Commands for DevOps

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Basic Docker Commands
• Working with Images
• Managing Containers
• Building with Dockerfile
• Sample Dockerfile
• Volumes
• Networking
• Docker Compose
• Cleanup Commands
• Docker Commands Every DevOps Engineer Should Know
• Pro Tips
• Conclusion and Key Takeaways

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Introduction

Docker has revolutionized the way we build, ship, and run applications. Whether you’re a seasoned DevOps engineer or just getting started with containers, this cheat sheet provides a quick reference to essential Docker commands, concepts, and best practices. Bookmark it, share it, and use it to streamline your container workflows.

Basic Docker Commands

docker version         # Show Docker client and server version
docker info            # Display system-wide Docker info
docker help            # List all Docker commands

Working with Images

docker pull nginx              # Download image from Docker Hub
docker images                  # List local images
docker rmi nginx               # Remove image

Managing Containers

docker run -d nginx            # Run container in background
docker ps                      # List running containers
docker ps -a                   # List all containers
docker stop container_id      # Stop container
docker rm container_id        # Remove container

Building with Dockerfile

docker build -t myapp .        # Build image from Dockerfile
docker run myapp               # Run container from built image
docker exec -it container_id bash  # Access container shell

Sample Dockerfile:

FROM python:3.10-slim
WORKDIR /app
COPY requirements.txt .
RUN pip install -r requirements.txt
COPY . .
CMD ["python", "app.py"]

Volumes

docker volume create myvol     # Create volume
docker run -v myvol:/data nginx  # Mount volume to container
docker volume ls               # List volumes

Networking

docker network ls              # List networks
docker network create mynet    # Create network
docker run --network=mynet nginx  # Attach container to network

Docker Compose

docker compose up -d           # Start services in background
docker compose down            # Stop and remove services
docker compose logs            # View logs from services

Cleanup Commands

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

Docker Commands Every DevOps Engineer Should Know

Pro Tips

• Use --rm to auto-remove containers after exit
• Use .dockerignore to exclude files during build
• Tag images with :version for clarity
• Use multi-stage builds for smaller images
• Combine docker inspect with jq for structured output

Conclusion

Docker is a core technology for modern DevOps and development, enabling faster, more reliable, and scalable application delivery. This Docker cheat sheet summarizes essential Docker commands, best practices, and workflows to help developers and DevOps engineers streamline container management, optimize builds, and improve CI/CD efficiency. Bookmark and share this quick Docker reference to boost productivity and stay ahead in the container-driven DevOps ecosystem.

Written By Junaid Farooqui