Docker Commands

The commands I use most often myself in everyday life on my server, to manage the various services in containers.

Last updated: September 1, 2026

docker psShows all currently running containers

docker ps -aAlso shows stopped containers

docker logsShows a container's log output

docker statsShows resource usage of running containers in real time

docker runCreates and starts a new container

docker startStarts a stopped container again

docker stopStops a running container gracefully

docker restartRestarts a container

docker exec -itOpens a terminal inside a running container

docker rmDeletes a stopped container

docker rmiDeletes an image that's no longer needed

docker system pruneCleans up unused data all at once

docker imagesShows all locally downloaded images

docker pullDownloads an image from a registry

docker buildBuilds your own image from a Dockerfile

docker compose up -dStarts all services from a compose file in the background

docker compose downStops and removes all services from a compose file

docker compose logsShows the logs of all services from a compose file

docker compose restartRestarts all services from a compose file

docker network lsShows all existing Docker networks

docker network createCreates a new, dedicated network for containers

docker volume lsShows all persistent storage locations for container data

docker inspectShows detailed information about a container or image

Worth a look

From image to container

An image consists of several stacked layers, a container is a running instance of it.

Container (currently running)

Application code

Dependencies and libraries

Base image, e.g. Ubuntu

docker run creates a new, running container from an image.