A guide to basics of docker

Spandan Bhattarai
2 min readDec 5, 2023

# Mastering Docker: A Step-by-Step Guide

Docker has become an integral part of modern software development, providing a lightweight and efficient way to package, distribute, and run applications. In this guide, we’ll take you through the essential Docker commands to get you started on your containerization journey.

## Installing Docker

Before diving into Docker commands, you need to have Docker installed on your system. Use the following commands to install Docker and Docker Compose on a Linux system:

sudo apt install docker-compose
sudo apt install docker.io

## Pulling Docker Images

Once Docker is installed, you can start by pulling Docker images from the official registry or other repositories. Use the following command to pull an image:

docker pull <image name>
# Example: docker pull nginx

To view a list of downloaded images, use:

docker images

## Running Docker Containers

To run a Docker container, use the following command:


docker run <image name>
# Example: docker run nginx

To find running Docker containers and list them along with their IP addresses, use:

docker ps

To show all Docker containers, including those not currently running, use:


docker ps -a

## Inspecting Docker Containers

If you want to find the IP address of a specific running container, you can use the following command:


docker inspect <container id>
# Example: docker inspect 73704850cdf7

## Deploying at localhost

After running a container, you can access it locally using the specified port. For example:

Assuming the container runs on port 80
http://localhost:80

## Stopping and Restarting Docker Containers

To stop a running container, use:


docker stop <container id>

To restart a previously stopped container, use:


docker start <container id>

## Deleting Docker Containers and Images

To delete a Docker container, use:

docker rm <container id>

To delete a Docker image, use:

docker rmi <image id>

## Running Docker in Detached Mode

If you want to run a Docker container in the background (detach mode), use:

docker run -d nginx

## Changing the Name of a Container

To change the name of a Docker container, use:


docker run — name <new_name> -d <repository name>

Docker simplifies the deployment and management of applications, making it a valuable tool for developers and system administrators. Experiment with these commands to enhance your understanding of Docker and streamline your development workflow.

--

--