Introduction

Welcome to the Docker Mastery Guide

Whether you're a novice exploring the world of Docker or a

seasoned pro seeking a quick reference, you're in the right

place. This comprehensive guide is designed to address

both beginners and experienced users, offering a thorough

exploration of essential Docker commands and concepts.

Explore creating and managing Docker images,

understand Container management, and master

Dockerfile syntax, dive into Docker Compose complexities,

and learn the latest features like Docker Compose Watch

with clear explanations, step-by-step guidance, and

practical illustrative examples.

With all the necessary commands and concepts, this guide

will help you get started with Docker real quickly. Go ahead

and give it a read!

Happy Dockering!

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...before you go

While our Docker Mastery Guide is fantastic for getting a

grip on Docker and taking that first step into DevOps,

imagine how much cooler it would be to apply that

knowledge to the latest tech stack like Next.js and work on

big projects showcasing Docker's true power.

If you're eager to dive deep into something this specific

and build substantial projects, our special course on

Next.js has got you covered.

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Next 14 Course

It teaches everything from the ground up, providing a

hands-on experience that goes beyond just Docker.

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Docker

Image
Docker Image
1. Build an image from a Dockerfile:
Terminal

docker build -t image_name path_to_dockerfile

# Example
docker build -t myapp .

2. List all local images:

Terminal

docker images
# Example
docker image ls

3. Pull an image from Docker Hub:

Terminal

docker pull image_name:tag

# Example
docker pull nginx:latest

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Docker Image
4. Remove a local image:
Terminal

docker rmi image_name:tag

# Example
docker rmi myapp:latest

Or
Terminal

docker rm [image_name/image_id]
# Example
docker rm fd484f19954f

5. Tag an image:
Terminal

docker tag source_image:tag new_image:tag

# Example
docker tag myapp:latest myapp:v1

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Docker Image
6. Push an image to Docker Hub:
Terminal

docker push image_name:tag

# Example
docker push myapp:v1

7. Inspect details of an image:

Terminal

docker image inspect image_name:tag

# Example
docker image inspect myapp:v1

8. Save an image to a tar archive:

Terminal

docker save -o image_name.tar image_name:tag

# Example
docker save -o myapp.tar myapp:v1

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Docker Image
9. Load an image from a tar archive:
Terminal

docker load -i image_name.tar

# Example
docker load -i image_name.tar

10. Prune unused images:

Terminal

docker image prune

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Docker

Container
Docker Container

1. Run a container from an image:

Terminal

docker run container_name image_name

# Example

docker run myapp

2. Run a named container from an image:

Terminal

docker run --name container_name image_name:tag

# Example

docker run --name my_container myapp:v1

3. List all running containers:

Terminal

docker ps

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Docker Container

4. List all containers (including stopped ones):

Terminal

docker ps -a

5. Stop a running container:

Terminal

docker stop container_name_or_id

# Example

docker stop my_container

6. Start a stopped container:

Terminal

docker start container_name_or_id

# Example

docker start my_container

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Docker Container

7. Run container in interactive mode:

Terminal

docker run -it container_name_or_id

# Example

docker run -it my_container

8. Run container in interactive shell mode

Terminal

docker run -it container_name_or_id sh

# Example

docker run -it my_container sh

9. Remove a stopped container:

Terminal

docker rm container_name_or_id

# Example

docker rm my_container

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Docker Container

10. Remove a running container (forcefully):

Terminal

docker rm -f container_name_or_id

# Example

docker rm -f my_container

11. Inspect details of a container:

Terminal

docker inspect container_name_or_id

# Example

docker inspect my_container

View container logs:

Terminal

docker logs container_name_or_id

# Example

docker logs my_container

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Docker Container

13. Pause a running container:

Terminal

docker pause container_name_or_id

# Example

docker pause my_container

14. Unpause a paused container:

Terminal

docker unpause container_name_or_id

# Example

docker unpause my_container

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Docker

Volumes

and Network
Docker Volumes and Network

Volumes:

1. Create a named volume:

Terminal

docker volume create volume_name

# Example

docker volume create my_volume

2. List all volumes:

Terminal

docker volume ls

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Docker Volumes and Network

3. Inspect details of a volume:

Terminal

docker volume inspect volume_name

# Example

docker volume inspect my_volume

4. Remove a volume:

Terminal

docker volume rm volume_name

# Example

docker volume rm my_volume

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Docker Volumes and Network

5. Run a container with a volume (mount):

Terminal

docker run --name container_name -v volume_name:/path/in/

container image_name:tag

# Example

docker run --name my_container -v my_volume:/app/data myapp:v1

6. Copy files between a container and a volume:

Terminal

docker cp local_file_or_directory container_name:/path/in/

container

# Example

docker cp data.txt my_container:/app/data

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Docker Volumes and Network

Network (Port Mapping):

1. Run a container with port mapping:

Terminal

docker run --name container_name -p host_port:container_port

image_name

# Example

docker run --name my_container -p 8080:80 myapp

2. List all networks:

Terminal

docker network ls

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Docker Volumes and Network

3. Inspect details of a network:

Terminal

docker network inspect network_name

# Example

docker network inspect bridge

4. Create a user-defined bridge network:

Terminal

docker network create network_name

# Example

docker network create my_network

5. Connect a container to a network:

Terminal

docker network connect network_name container_name

# Example

docker network connect my_network my_container

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Docker Volumes and Network

6. Disconnect a container from a network:

Terminal

docker network disconnect network_name container_name

# Example

docker network disconnect my_network my_container

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Docker

Compose
Docker Compose
1. Create and start containers defined in a docker-

compose.yml file:
Terminal

docker compose up

This command reads the docker-compose.yml file and

starts the defined services in the background.

2. Stop and remove containers defined in a docker-

compose.yml file:
Terminal

docker compose down

This command stops & removes the containers, networks,

and volumes defined in the docker-compose.yml file.

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Docker Compose
3. Build or rebuild services:
Terminal

docker compose build

This command builds or rebuilds the Docker images for the

services defined in the docker compose.yml file.

4. List containers for a specific Docker Compose

project:
Terminal

docker compose ps

This command lists the containers for the services defined

in the docker-compose.yml file.

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Docker Compose
5. View logs for services:
Terminal

docker compose logs

This command shows the logs for all services defined in the
docker-compose.yml file.

6. Scale services to a specific number of containers:

Terminal

docker compose up -d --scale

service_name=number_of_containers
# Example
docker compose up -d --scale web=3

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Docker Compose
7. Run a one-time command in a service:
Terminal

docker compose run service_name command

# Example
docker compose run web npm install

8. List all volumes:

Terminal

docker volume ls

Docker Compose creates volumes for services. This

command helps you see them.

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Docker Compose
9. Pause a service:
Terminal

docker volume pause service_name

This command pauses the specified service.

10. Unpause a service:
Terminal

docker volume unpause service_name

This command unpauses the specified service.

11. View details of a service:
Terminal

docker compose ps service_name

Provides detailed information about a specific service.

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Latest

Docker
Latest Docker

1. Initialize Docker inside an application

Terminal

docker init

2. Watch the service/container of an application

Terminal

docker compose watch

It watches build context for service and rebuild/refresh

containers when files are updated

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Dockerfile

Reference
Dockerfile Reference
What is a Dockerfile?
A Dockerfile is a script that contains instructions for
building a Docker image. It defines the base image, sets up
environment variables, installs software, and configures
the container for a specific application or service.

Dockerfile Syntax

FROM:
Specifies the base image for the Docker image.

FROM image_name:tag
# Example
FROM ubuntu:20.04

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Dockerfile Reference
WORKDIR:
Sets the working directory for subsequent instructions.

WORKDIR /path/to/directory
# Example
WORKDIR /app

COPY:
Copies files or directories from the build context to the
container.

COPY host_source_path container_destination_path

# Example
COPY . .

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Dockerfile Reference
RUN:
Executes commands in the shell.

RUN command1 && command2

# Example
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y curl

ENV:
Sets environment variables in the image.

ENV KEY=VALUE
# Example
ENV NODE_VERSION=14

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Dockerfile Reference
EXPOSE:
Informs Docker that the container listens on specified
network ports at runtime.

EXPOSE port
# Example
EXPOSE 8080

CMD:
Provides default commands or parameters for an
executing container.

CMD ["executable","param1","param2"]
# Example
CMD ["npm", "start"]

Or,

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Dockerfile Reference

CMD executable param1 param2

# Example
CMD npm run dev

ENTRYPOINT:
Configures a container that will run as an executable.

ENTRYPOINT ["executable","param1","param2"]
# Example
ENTRYPOINT ["node", "app.js"]

Or,

ENTRYPOINT executable param1 param2

# Example
ENTRYPOINT node app.js

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Dockerfile Reference
ARG:
Defines variables that users can pass at build-time to the
builder with the docker build command.

ARG VARIABLE_NAME=default_value
# Example
ARG VERSION=latest

VOLUME:
Creates a mount point for external volumes or other
containers.

VOLUME /path/to/volume
# Example
VOLUME /data

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Dockerfile Reference
LABEL:
Adds metadata to an image in the form of key-value pairs.

LABEL key="value"
# Example
LABEL version="1.0" maintainer="Adrian"

USER:
Specifies the username or UID to use when running the
image.

USER user_name
# Example
USER app

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Dockerfile Reference
ADD:
Copies files or directories and can extract tarballs in the
process.

ADD source_path destination_path

# Example
ADD ./app.tar.gz /app

Similar to COPY, but with additional capabilities (e.g.,

extracting archives).

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Dockerfile Example
# Use an official Node.js runtime as a base image

FROM node:20-alpine

# Set the working directory to /app

WORKDIR /app

# Copy package.json and package-lock.json to the

working directory

COPY package*.json ./

# Install dependencies

RUN npm install

# Copy the current directory contents to the container

at /app

COPY . .

# Expose port 8080 to the outside world

EXPOSE 8080

# Define environment variable

ENV NODE_ENV=production

# Run app.js when the container launches

CMD node app.js

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Docker

Compose

File Reference
Docker Compose File Reference
What is a Docker Compose File?
A Docker Compose file is a YAML file that defines a multi-
container Docker application. It specifies the services,
networks, and volumes for the application, along with any
additional configuration options.

Docker Compose File Syntax

version:
Specifies the version of the Docker Compose file format.
Example:

version: '3.8'

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Docker Compose File Reference
services:
Defines the services/containers that make up the
application.
Example:

services:

web:

image: nginx:latest

networks:
Configures custom networks for the application.
Example:

networks:

my_network:

driver: bridge

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Docker Compose File Reference
volumes:
Defines named volumes that the services can use.
Example:

volumes:

my_volume:

environment:
Sets environment variables for a service.
Example:

environment:

- NODE_ENV=production

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Docker Compose File Reference
ports:
Maps host ports to container ports.
Example:

ports:

- "8080:80"

depends_on:
Specifies dependencies between services, ensuring one
service starts before another.
Example:

depends_on:

- db

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Docker Compose File Reference
build:
Configures the build context and Dockerfile for a service.
Example:

build:

context: .

dockerfile: Dockerfile.dev

volumes_from:
Mounts volumes from another service or container.
Example:

volumes_from:

- service_name

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Docker Compose File Reference
command:
Overrides the default command specified in the Docker
image.
Example:

command: ["npm", "start"]

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Docker Compose File Example
Here's a simple Docker Compose file example for a web
and database service:

version: '3.8'

# Define services for the MERN stack

services:

# MongoDB service

mongo:

image: mongo:latest

ports:

- "27017:27017"

volumes:

- mongo_data:/data/db

environment:

MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_USERNAME: admin

MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_PASSWORD: admin

# Node.js (Express) API service

api:

build:

# Specify the build context for the API service

context: ./api

# Specify the Dockerfile for building the API service

dockerfile: Dockerfile

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Docker Compose File Example
ports:

- "5000:5000"

# Ensure the MongoDB service is running before starting

the API

depends_on:

- mongo

environment:

MONGO_URI: mongodb://admin:admin@mongo:27017/
mydatabase

networks:

- mern_network

# React client service

client:

build:

# Specify the build context for the client service

context: ./client

# Specify the Dockerfile for building the client service

dockerfile: Dockerfile

ports:

- "3000:3000"

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Docker Compose File Example
# Ensure the API service is running before starting the
client

depends_on:

- api

networks:

- mern_network

# Define named volumes for persistent data

volumes:

mongo_data:

# Define a custom network for communication between

services

networks:

mern_network:

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The End
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