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Docker CLI Cheat Sheet 2026 — Quick CLI Command Reference

5 min read

Docker CLI Cheat Sheet 2026 — Quick Command Reference

Docker CLI Cheat Sheet is the complete quick-reference of Docker CLI commands grouped by function. Copy any command with one click and find what you need with Ctrl+F in under 3 seconds.

Image Management

Action Command Useful flags
Image management 
Docker Image Management Commands
Images 
docker images
Image ls 
docker image ls
Image 
docker image
Build 
docker image build -t [docker-username]/alpine-git
 -git -t -username
Pull 
docker image pull [image-name] | pull specified image from registry
 -name
Image rm 
docker image rm [image-name] | remove image for specified _image-name_
 -name
Image rm 
docker image rm [image-id] | remove image for specified _image-id_
 -id
Search [image-name] 
docker search [image-name] --filter "is-official=true" | find only official images having *[image-name]*
 --filter -name -official

Container Lifecycle

Action Command Useful flags
Run 
docker run -v /host:/container example/mysql
 -v
Container 
docker container
Container ps 
docker container ps
Container ls 
docker container ls | show all running containers
Container ls 
docker container ls -a | show all containers regardless of state
 -a
Container ls 
docker container ls --filter "status=exited" --filter "ancestor=ubuntu" | show all container instances of the ubuntu image that have exited
 --filter
Inspect 
docker container inspect [container-name] | display detailed information about specified container
 -name
Run 
docker container run [image-name] | run container based on specified image
 -name
Run 
docker container run --rm [image-name] | run container based on specified imaged and immediately remove it once it stops
 --rm -name
Run 
docker container run --name fuzzy-box [image-name] | assign name and run container based on specified image
 --name -box -name

Networks

Action Command Useful flags
Information on 
Show information on one or more networks:
Commands removing 
Docker Commands Removing Containers, Images, Volumes, And Networks
Provides a 
Docker provides a command to clean up unused containers, networks, images, and volumes. This is useful to free up system resources.
List all networks 
docker network ls
Create a bridge network 
docker network create my-network
 -network
Create network with subnet 
docker network create --subnet=192.168.0.0/16 my-network
 --subnet
Connect container to network 
docker network connect my-network my-container
 -container -network
Connect container with alias 
docker network connect --alias db my-network my-container
 --alias
Disconnect container from network 
docker network disconnect my-network my-container
 -container -network
Remove one or more networks 
docker network rm my-network
 -network
List network IDs only 
docker network ls -q
 -q

Volumes

Action Command Useful flags
Commands removing 
Docker Commands Removing Containers, Images, Volumes, And Networks
Provides a 
Docker provides a command to clean up unused containers, networks, images, and volumes. This is useful to free up system resources.
Create a volume 
docker volume create my_volume
Inspect a volume 
docker volume inspect my_volume
Remove a specific volume 
docker volume rm my_volume
Mount volume in container 
docker run -d --name mycontainer -v my_volume:/data nginx
 -v
Mount using –mount syntax 
docker run --mount source=my_volume,target=/app nginx
 --mount
Backup volume to host 
docker run --rm -v my_volume:/volume -v $(pwd):/backup alpine tar czf /backup/backup.tar.gz -C /volume .
 --rm -v
Restore volume from backup 
docker run --rm -v my_volume:/volume -v $(pwd):/backup alpine tar xzf /backup/backup.tar.gz -C /volume
 --rm -v

Docker Compose

Action Command Useful flags
Compose 
docker compose
Compose and 
Docker Compose and Dockerfile
Run 
docker run --help
 --help
Build 
docker build --rm=false .
 --rm
Run 
docker run -a stdin -a stdout -i -t ubuntu /bin/bash
 -a -i -t
Run 
docker run -a stdin -a stdout -a stderr ubuntu /bin/ls
 -a
Run 
docker run -v /host:/container example/mysql
 -v
Configure 
docker --config ~/testconfigs/ ps
 --config

Docker Swarm

Action Command Useful flags
Swarm 
docker swarm
Swarm commands 
Docker Swarm Commands
Init 
docker swarm init --advertise-addr 192.168.10.1
 --advertise-addr
Swarm join-token 
docker swarm join-token worker
 -token
Swarm join-token 
docker swarm join-token manager
 -token
Run 
docker run --help
 --help
Build 
docker build --rm=false .
 --rm
Run 
docker run -a stdin -a stdout -i -t ubuntu /bin/bash
 -a -i -t
Run 
docker run -a stdin -a stdout -a stderr ubuntu /bin/ls
 -a
Run 
docker run -v /host:/container example/mysql
 -v
Configure 
docker --config ~/testconfigs/ ps
 --config

Registry & Push

Action Command Useful flags
Push 
docker image push <usernameofregistry:Imagename: tag>
Pull 
docker image pull [image-name] | pull specified image from registry
 -name
Push 
docker push [image]
Push 
docker image push eon01/nginx

Cleanup (Prune)

Action Command Useful flags
Prune ⚠️ 
docker image prune
Prune ⚠️ 
docker system prune
Prune ⚠️ 
docker system prune -f
 -f
Prune ⚠️ 
docker system prune -a
 -a
Prune ⚠️ 
docker volume prune
Remove all unused images 
docker image prune -a
 -a
Prune system including volumes 
docker system prune --volumes
 --volumes
Prune all including volumes 
docker system prune -a --volumes
 -a --volumes
Prune resources older than 24h 
docker system prune --filter until=24h
 --filter until=24h

⚠️ Dangerous / Destructive Commands

These commands are irreversible. Verify your environment (dev/staging vs prod) before running them.

Action Command Warning
⚠️ Prune ⚠️ 
docker system prune
 Irreversible — verify the target before running
⚠️ Prune ⚠️ 
docker system prune -f
 Irreversible — verify the target before running
⚠️ Prune ⚠️ 
docker system prune -a
 Irreversible — verify the target before running
⚠️ Prune ⚠️ 
docker system prune --volumes
 Irreversible — verify the target before running
⚠️ Prune ⚠️ 
docker system prune -a --volumes
 Irreversible — verify the target before running
⚠️ Prune ⚠️ 
docker system prune --filter until=24h
 Irreversible — verify the target before running

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Image Management and Container Lifecycle?

Each group in this Docker CLI cheat sheet covers a distinct area. Image Management focuses on its specific scope, while Container Lifecycle and the remaining groups cover networking, storage, security and diagnostics respectively.

How do I check the installed Docker CLI version?

Run the version command (usually docker version or docker --version). The output shows the client and, when applicable, the server version.

Why does Docker CLI return ‘permission denied’?

A ‘permission denied’ error in Docker CLI usually means the current user lacks sufficient privileges or credentials are not configured. Check: (1) assigned IAM/RBAC roles, (2) an active authentication context via the corresponding login command.

How do I filter Docker CLI output by status or name?

Use flags such as --filter, --selector or --query depending on the tool. You can also pipe into grep or jq to process JSON: 

docker list | grep RUNNING

What is the fastest way to debug a Docker CLI error?

Add the verbose flag (--verbose, -v or --debug) to the failing command. This reveals the underlying HTTP/API calls and the full error response body.

Official sources & references

Commands cross-checked against vendor documentation and high-authority repositories: