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Docker CLI Container Lifecycle Cheat Sheet 2026

2 min read

Docker CLI — Container Lifecycle Cheat Sheet 2026

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

Container Lifecycle

Action Command Useful flags
View documentation for the original command 
tldr docker container run
List currently running Docker containers 
docker ps
Start one or more stopped containers 
docker start <container1_name container2_name ...>
Kill one or more running containers 
docker kill <container1_name container2_name ...>
Stop one or more running containers 
docker stop <container1_name container2_name ...>
Pause all processes within one or more containers 
docker pause <container1_name container2_name ...>
Display detailed information on one or more containers 
docker container inspect <container1_name container2_name ...>
Export a container’s filesystem as a `.tar` archive 
docker export <container_name>
Create a new image from a container’s changes 
docker commit <container_name>
View documentation for the original command 
tldr docker container ls

⚠️ Dangerous / Destructive Commands

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

Action Command Warning
⚠️ Destroy ⚠️ 
terraform destroy -auto-approve
 Irreversible — verify the target before running
⚠️ Delete 
kubectl delete namespace production
 Irreversible — verify the target before running
⚠️ Prune ⚠️ 
docker system prune -af --volumes
 Irreversible — verify the target before running
⚠️ Delete 
pvesh delete /nodes/{node}/qemu/{vmid}
 Irreversible — verify the target before running
⚠️ Delete 
az group delete --name MyResourceGroup --yes
 Irreversible — verify the target before running

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Container Lifecycle and the other groups?

Each group in this Docker CLI cheat sheet covers a distinct area. Container Lifecycle focuses on its specific scope, while the other groups 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: