docker build -t app .: Build an image from Dockerfile. | docker images: List local images. | docker pull : Pull an image from a registry.

docker run -it sh: Run interactively with a shell. | docker run -d -p 3000:3000 : Run in background with port mapping. | docker ps: List running containers.

docker volume ls: List volumes. | docker run -v data:/app/data : Mount a named volume. | docker cp :/app/log.txt .: Copy file from container.

docker network ls: List networks. | docker network create devnet: Create a network. | docker run --network devnet : Attach a container to a network.

Docker Cheatsheet

Q: Compose

Run multi-container apps with one command. docker compose up -d # stop

Q: Cleanup

Keep your local environment lean. docker system prune -f # remove unused images only

Build, run, and ship containers faster with the Docker commands you actually use.

When This Cheatsheet Helps Most

This page is most useful when you need to build an image, inspect a failing container, mount local files, or clean up a development machine that is full of unused images and stopped containers.

Images

Key / Code	Description
docker build -t app .	Build an image from Dockerfile.
docker images	List local images.
docker pull <image>	Pull an image from a registry.
docker rmi <image>	Remove an image.

Containers

Key / Code	Description
docker run -it <image> sh	Run interactively with a shell.
docker run -d -p 3000:3000 <image>	Run in background with port mapping.
docker ps	List running containers.
docker ps -a	List all containers.
docker stop <id>	Stop a container.
docker rm <id>	Remove a container.

Volumes & Files

Key / Code	Description
docker volume ls	List volumes.
docker run -v data:/app/data <image>	Mount a named volume.
docker cp <id>:/app/log.txt .	Copy file from container.

Networking

Key / Code	Description
docker network ls	List networks.
docker network create devnet	Create a network.
docker run --network devnet <image>	Attach a container to a network.

Compose

Run multi-container apps with one command.

docker compose up -d
# stop
docker compose down

Cleanup

Keep your local environment lean.

docker system prune -f
# remove unused images only
docker image prune -f

Common Docker Mistakes

A frequent mistake is debugging the image when the real problem is the container runtime configuration, such as the wrong environment variable, missing port mapping, or an unexpected bind mount overriding files inside the image.

Kubernetes basics and cluster concepts

Move from single-container workflows to orchestration concepts and common kubectl tasks.

CORS troubleshooting for containerized APIs

Debug browser-side API failures when your backend runs in Docker or behind a local proxy.

SSH commands for remote servers

Connect to remote hosts when your containers are not only running locally.

Cron syntax for scheduled container jobs

Schedule recurring jobs, cleanup scripts, and periodic container tasks safely.

Knowledge is power.