Demo Docker Container Operations

In this tutorial, we’ll cover essential Docker container lifecycle commands using the Docker CLI. You’ll learn how to create, start, list, interact with, monitor, and clean up containers.

1. Creating and Starting a Container

1. Create a container from the official httpd image.
   If the image isn’t available locally, Docker pulls it from Docker Hub.

   docker container create httpd
   

2. List containers (none are running yet):

   docker container ls
   

3. Include stopped containers with -a:

   docker container ls -a
   

4. Start the container by its CONTAINER ID:

   docker container start d52fad69ea76
   

5. Verify it’s running:

   docker container ls
   

Table: docker container ls Field Descriptions

2. Listing Options

Use different flags with docker container ls to customize output:

Example—list only IDs of running containers:

docker container ls -q

3. Running Containers Interactively

Combine create and start with run:

docker container run -it ubuntu

If ubuntu:latest isn’t local, you’ll see the pull progress, then a shell prompt:

root@0afdaf794887:/# ps -ef
UID        PID PPID  C STIME TTY          TIME CMD
root         1     0  0 06:47 pts/0    00:00:00 /bin/bash
root         9     1  0 06:48 pts/0    00:00:00 ps -ef
root@0afdaf794887:/# exit

Exiting the shell stops the container:

docker container ls -l

Detaching Without Stopping

To leave a container running and return to the host shell, press Ctrl+P then Ctrl+Q:

docker container run -it ubuntu
# Press Ctrl+P, Ctrl+Q
docker container ls

4. Executing Commands in Running Containers

Run additional commands inside an active container using exec:

docker container exec -it 9fe83b47dc1f /bin/bash
root@9fe83b47dc1f:/# ps -ef

You can even use partial container IDs:

docker container exec -it 65 cat /etc/lsb-release

5. Attaching to a Container

Use attach to connect to the primary process of a running container:

docker container attach <container_id>
# then:
exit  # This will stop the container

6. Stopping and Removing Containers

• Stop a running container:

  docker container stop 14fc5c1661f9
  

• Remove a stopped container:

  docker container rm 14fc5c1661f9
  

• Prune all stopped containers:

  docker container prune
  

Or combine stop and remove for all containers:

docker container stop $(docker container ls -q)
docker container rm $(docker container ls -aq)

7. Detached Mode and Naming

Run in detached mode (-d) and assign a custom name:

docker container run -itd --name=kodekloud ubuntu

Rename an existing container:

docker container rename kodekloud yogish-codecloud

8. Inspecting Container Details

Retrieve full metadata with inspect:

docker container inspect yogish-codecloud

Sample output:

[
  {
    "Id": "5c2b2b5fc32f...",
    "Created": "2020-05-04T07:04:13.230760175Z",
    "Path": "/bin/bash",
    "Args": [],
    "State": {
      "Status": "running",
      "Running": true,
      "Paused": false,
      "Restarting": false,
      "OOMKilled": false,
      "Dead": false,
      "Pid": 14776,
      "ExitCode": 0,
      "StartedAt": "2020-05-04T07:04:13.598111123Z",
      "FinishedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z"
    },
    "Image": "sha256:1d622ef86b1...",
    "Name": "/yogish-codecloud",
    "Driver": "overlay2"
  }
]

9. Monitoring Containers

9.1 Resource Usage

Display real-time stats:

docker container stats

9.2 Process List

Show host PIDs inside a container:

docker container top reverent_hopper

9.3 Logs

View past logs:

docker container logs d52fad69ea76

Follow logs live:

docker container logs -f d52fad69ea76

Conclusion

You’ve now mastered:

• Creating, starting, and listing containers
• Interactive sessions with run, exec, and attach
• Naming, renaming, and inspecting container details
• Monitoring resource usage and logs
• Cleaning up with stop, rm, and prune

For more commands, see the Docker CLI reference.