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

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
List containers (none are running yet):
docker container ls
Include stopped containers with -a:
docker container ls -a
Start the container by its CONTAINER ID:
docker container start d52fad69ea76
Verify it’s running:
docker container ls

Table: `docker container ls` Field Descriptions

Field	Description
CONTAINER ID	Short 12-character container ID
IMAGE	Name of the image
COMMAND	Entrypoint command
CREATED	Timestamp when created
STATUS	Current state and uptime
PORTS	Exposed ports
NAMES	Auto-generated container name

2. Listing Options

Use different flags with docker container ls to customize output:

Flag	Description
-a	Show all containers (running and stopped)
-l	Show the latest created container
-q	Only display numeric IDs of running containers
-aq	Display numeric IDs of all containers (all states)

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

Detaching this way leaves the container running in the background.

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

Exiting an attached session (exit) will terminate the container’s main process.

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

docker container prune removes all stopped containers. Use with caution.

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.

Introduction

Docker Engine

Docker Image Management

Docker Engine - Security

Docker Engine - Networking

Docker Engine - Storage

Docker Compose

Docker Swarm

Kubernetes

Docker Engine Enterprise

Docker Trusted Registry

Disaster Recovery

Demo Docker Container Operations

1. Creating and Starting a Container

Table: `docker container ls` Field Descriptions

2. Listing Options

3. Running Containers Interactively

Detaching Without Stopping

4. Executing Commands in Running Containers

5. Attaching to a Container

6. Stopping and Removing Containers

7. Detached Mode and Naming

8. Inspecting Container Details

9. Monitoring Containers

9.1 Resource Usage

9.2 Process List

9.3 Logs

Conclusion

Watch Video

​1. Creating and Starting a Container

​Table: docker container ls Field Descriptions

​2. Listing Options

​3. Running Containers Interactively

​Detaching Without Stopping

​4. Executing Commands in Running Containers

​5. Attaching to a Container

​6. Stopping and Removing Containers

​7. Detached Mode and Naming

​8. Inspecting Container Details

​9. Monitoring Containers

​9.1 Resource Usage

​9.2 Process List

​9.3 Logs

​Conclusion

Watch Video

1. Creating and Starting a Container

Table: `docker container ls` Field Descriptions

2. Listing Options

3. Running Containers Interactively

Detaching Without Stopping

4. Executing Commands in Running Containers

5. Attaching to a Container

6. Stopping and Removing Containers

7. Detached Mode and Naming

8. Inspecting Container Details

9. Monitoring Containers

9.1 Resource Usage

9.2 Process List

9.3 Logs

Conclusion