Docker commit method

In this guide, you’ll learn how to create a Docker image from a running container using docker container commit. This technique can be useful for rapid prototyping or debugging changes without writing a Dockerfile. For production-grade images, you should still prefer the Dockerfile approach to ensure repeatability and version control.

Overview

Typically, custom images are built with a Dockerfile:

docker build -t myapp:latest .

Alternatively, you can:

Launch a container from a base image (e.g., httpd).
Modify files or install packages inside the container.
Commit the container’s state as a new image.

The docker commit workflow is not recommended for production systems. Use a Dockerfile for maintainability, readability, and versioning.

When to Use `docker commit`

Scenario	Recommended?	Alternative
One-off experiments	Yes	Dockerfile (optional)
Capturing state for debugging	Yes	Volumes, logging
Production-ready, repeatable CI	No	Dockerfile

Step-by-Step Example

Run an httpd container in detached mode
docker run -d --name httpd httpd

Enter the container and update the default web page

docker exec -it httpd bash
root@container:/# cat > /usr/local/apache2/htdocs/index.html <<EOF
Welcome to my custom web application
EOF
root@container:/# exit

Commit the container state to a new image

docker container commit -a "Ravi" httpd customhttpd

Verify the new image

docker image ls
REPOSITORY    TAG       IMAGE ID       CREATED         SIZE
customhttpd   latest    adac0f56a7df   5 seconds ago   138MB
httpd         latest    417af7dc28bc   8 days ago      138MB

Comparison: Dockerfile vs. `docker commit`

Feature	Dockerfile	`docker commit`
Version control	Yes (plain text)	No
Automation	CI/CD pipelines	Manual or scripted
Reproducibility	High	Low
Ease of simple tweaks	Moderate	Very fast
Best practice for production	✔	✖

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

Docker commit method

Overview

When to Use `docker commit`

Step-by-Step Example

Comparison: Dockerfile vs. `docker commit`

References

Watch Video

​Overview

​When to Use docker commit

​Step-by-Step Example

​Comparison: Dockerfile vs. docker commit

​References

Watch Video

Overview

When to Use `docker commit`

Step-by-Step Example

Comparison: Dockerfile vs. `docker commit`

References