> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://notes.kodekloud.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Demo Docker Commands Part 2 > Docker container basics covering foreground and detached runs, listing running and all containers, stopping, removing containers, and inspecting logs and executing into running containers In this lesson you'll learn how to run containers in the foreground and background (detached mode), how to list running and exited containers, and how to remove containers you no longer need. These are essential Docker basics for managing container lifecycles on development and production hosts. ## Running a container in the foreground (no -d) By default, `docker run` attaches your terminal to the container's STDOUT/STDERR. This is useful for debugging or when you want to see process output in real time. However, interrupting your terminal (for example with Ctrl+C) sends a termination signal to the container and causes it to exit. Example: running the official `nginx` image in the foreground ```bash theme={null} ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ docker run nginx /docker-entrypoint.sh: /docker-entrypoint.d/ is not empty, will attempt to perform configuration /docker-entrypoint.sh: Launching /docker-entrypoint.d/10-listen-on-ipv6-by-default.sh 10-listen-on-ipv6-by-default.sh: info: Getting the checksum of /etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf 10-listen-on-ipv6-by-default.sh: info: Enabled listen on IPv6 in /etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf /docker-entrypoint.sh: Launching /docker-entrypoint.d/20-envsubst-on-templates.sh /docker-entrypoint.sh: Launching /docker-entrypoint.d/30-tune-worker-processes.sh /docker-entrypoint.sh: Configuration complete; ready for start up 2026/05/18 17:52:31 [notice] 1#1: using the "epoll" event method 2026/05/18 17:52:31 [notice] 1#1: nginx/1.31.0 2026/05/18 17:52:31 [notice] 1#1: start worker processes 2026/05/18 17:52:31 [notice] 1#1: start worker process 29 2026/05/18 17:52:31 [notice] 1#1: start worker process 30 ^C 2026/05/18 17:52:41 [notice] 1#1: signal 2 (SIGINT) received, exiting 2026/05/18 17:52:41 [notice] 29#29: exiting 2026/05/18 17:52:41 [notice] 29#29: exit 2026/05/18 17:52:41 [notice] 30#30: exiting 2026/05/18 17:52:41 [notice] 30#30: exit 2026/05/18 17:52:41 [notice] 1#1: worker process 29 exited with code 0 2026/05/18 17:52:41 [notice] 1#1: worker process 30 exited with code 0 2026/05/18 17:52:41 [notice] 1#1: exit ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ ``` When you need a running container to continue after you close the terminal, run it in detached mode. ## Running a container in the background (detached mode) Add the `-d` flag to `docker run` to start the container detached. Docker prints the container ID and returns you immediately to the shell; the container continues running in the background. Example: ```bash theme={null} ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ docker run -d nginx dbb4cce619eb89dc5e550538606d6f4491e284349f5e4d0b03ce668c84915e18 ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ ``` The long hex string printed is the full container ID. You can use a short, unique prefix of that ID with most Docker commands. ## List running containers To see containers that are currently running, use: ```bash theme={null} docker ps ``` Example output: ```bash theme={null} ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ docker ps CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS PORTS NAMES dbb4cce619eb nginx "/docker-entrypoint…" 21 seconds ago Up 20 seconds 80/tcp adoring_zhukovsky ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ ``` Notes about IDs and names * The full container ID is 64 hex characters; most commands accept the short form (first 4–12 characters) as long as it is unique. * Docker assigns a human-readable container name (e.g., `adoring_zhukovsky`) if you don't provide one. You can set a custom name with `--name ` when running the container. ## Stopping a running container Use `docker stop` followed by the container ID, its short unique prefix, or its name. Example: ```bash theme={null} ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ docker stop dbb4 dbb4 ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ ``` After stopping, `docker ps` will not list that container: ```bash theme={null} ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ docker ps CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS PORTS NAMES ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ ``` ## List all containers (including exited) To view every container on the host — running and exited — use `docker ps -a`. Example: ```bash theme={null} ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ docker ps -a CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS PORTS NAMES dbb4cce619eb nginx "/docker-entrypoint…" About a minute ago Exited (0) 14 seconds ago adoring_zhukovsky af6a9032a3b4 nginx "/docker-entrypoint…" About a minute ago Exited (0) About a minute ago frosty_carson c16f0bfc8d8e nginx "/docker-entrypoint…" 3 minutes ago Exited (0) 2 minutes ago frosty_rosalind 2e0ed4a373e8 nginx "/docker-entrypoint…" 3 minutes ago Exited (0) 3 minutes ago vigorous_elgamal 8ddbb9c64dc8 nginx "/docker-entrypoint…" 43 minutes ago Exited (0) 43 minutes ago elastic_keldysh 0a1bd048936d alpine "sleep 10" 44 minutes ago Exited (0) 44 minutes ago agitated_carson 855fa1ec8c58 alpine "sleep 5" 45 minutes ago Exited (0) 45 minutes ago tender_elbakyan 827e523371f0 alpine "cat /etc/lsb-release" 45 minutes ago Exited (1) 45 minutes ago beautiful_jennings 82af5bdd0bfd alpine "/bin/sh" 46 minutes ago Exited (0) 46 minutes ago epic_lehmann ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ ``` ## Removing containers Exited containers remain on disk until you explicitly remove them. Use `docker rm` to delete container metadata and its writable layer. You can pass multiple IDs or names in one command. Remove a single container (short ID): ```bash theme={null} ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ docker rm dbb4 dbb4 ``` Remove multiple containers at once: ```bash theme={null} ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ docker rm af6a c16f 2e0e af6a c16f 2e0e ``` After removal, `docker ps -a` will list only the containers that remain: ```bash theme={null} ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ docker ps -a CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND CREATED STATUS 8ddbb9c64dc8 nginx "/docker-entrypoint…" 45 minutes ago Exited (0) 44 minutes ago 0a1bd048936d alpine "sleep 10" 46 minutes ago Exited (0) 46 minutes ago 855fa1ec8c58 alpine "sleep 5" 46 minutes ago Exited (0) 46 minutes ago 827e523371f0 alpine "cat /etc/lsb-release" 47 minutes ago Exited (1) 47 minutes ago 82af5bdd0bfd alpine "/bin/sh" 47 minutes ago Exited (0) 47 minutes ago ubuntu@docker-demo:~$ ``` ## Quick reference — common container lifecycle commands | Action | Command | Notes | | - | -: | - | | Run in foreground | `docker run nginx` | Attaches terminal to container; Ctrl+C will stop it. | | Run in background (detached) | `docker run -d nginx` | Prints container ID and returns to shell. | | List running containers | `docker ps` | Shows only running containers by default. | | List all containers | `docker ps -a` | Includes exited containers. | | Stop a container | `docker stop ` | Sends SIGTERM then SIGKILL after timeout. | | Remove container(s) | `docker rm [ ...]` | Deletes container metadata and writable layer. | | View logs | `docker logs ` | Works on running or stopped containers. | | Exec into running container | `docker exec -it /bin/sh` | Use `/bin/bash` if available for an interactive shell. | Detached containers still run in the background and produce logs. Use `docker logs ` to inspect output, and `docker exec -it /bin/sh` (or `/bin/bash`) to open an interactive shell inside a running container. Be careful when removing containers: `docker rm` deletes container metadata and filesystem changes made in that container. If you need to preserve data, consider using volumes or committing the container to an image before removal. ## Links and references * Docker documentation — containers: [https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/commandline/container\_ls/](https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/commandline/container_ls/) * docker run reference: [https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/commandline/run/](https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/commandline/run/) This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.