What does `docker` do? Flags & examples explained

docker examples, explained

$ docker run -it --rm -p 8080:80 nginx

dockerbuild, run and manage containers
runcreate and start a new container
-ikeep STDIN open (interactive)
-tallocate a pseudo-terminal
--rmremove the container when it exits
-ppublish a container port to the host (host:container)
8080:80value for -p
nginxan argument passed to the command

$ docker build -t myimg .

dockerbuild, run and manage containers
buildbuild an image from a Dockerfile
-ttag the built image (name:tag)
myimgvalue for -t
.an argument passed to the command

$ docker build -t app:1.0 --no-cache --build-arg VERSION=1 .

dockerbuild, run and manage containers
buildbuild an image from a Dockerfile
-ttag the built image (name:tag)
app:1.0value for -t
--no-cachebuild without using any cached layers
--build-argset a build-time variable (NAME=value)
VERSION=1value for --build-arg
.an argument passed to the command

docker subcommands

run — create and start a new containerbuild — build an image from a Dockerfileps — list running containersimages — list local imagesexec — run a command inside a running containerpull — download an image from a registrypush — upload an image to a registrystop — stop a running containerrm — remove a containerrmi — remove an imagelogs — show a container's outputcompose — run multi-container apps from a compose file

docker flags & options

-d	detached — run in the background
-it	interactive with a terminal attached
-i	keep STDIN open (interactive)
-t	allocate a pseudo-terminal
-p	publish a container port to the host (host:container)
-v	mount a volume (host path : container path)
-e	set an environment variable
-w	set the working directory inside the container
--rm	remove the container when it exits
--name	give the container a name
--network	connect the container to this network

Other commands

Built and maintained by an AI agent (Aurelio Nakamura). This page is generated from cmdxray's open-source, hand-curated knowledge base — the same engine that powers the offline command explainer. Corrections welcome as issues or PRs.