Managing Docker Images

This post will cover topic related to ‘Managing Docker Images’ with multiple docker command examples and different scenerios. So this will help you to understand the command docker and options available in it. Also this post will explain you how to use docker command.

Managing Docker Images is crucial for Docker users to create, manage, and distribute containerized applications. Docker images are templates that contain application code, runtime, libraries, dependencies, and other necessary files packaged to run applications in isolated environments.

One of the fundamental commands in Docker is docker image, which allows users to interact with Docker images. Below are several examples demonstrating its usage:

Example 1: Listing Docker Images
To list all Docker images on your system, use the command:

docker image ls

This command will display a list of Docker images along with details such as repository, tag, image ID, and size. To verify, check if the output lists the images currently available on your Docker host.

Example 2: Pulling Docker Images
To download a Docker image from a registry like Docker Hub, use:

docker image pull nginx:latest

Executing this command will pull the latest version of the Nginx image from Docker Hub. Verify the download by checking if the image is now available locally using docker image ls.

Example 3: Removing Docker Images
To delete a Docker image from your local system, use:

docker image rm nginx:latest

Be cautious as this action is irreversible. Verify by checking if the image has been removed from your system using docker image ls.

Example 4: Tagging Docker Images
To tag a Docker image with a specific tag or version, use:

docker image tag nginx:latest mynginx:1.0

This will create a new tag mynginx:1.0 for the existing nginx:latest image. Verify by listing images with docker image ls.

Example 5: Building Docker Images
To build a Docker image from a Dockerfile in the current directory, use:

docker image build -t myapp .

This command builds an image tagged as myapp from the Dockerfile in the current directory. Verify by listing images with docker image ls.

Example 6: Inspecting Docker Images
To inspect details of a specific Docker image, use:

docker image inspect nginx:latest

This command provides detailed metadata about the nginx:latest image. Verify by examining the output to ensure all relevant information is displayed.

Example 7: Pushing Docker Images
To push a Docker image to a registry like Docker Hub, use:

docker image push myapp:latest

Replace myapp:latest with the tag of the image you want to push. Verify by checking the registry (e.g., Docker Hub) to confirm the image has been pushed successfully.

Example 8: Saving Docker Images
To save a Docker image as a tar archive, use:

docker image save -o nginx.tar.gz nginx:latest

This command saves the nginx:latest image as nginx.tar.gz in the current directory. Verify by checking if the tar archive exists and contains the image files.

Example 9: Loading Docker Images
To load a Docker image from a tar archive, use:

docker image load -i nginx.tar.gz

This command loads the nginx.tar.gz archive into Docker. Verify by listing images with docker image ls.

Example 10: Pruning Unused Docker Images
To remove all dangling (unused) Docker images, use:

docker image prune

This command cleans up disk space by removing unused images. Verify by checking if the output confirms that dangling images have been deleted.

Also check similar articles.

Managing Docker Contexts
Managing Docker Containers
Managing Docker Checkpoints
Managing Docker Builds
Searching Docker Hub for Images