Skip to content
Docker

Run a Container

Run, list, stop, and remove Docker containers.

By EZ4Code Team
containerrunbasics

Code

# Run an image in foreground with port mapping
docker run -p 8080:80 --name web nginx:alpine

# Run in detached mode with env vars and volume
docker run -d \
  --name app \
  -p 3000:3000 \
  -e NODE_ENV=production \
  -v $(pwd)/data:/app/data \
  node:20-alpine

# List running / all containers
docker ps
docker ps -a

# Stop and remove
docker stop web
docker rm web
docker rm -f $(docker ps -aq)   # remove all containers

Explanation

docker run creates a writable layer over the image and starts a process. Use -d for detached mode, -p to publish ports, -e for environment variables, and -v to mount host paths. docker ps lists containers, while stop/rm manage their lifecycle.

More Docker Snippets

Writing a Dockerfile

Build an image from a Dockerfile with multi-instruction layers.

Image Management

Pull, list, tag, push, and prune images.

Volumes & Bind Mounts

Persist data with named volumes, anonymous volumes, and bind mounts.

Networking

Create networks, attach containers, and expose ports.

Docker Compose

Define and run multi-container apps with compose.

Multi-Stage Build

Build artifacts in one stage and copy them into a slim final image.