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In this tutorial, we’ll cover essential Docker container lifecycle commands using the Docker CLI. You’ll learn how to create, start, list, interact with, monitor, and clean up containers.

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1. Creating and Starting a Container

  1. Create a container from the official httpd image.
    If the image isn’t available locally, Docker pulls it from Docker Hub.     
    docker container create httpd
  2. List containers (none are running yet): 
    docker container ls
  3. Include stopped containers with -a: 
    docker container ls -a
  4. Start the container by its CONTAINER ID: 
    docker container start d52fad69ea76
  5. Verify it’s running: 
    docker container ls

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Table: docker container ls Field Descriptions

FieldDescription
CONTAINER IDShort 12-character container ID
IMAGEName of the image
COMMANDEntrypoint command
CREATEDTimestamp when created
STATUSCurrent state and uptime
PORTSExposed ports
NAMESAuto-generated container name

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2. Listing Options

Use different flags with docker container ls to customize output:
FlagDescription
-aShow all containers (running and stopped)
-lShow the latest created container
-qOnly display numeric IDs of running containers
-aqDisplay numeric IDs of all containers (all states)
Example—list only IDs of running containers: 
docker container ls -q

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3. Running Containers Interactively

Combine create and start with run: 
docker container run -it ubuntu
If ubuntu:latest isn’t local, you’ll see the pull progress, then a shell prompt: 
root@0afdaf794887:/# ps -ef
UID        PID PPID  C STIME TTY          TIME CMD
root         1     0  0 06:47 pts/0    00:00:00 /bin/bash
root         9     1  0 06:48 pts/0    00:00:00 ps -ef
root@0afdaf794887:/# exit
Exiting the shell stops the container: 
docker container ls -l

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Detaching Without Stopping

To leave a container running and return to the host shell, press Ctrl+P then Ctrl+Q: 
docker container run -it ubuntu
# Press Ctrl+P, Ctrl+Q
docker container ls
Detaching this way leaves the container running in the background.

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4. Executing Commands in Running Containers

Run additional commands inside an active container using exec: 
docker container exec -it 9fe83b47dc1f /bin/bash
root@9fe83b47dc1f:/# ps -ef
You can even use partial container IDs: 
docker container exec -it 65 cat /etc/lsb-release

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5. Attaching to a Container

Use attach to connect to the primary process of a running container: 
docker container attach <container_id>
# then:
exit  # This will stop the container
Exiting an attached session (exit) will terminate the container’s main process.

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6. Stopping and Removing Containers

  • Stop a running container: 
    docker container stop 14fc5c1661f9
  • Remove a stopped container: 
    docker container rm 14fc5c1661f9
  • Prune all stopped containers: 
    docker container prune
docker container prune removes all stopped containers. Use with caution.
Or combine stop and remove for all containers: 
docker container stop $(docker container ls -q)
docker container rm $(docker container ls -aq)

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7. Detached Mode and Naming

Run in detached mode (-d) and assign a custom name: 
docker container run -itd --name=kodekloud ubuntu
Rename an existing container: 
docker container rename kodekloud yogish-codecloud

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8. Inspecting Container Details

Retrieve full metadata with inspect: 
docker container inspect yogish-codecloud
Sample output: 
[
  {
    "Id": "5c2b2b5fc32f...",
    "Created": "2020-05-04T07:04:13.230760175Z",
    "Path": "/bin/bash",
    "Args": [],
    "State": {
      "Status": "running",
      "Running": true,
      "Paused": false,
      "Restarting": false,
      "OOMKilled": false,
      "Dead": false,
      "Pid": 14776,
      "ExitCode": 0,
      "StartedAt": "2020-05-04T07:04:13.598111123Z",
      "FinishedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z"
    },
    "Image": "sha256:1d622ef86b1...",
    "Name": "/yogish-codecloud",
    "Driver": "overlay2"
  }
]

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9. Monitoring Containers

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9.1 Resource Usage

Display real-time stats: 
docker container stats

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9.2 Process List

Show host PIDs inside a container: 
docker container top reverent_hopper

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9.3 Logs

View past logs: 
docker container logs d52fad69ea76
Follow logs live: 
docker container logs -f d52fad69ea76

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Conclusion

You’ve now mastered:
  • Creating, starting, and listing containers
  • Interactive sessions with run, exec, and attach
  • Naming, renaming, and inspecting container details
  • Monitoring resource usage and logs
  • Cleaning up with stop, rm, and prune
For more commands, see the Docker CLI reference.

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