Lesson 4 - Running a Docker Container

15/02/2024 - 2 phút

Running a Docker container is a core process in using Docker, allowing you to deploy and manage your applications flexibly. Below is a detailed guide on how to run a Docker container.

Running a Docker Container

1. Choose a Docker Image:

First, you need to select the Docker image you want to use to run your container. You can choose an image from Docker Hub or use an image you have previously built.

2. Use the `docker run` Command:

The docker run command is the basic command to create and start a new container from a Docker image.

The basic syntax of this command is:

docker run [OPTIONS] IMAGE [COMMAND] [ARG...]

Where:

[OPTIONS] are various options that can be applied, such as port mapping or volume mounting.
IMAGE is the name of the Docker image you want to run.
[COMMAND] is the command you want to execute inside the container when it starts.
[ARG...] is a list of arguments for the command.

3. Commonly Used Options:

Interactive (-it): Use -it to run the container in interactive mode, allowing you to interact with the container’s terminal. i stands for --interactive to keep STDIN open even if not attached, and t stands for --tty to allocate a pseudo-TTY.
```
docker run -it ubuntu bash
```
Automatic Removal (--rm): Use --rm to have Docker automatically remove the container when it stops, keeping your system clean.
```
docker run --rm nginx
```
Port Mapping (-p): Use -p to map a port from the container to the host. This is useful for web applications or services that need to be accessed from outside.
```
docker run -p 80:80 nginx
```
In this example, port 80 on the host is mapped to port 80 in the container.
Volume Mounting (-v): Use -v to mount a directory from your host into the container, allowing data sharing.
```
docker run -v /my/host/folder:/my/container/folder nginx
```
Where /my/host/folder is the path on the host and /my/container/folder is the path inside the container.

Conclusion

Running a Docker container is straightforward yet powerful, allowing you to deploy applications and services quickly. By using options like -it, --rm, -p, and -v, you can precisely customize how your container runs and interacts with your system.