Docker CLI

As explained in Podman in Action: Secure, rootless containers for Kubernetes, microservices, and more

The Docker CLI is the command-line client through which users invoke Docker container operations.

The Docker CLI is a command-line client for invoking container operations. Podman deliberately matches its familiar interface so existing Docker workflows can transfer with minimal change. section 1.3.5

Docker uses a client-server architecture: the CLI communicates with a Docker daemon, which delegates to containerd and an OCI runtime such as runc. This separates the client from the container process and adds daemon dependencies. section 1.3.3

Common Docker-compatible operations include:

• Manage containers with run, stop, start, ps, inspect, rm, and commit. section 2.4
• Manage images and registries with pull, push, login, rmi, and build. section 2.4

Using Podman through the Docker command

With the podman-docker package or an alias such as `alias docker=podman`, `docker ps` invokes `podman ps`; most Docker commands continue to work while Podman runs the containers. section 1.3.5

Figure 1.10 Tweet about “alias docker=’podman’”

A user anecdote illustrates how closely the Docker command and Podman can appear in everyday use. section 1.3.5

How Podman in Action: Secure, rootless containers for Kubernetes, microservices, and more covers it

How deep it goes

Explains commands and the client-server execution path through Docker daemon, containerd, and an OCI runtime.

Examples

Uses docker ps, container lifecycle commands, image commands, registry operations, build, and the docker=podman alias.

What you can do after

Operate containers and images through Docker-compatible commands, including workflows redirected to Podman.

How it connects

Connects the Docker CLI to Docker daemon, containerd, OCI runtime, container registries, Podman, and rootless container security.

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Also explained in

• 

  liveBookmanning.com
  Kubernetes in Action, Second EditionThe Docker CLI is the command-line client for sending container-management commands to Docker.
• 

  liveBookmanning.com
  Learn Docker in a Month of Lunches, Second EditionDocker CLI is the command-line interface for interacting with Docker.

Compare how 3 books explain Docker CLI →

Related concepts

• Docker daemonuses · The Docker daemon is a background service that manages Docker images, containers, networks, storage, and container operations on behalf of clients.
• daemonuses · A daemon is a long-running background process that operates independently of direct user interaction to provide services or perform ongoing system work.
• Podmanimplemented by · Podman is a daemonless, open-source container engine for building, running, and managing containers and container images.
• Docker volumeuses · A Docker volume is Docker-managed storage mounted into containers whose data persists independently of their writable layers and lifecycles.

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Podman in Action: Secure, rootless containers for Kubernetes, microservices, and more. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.