Docker Container: Start, Stop, and Delete Commands

In order to understand what a Docker Container is, it is a compulsion to know about docker. 

The moment when you will have an idea about docker, it would be easy to predict what a docker container is.

Docker is software that provides a platform where users can write their code in any language they want, in and can move that code to any system which has installed docker in it.

The movement in docker is possible because of containers.

Container packages the codes, dependencies, configurations, and processes that you are running into in an isolated space and can be deployed in any place where you like.

Now let’s go deeper into the following subtopics that are discussed in this blog.

Snatch a Glimpse into the Topics

• Docker Container
• Properties of Docker container
  • Benefits
  • Drawbacks
• Docker Image and Container
• Docker Container Commands
• Future Scope of Docker Container
• Conclusion

With reference to the topic, we have created a video where a technology expert will guide you.

Docker Container

The whole existence of Docker Container is because of Docker. Considering that, let’s talk about docker first.

• Docker is a company, that provides a service of a monolithic application, and packages software into standardized units for development, shipment, and deployment.
• It gives a space where you can do every task including designing, writing codes, and configurations.
• Now, when you do your task, docker provides containerization as a concept that allows you to have absolutely sealed air-tight containers.
• These containers are portable and efficient in nature.
• It is created by the collection of read-only files known as Docker Image. Images when run on the Docker engine become containers.

Let’s further talk about its properties.

Properties of Docker Container

Docker Container was launched in 2013 by Docker, containers that run on the Docker engine and has some property that makes them desirable to the users, such as:

Secure: 

The user’s work is safer in the container, even in the process where the containers interact with each other, the isolation is still maintained.

Lightweight:

Containers do not have specific Operating Sytems but share the machine’s single OS kernel. Therefore, every application does not require its own OS.

It reduces the server and licensing costs, bringing higher server efficiencies.

Mentioned properties do give advantages to Docker Container. However, it still has some disadvantages. Let’s have a discussion on it.

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Benefits

Here are the benefits of using the Docker Container listed:

Speed and Agility:

• Docker allows you to instantly create containers for every process and have the capacity to deploy them in seconds.
• You can easily create, destroy, stop or start containers with simple commands.
• It gives you the ability to commit changes and the docker image enables you to roll back to the earlier version, in case a new change is not adapted by the environment.
• YAML configuration file creation results in automated deployment.
• Container scales the infrastructure.

Portable:

• Docker Container addresses the issue of ‘Why the code is not working on my computer?’.
• Behaves the same on each system irrespective of its version, and applications that are installed in the system.
• Containers are easy to move from one system to another without worrying about their compatibility.

Consistent Environment: 

• Docker provides consistency in its environment right from designing and developing to production and management.
• The work of debugging errors can be neglected and can be focused on development.
• A predictable environment gives more time on introducing the quality of the project.

Security:

• Docker is software where security is not comprised.
• The applications that are running in Docker Containers are completely isolated from each other.
• Each container has its own resources, and cannot use the resources of other containers. This leads to traffic control within the container.

Optimized Cost:

• Docker Containers enable users to use the minimal cost in the production of a project or an application.
• Reduces the infrastructural cost, server cost, and operational cost.
• The right employee strength is enough as most of the issue is resolved because of the use of docker.

Drawbacks

Docker and its containers have a few disadvantages:

• Docker itself has a very complex nature. The developers and engineers who maintain the software find it hard to analyze and debug.
• The lack of a Graphical User Interface and Command-line operations are questioned by the users of Docker.

However, Docker is still in demand because of its advantages that make disadvantages look a little minute.

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Docker Image and Container

Let’s try to find out how these two terminologies are related to one another.

• Docker images are the read-only files, a blueprint of the docker container.
• We can always use an existing image to create a new docker image instead of changing a docker image that has already been generated. This is a legitimate inheritance idea.
• As per the OOPs concept, the docker image is a class and a docker container is an object of a class.
• These images contain a necessary set of files, such as a small part of the operating system.
• These docker images are used to create docker containers. This process is achieved with the help of the docker run command.
• An instance of a docker image is the Docker Container.
• For the creation of the docker container, there are some specific commands that we will be going through.

Learn more about Docker Tutorial for Beginners

Docker Container Commands

Here are the commands that are used to manage containers. 

The syntax for the commands is docker container command_name.

ls: List containers that are there in docker.
pause: This command pauses all the processes within one or more containers.
logs: Fetch the logs of a container.
cp: Copy files/folders between a container and the local filesystem.
prune: Command removes all the stopped containers.
rename: Used to rename a container.
restart: To restart one or more containers.
run: To run a command in a new container.
start: This command is used to start one or more than one container that is stopped.
stop: Used to stop one or more running containers.
rm: Used to delete a stopped container.
top: In order to display the running processes of a container, we use this command.

From definitions to commands, we have gone through almost everything. Let’s discuss its future scope.

Future Scope of Docker Container

Docker has already set foot in the digital market.

However, in order to become inevitable in the emerging market where the needs are dynamic, it still has to bring new changes and features.

It will surely emerge as the best solution for the users.

Conclusion

We have almost covered everything about docker, and its container. 

The commands that are mentioned above will set your hands to an extent that you will be familiar with the docker environment.

So, without any delay starts working on Docker.

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