What's next

The following sections provide step-by-step guides to help you understand core Docker concepts, building images, and running containers.

The basics

Get started learning the core concepts of containers, images, registries, and Docker Compose.

What is a container?
Learn how to run your first container.
What is an image?
Learn the basics of image layers.
What is a registry?
Learn about container registries, explore their interoperability, and interact with registries.
What is Docker Compose?
Gain a better understanding of Docker Compose.

Building images

Craft optimized container images with Dockerfiles, build cache, and multi-stage builds.

Understanding image layers
Learn about the layers of container images.
Writing a Dockerfile
Learn how to create an image using a Dockerfile.
Build, tag and publish an image
Learn how to build, tag, and publish an image to Docker Hub or any other registry.
Using the build cache
Learn about the build cache, what changes invalidate the cache, and how to effectively use the build cache.
Multi-stage builds
Get a better understanding of multi-stage builds and their benefits.

Running containers

Master essential techniques for exposing ports, overriding defaults, persisting data, sharing files, and managing multi-container applications.

Publishing ports
Understand the significance of publishing and exposing ports in Docker.
Overriding container defaults
Learn how to override the container defaults using the docker run command.
Persisting container data
Learn the significance of data persistence in Docker.
Sharing local files with containers
Explore the various storage options available in Docker and their common usage.
Multi-container applications
Learn the significance of multi-container applications and how they're different from single-container applications.