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2.3 Running the First Docker Container

Now that you have Docker installed, let's run your very first Docker container.
Running a container is the fundamental concept in Docker, allowing you to isolate and run applications in a portable and consistent manner. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Pulling an Image:

Before running a container, you need an image. An image is like a blueprint or template that contains all the necessary components and configurations for a specific application or service. Docker Hub is a popular registry that provides a vast collection of pre-built images. Here's how you can pull an image from Docker Hub:

  • Open a terminal or command prompt.
  • Use the docker pull command followed by the image name and tag to download the image. For example, to pull the official Nginx web server image, you can use:
docker pull nginx
  • Docker will retrieve the image from Docker Hub and store it locally on your machine. The download may take a few moments, depending on your internet speed.

2. Running a Container:

Now that you have the image, you can run a container based on it. Running a container allows you to start an instance of the application or service defined by the image.

Here's how you can run your first Docker container:

  • In the same terminal or command prompt, use the docker run command followed by the image name. For example, to run a container using the Nginx image you pulled earlier, you can use:
docker run nginx
  • Docker will create a new container based on the image and start it. You'll see logs and information related to the container's execution.
  • By default, the container runs in the foreground, and the terminal is attached to its output. You can stop the container by pressing Ctrl+C.

3. Accessing the Containerized Application:

Now that the container is running, you may want to access the application or service running inside it. Here's how you can do it:

  • Open a web browser and enter localhost or 127.0.0.1 in the address bar.
  • If the image you're using runs a web server, like Nginx, and exposes a port, you should see the default web page of the containerized application.
  • To stop the container, go back to the terminal or command prompt where the container is running and press Ctrl+C.


Congratulations! You've successfully run your first Docker container.

You can explore more images on Docker Hub, try running containers with different images, or even build your own images to containerize your applications.