Dockerfile Instructions Explained with Examples
This post explains you about all Dockerfile instructions and its functions available in dockerfile with examples. In the previous posts, already we have explained the below topics. Refer those links to understand this topic from basics.
What is Docker - Get Started from Basics - Docker Tutorial
What is Container, What is Docker on Container - Get Started
How to Install Docker on CentOS 7 / RHEL 7
Docker Images Explained with Examples - Docker Tutorial
Dockerfile Instructions Explained with Examples
How to Write Dockerfile To Build Your Own Docker Images
Docker ONBUILD Command Explained with Examples
Docker ARG vs ENV Command Differences Explained in Detail
Docker CMD & ENTRYPOINT Differences Explained in Detail
But before writing dockerfile, we must have knowledge on instructions available in dockerfile for the use.
Syntax to write instruction and its arguments within a dockerfile is,
Dockerfile example:
FROM
FROM instruction used to specify the valid docker image name. So specified Docker Image will be downloaded from docker hub registry if it is not exists locally.
Examples:
This is a mandatory instruction in dockerfile, rest all are optional and those can be used based on the requirement.
MAINTAINER
MAINTAINER instruction is used to specify about the author who creates this new docker image for the support.
Examples:
LABEL instruction is used to specify metadata informations to an image. A LABEL is a key-value pair.
Examples:
EXPOSE instruction is used to inform about the network ports that the container listens on runtime. Docker uses this information to interconnect containers using links and to set up port redirection on docker host system.
Examples:
ADD instruction is used to copy files, directories and remote URL files to the destination (docker container) within the filesystem of the Docker Images. Add instruction also has two forms - Shell Form and Executable Form.
Examples:
Shell Form - ADD src dest
COPY
COPY instruction is used to copy files, directories and remote URL files to the destination within the filesystem of the Docker Images. COPY instruction also has two forms - Shell Form and Executable Form.
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Examples:
Shell Form
RUN
RUN instruction is used to executes any commands on top of the current image and this will create a new layer. RUN instruction has two forms - Shell Form and Executable Form.
Examples:
Shell form:
CMD instruction is used to set a command to be executed when running a container. There must be only one CMD in a Dockerfile. If more than one CMD is listed, only the last CMD takes effect.
CMD instruction has two forms - Shell Form and Executable Form.
Example :
Shell form:
ENTRYPOINT instruction is used to configure and run a container as an executable. ENTRYPOINT instruction also has two forms - Shell Form and Executable Form.
Examples:
Shell form:
So Docker CMD and ENTRYPOINT commands are used for same purpose, but both has some different functionality, refer this link to understand the differences between Docker CMD and ENTRYPOINT Command with examples.
VOLUME
VOLUME instruction is used to create or mount a volume to the docker container from the docker host filesystem.
Examples:
USER instruction is used to set the username,group name, UID and GID for running subsequent commands. Else root user will be used.
Examples:
WORKDIR instruction is used to set the working directory.
Examples:
ENV instruction is used to set environment variables with key and value. Lets say, we want to set variables APP_DIR and app_version with the values /data and 2.0 respectively. These variables will be set during the image build also available after the container launched.
Examples:
ARG instruction is also used to set environment variables with key and value, but this variables will set only during the image build not on the container.
Examples:
ONBUILD
ONBUILD instruction is used to specify a command that runs when the image in the Dockerfile is used as a base image for another image.
Examples:
Hope you have got an idea about instructions of dockerfile with examples. Going forward we will play more with docker tool. Keep practicing and have fun.
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keywords : dockerfile, docker file, write dockerfile, dockerfile example, dockerfile tutorial, dockerfile commands, list of dockerfile instructions, dockerfile explain, example of dockerfile, what is dockerfile, best dockerfile examples, dockerfile reference, dockerfile explained, dockerfile best practices, docker build examples, create dockerfile, writing dockerfile
What is Docker - Get Started from Basics - Docker Tutorial
What is Container, What is Docker on Container - Get Started
How to Install Docker on CentOS 7 / RHEL 7
Docker Images Explained with Examples - Docker Tutorial
Dockerfile Instructions Explained with Examples
How to Write Dockerfile To Build Your Own Docker Images
Docker ONBUILD Command Explained with Examples
Docker ARG vs ENV Command Differences Explained in Detail
Docker CMD & ENTRYPOINT Differences Explained in Detail
But before writing dockerfile, we must have knowledge on instructions available in dockerfile for the use.
Syntax to write instruction and its arguments within a dockerfile is,
# CommentInstructions can be given in lowercase or uppercase letters. But to differentiate from the instructions and arguments, we use uppercase letters.
INSTRUCTION arguments
Dockerfile example:
FROM docker.io/centosWe have listed all dockerfile instructions and its functions with examples below, Lets get started.
MAINTAINER Devops Engineer
RUN yum update && yum -y install httpd
RUN mkdir -p /data/myscript
WORKDIR /data/myscript
CMD python app.py
FROM
FROM instruction used to specify the valid docker image name. So specified Docker Image will be downloaded from docker hub registry if it is not exists locally.
Examples:
FROM docker.io/centos:latestIf tag "6" is not specfied, FROM instruction will use the latest tag (version).
FROM docker.io/centos:6
This is a mandatory instruction in dockerfile, rest all are optional and those can be used based on the requirement.
MAINTAINER
MAINTAINER instruction is used to specify about the author who creates this new docker image for the support.
Examples:
MAINTAINER AdministratorLABEL
MAINTAINER admin @ learnitguide.net
MAINTAINER Devops Engineer(admin @ learnitguide.net)
LABEL instruction is used to specify metadata informations to an image. A LABEL is a key-value pair.
Examples:
LABEL "Application_Environment"="Development"EXPOSE
LABEL "Application_Support"="LearnITGuide.net Group"
EXPOSE instruction is used to inform about the network ports that the container listens on runtime. Docker uses this information to interconnect containers using links and to set up port redirection on docker host system.
Examples:
EXPOSE 80 443ADD
EXPOSE 80/tcp 8080/udp
ADD instruction is used to copy files, directories and remote URL files to the destination (docker container) within the filesystem of the Docker Images. Add instruction also has two forms - Shell Form and Executable Form.
Examples:
Shell Form - ADD src dest
ADD /root/testfile /data/Executable Form - ADD ["src","dest"]
ADD /root/testfile /data/If the "src" argument is a compressed file (tar, gzip, bzip2, etc) then it will extract at the specified "dest" in the container's filesystem.
COPY
COPY instruction is used to copy files, directories and remote URL files to the destination within the filesystem of the Docker Images. COPY instruction also has two forms - Shell Form and Executable Form.
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Examples:
Shell Form
COPY src destExecutable Form
COPY /root/testfile /data/
COPY ["src","dest"]If the "src" argument is a compressed file (tar, gzip, bzip2, etc), then it will copy exactly as a compressed file and will not extract.
COPY /root/testfile /data/
RUN
RUN instruction is used to executes any commands on top of the current image and this will create a new layer. RUN instruction has two forms - Shell Form and Executable Form.
Examples:
Shell form:
RUN yum updateExecutable form:
RUN systemctl start httpd
RUN ["yum","update"]CMD
RUN ["systemctl","start","httpd"]
CMD instruction is used to set a command to be executed when running a container. There must be only one CMD in a Dockerfile. If more than one CMD is listed, only the last CMD takes effect.
CMD instruction has two forms - Shell Form and Executable Form.
Example :
Shell form:
CMD ping google.comExecutable form:
CMD python myapplication.py
CMD ["ping","google.com"]ENTRYPOINT
CMD ["python","myapplication.py"]
ENTRYPOINT instruction is used to configure and run a container as an executable. ENTRYPOINT instruction also has two forms - Shell Form and Executable Form.
Examples:
Shell form:
ENTRYPOINT ping google.comExecutable form:
ENTRYPOINT python myapplication.py
ENTRYPOINT ["ping","google.com"]If user specifies any arguments (commands) at the end of "docker run" command, the specified commands override the default in CMD instruction, But ENTRYPOINT instruction are not overwritten by the docker run command and ENTRYPOINT instruction will run as it is.
ENTRYPOINT ["python","myapplication.py"]
So Docker CMD and ENTRYPOINT commands are used for same purpose, but both has some different functionality, refer this link to understand the differences between Docker CMD and ENTRYPOINT Command with examples.
VOLUME
VOLUME instruction is used to create or mount a volume to the docker container from the docker host filesystem.
Examples:
VOLUME /dataUSER
VOLUME /appdata:/appdata
USER instruction is used to set the username,group name, UID and GID for running subsequent commands. Else root user will be used.
Examples:
USER webadminWORKDIR
USER webadmin:webgroup
USER 1008
USER 1008:1200
WORKDIR instruction is used to set the working directory.
Examples:
WORKDIR /app/ENV
WORKDIR /java_dst/
ENV instruction is used to set environment variables with key and value. Lets say, we want to set variables APP_DIR and app_version with the values /data and 2.0 respectively. These variables will be set during the image build also available after the container launched.
Examples:
ENV APP_DIR /data/ARG
ENV app_version 2.0
ARG instruction is also used to set environment variables with key and value, but this variables will set only during the image build not on the container.
Examples:
ARG TMP_NAME mycustom_imageSo both Docker ENV and ARG commands are used to set environment variables, but there are some differences in functionality, refer this link to understand the differences between Docker ENV and ARG Command with examples.
ARG TMP_VER 2.0
ONBUILD
ONBUILD instruction is used to specify a command that runs when the image in the Dockerfile is used as a base image for another image.
Examples:
ONBUILD ADD . /app/dataRefer this link to know more in detail about Docker ONBUILD Command with Examples.
ONBUILD RUN yum install httpd
Hope you have got an idea about instructions of dockerfile with examples. Going forward we will play more with docker tool. Keep practicing and have fun.
Support Us: Share with your friends and groups.
Stay connected with us on social networking sites, Thank you.
YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Rss
keywords : dockerfile, docker file, write dockerfile, dockerfile example, dockerfile tutorial, dockerfile commands, list of dockerfile instructions, dockerfile explain, example of dockerfile, what is dockerfile, best dockerfile examples, dockerfile reference, dockerfile explained, dockerfile best practices, docker build examples, create dockerfile, writing dockerfile
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