Docker Compose

Advanced

Overview

Compose describes a whole stack in docker-compose.yml: each service is a container with its image, ports, environment, volumes, and dependencies.

docker compose up starts everything; add -d to detach. docker compose down stops and removes the stack. Services automatically share a network and can talk by service name.

Use the 'docker run to Compose' utility on this site to convert an existing docker run command into a Compose service quickly.

Cheatsheet

docker compose up -dStart the stack in the background
docker compose downStop and remove the stack
docker compose psList the stack's containers
docker compose logs -fFollow logs from all services
docker compose buildBuild images defined in the file

Try it

A safe, simulated terminal. Run the suggested commands to see typical output.

simulated terminal

Type a command and press Enter, or click a suggestion below to run it.

$

Quick quiz

1. What command starts a Compose stack in the background?

2. How do services in a Compose file address each other?