docker container rm

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Description

Remove one or more containers

Usage

docker container rm [OPTIONS] CONTAINER [CONTAINER...]

Options

Name, shorthand Default Description
--force, -f false Force the removal of a running container (uses SIGKILL)
--link, -l false Remove the specified link
--volumes, -v false Remove the volumes associated with the container

Parent command

Command Description
docker container Manage containers
Command Description
docker container attach Attach to a running container
docker container commit Create a new image from a container’s changes
docker container cp Copy files/folders between a container and the local filesystem
docker container create Create a new container
docker container diff Inspect changes to files or directories on a container’s filesystem
docker container exec Run a command in a running container
docker container export Export a container’s filesystem as a tar archive
docker container inspect Display detailed information on one or more containers
docker container kill Kill one or more running containers
docker container logs Fetch the logs of a container
docker container ls List containers
docker container pause Pause all processes within one or more containers
docker container port List port mappings or a specific mapping for the container
docker container prune Remove all stopped containers
docker container rename Rename a container
docker container restart Restart one or more containers
docker container rm Remove one or more containers
docker container run Run a command in a new container
docker container start Start one or more stopped containers
docker container stats Display a live stream of container(s) resource usage statistics
docker container stop Stop one or more running containers
docker container top Display the running processes of a container
docker container unpause Unpause all processes within one or more containers
docker container update Update configuration of one or more containers
docker container wait Block until one or more containers stop, then print their exit codes

Extended description

docker container rm will remove one or more containers from the host node. The container name or ID can be used. This does not remove images. You cannot remove a running container unless you use the -f option. To see all containers on a host use the docker container ls -a command.

EXAMPLES

Removing a container using its ID

To remove a container using its ID, find either from a docker ps -a command, or use the ID returned from the docker run command, or retrieve it from a file used to store it using the docker run –cidfile:

docker container rm abebf7571666

Removing a container using the container name

The name of the container can be found using the docker ps -a command. The use that name as follows:

docker container rm hopeful_morse

Removing a container and all associated volumes

$ docker container rm -v redis
redis

This command will remove the container and any volumes associated with it. Note that if a volume was specified with a name, it will not be removed.

$ docker create -v awesome:/foo -v /bar --name hello redis
hello
$ docker container rm -v hello

In this example, the volume for /foo will remain in tact, but the volume for /bar will be removed. The same behavior holds for volumes inherited with --volumes-from.

Examples

Removing a container using its ID

To remove a container using its ID, find either from a docker ps -a command, or use the ID returned from the docker run command, or retrieve it from a file used to store it using the docker run –cidfile:

$ docker container rm abebf7571666

Removing a container using the container name

The name of the container can be found using the docker ps -a command. The use that name as follows:

$ docker container rm hopeful_morse

Removing a container and all associated volumes

$ docker container rm -v redis
redis

This command will remove the container and any volumes associated with it. Note that if a volume was specified with a name, it will not be removed.

$ docker create -v awesome:/foo -v /bar --name hello redis

hello

$ docker container rm -v hello

In this example, the volume for /foo will remain in tact, but the volume for /bar will be removed. The same behavior holds for volumes inherited with --volumes-from.

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