Docker Compose

Multi-container orchestration — services, ports, volumes, and networks.

docker compose up -dStart services in background

docker compose downStop + remove containers

docker compose restartRestart all services

docker compose psList running services

docker compose logs -fFollow logs

docker compose buildBuild service images

docker compose exec web shShell into service

docker compose configValidate compose file

build: .Build from Dockerfile in cwd

build:
  context: ./dir
  dockerfile: Dockerfile.dev

Custom Dockerfile path

image: nginx:alpineUse pre-built image

build:
  args:
    APP_HOME: app

Pass build args

ports:
  - "8000:80"

Map host:container port

expose: ["3000"]Expose to linked services only

environment:
  KEY: value

Inline env vars

env_file: .envLoad env vars from file

volumes:
  - .:/app

Bind mount

volumes:
  - db_data:/var/lib/db

Named volume

restart: unless-stoppedAuto-restart policy

depends_on:
  - db

Start after dependency

depends_on:
  db:
    condition: service_healthy

Wait for health check

healthcheck:
  test: ["CMD","curl","-f","http://localhost"]
  interval: 30s

Health probe

networks:
  frontend:

Define custom network

dns:
  - 8.8.8.8

Custom DNS servers

labels:
  app: myapp

Metadata labels

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Images, containers, volumes, and Compose in one page.