delete docker images

Docker, an essential tool in DevOps practices, tends to hoard unused and redundant images over time. With this article, you can streamline your development environment by learning how to delete Docker images in a few simple steps.

Introduction

Docker images constitute the building blocks of containers. However, as projects evolve and your efforts get absorbed in developing innovative solutions, these images can pile up, taking a toll on your system’s storage space.

It’s crucial then, to declutter your system by deleting unnecessary Docker images.

Finding Out Which Docker Images Exist

Before beginning the deletion process, you need to understand the images present on your Docker. This can be achieved by running the following command in your terminal:

docker images 

This command lists all the images on your Docker, showcasing the repository, tag, image ID, the creation date, and the size of the image.

Single Image Deletion

To delete a single Docker image, utilise the docker rmi command, followed by either the IMAGE ID or the name of the image. So, your command should look like this:

docker rmi ImageID

OR

docker rmi RepositoryName:TagName

Remember to replace ‘ImageID’, ‘RepositoryName’, and ‘TagName’ with your actual image ID or repository and tag name. Upon entering this command, Docker removes the specified image from your system.

Deleting Multiple Docker Images

If there’s a need to remove multiple images at once, you can do so by specifying all their respective Image IDs in the Docker rmi command, like so:

docker rmi ImageID1 ImageID2 ImageID3

Again, ensure to replace ‘ImageID1’, ‘ImageID2’, and ‘ImageID3’ with the actual IDs of the images you wish to delete.

Deleting All Docker Images

In the scenario where you want to delete ALL Docker images, there’s a command for that too. You must be certain you want to perform this action as it clears away every single Docker image from your system. To delete all Docker images, run:

docker rmi $(docker images -q)

In this command, ‘docker images -q’ lists all Image IDs, which are then removed by the docker rmi command.

Conclusion

Cleanliness is not only pertinent in the physical world; it’s equally crucial in the digital space. Deleting unused and unnecessary Docker images ensures optimal system performance and allows the decluttering of your working environment.

Whether it’s deleting a single, multiple, or all Docker images, the simplicity of these steps makes it a basic, yet powerful tool retention technique for all Docker users.