How to Use the export Command in Docker
Docker is one of the favorite tools in the world of software that allows us to run applications in separate containers. These days, many developers use Docker for managing dependencies and different environments. One of the attractive features of Docker is the capability to export containers in various formats. This allows you the ability to easily store, transfer, or even share containers.
The docker container export command is specifically designed for this task. When you export a container, all of its system files are stored in an archived file. This file can act as a backup of your container or allow others to have a copy of your container. It’s worth noting that this command only relates to the structure of the container’s filesystem and does not retain Docker metadata (e.g., creation date and changes).
You can use docker container export alongside the container name to produce an archived file from your container itself. For example, if your container name is my_container, you can simply execute the relevant command. Additionally, you can save this file in ZIP or TAR format for easier handling.
Let’s see a practical example of how to use this command. We will export a container and then examine what information it contains. This work will allow you to understand better how this command operates.
Practical Example
docker container export my_container -o my_container.tar
Code Explanation
docker container export: This command is used to export the container's filesystem.my_container: The name of the container you wish to export.-o my_container.tar: By using this option, the exported result is stored in the filemy_container.tar.