Secrets Management in Docker Using inspect

docker secret inspect
09 March 2025

Introducing Docker Secrets


Docker is one of the powerful tools in the realm of software development and deployment. One of its very useful features is Secrets Management. This feature helps us securely store sensitive information such as access keys, API keys, and similar information in our containers. For example, if you are working on an application that requires access to a data store, you can pass the connection information as a secret to Docker to prevent this information from being exposed.


Using docker secret inspect allows you to examine the information of a specific secret. With this command, you can view details such as ID, name, and data related to the secret in question. This process is quite useful for better management and monitoring of sensitive information. With this command, you can ensure that the secrets are created correctly and that your information remains secure.


Don’t forget that to use the secrets capability in Docker, you must first run Docker in Swarm mode. In other words, you should first create a Docker Swarm cluster. Once this is done, you can fully manage your secrets. This allows you to send sensitive information to your containerized applications securely.


Now that we understand the importance and utility of docker secret inspect in managing sensitive information, let’s take a look at an example. In this example, we will create a secret and then use the inspect command to view its details. This process can help you familiarize yourself with how to work with secrets in Docker and utilize its capabilities effectively.


Example Code


# Create a new secret
docker secret create my_secret my_secret_data

# View details of the created secret
docker secret inspect my_secret

Code Explanations


Code 1:

docker secret create my_secret my_secret_data

This command creates a new secret named my_secret with the data my_secret_data. This command allows you to store sensitive information under a specific name.

Code 2:

docker secret inspect my_secret

This command uses the inspect option to view the details of the previously created secret. By running this command, we can see details related to my_secret, including ID, name, and values.

FAQ

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How can I create a new secret in Docker?

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How can I list all existing secrets?

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Can I remove secrets?