docker network

Put containers on the same network so they reach each other by name — create, --network, connect and inspect.

>_ Try it: a simulated Linux, right herenothing runs on your computer

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Examples

docker network create app-net a network for the app
docker run -d --name api --network app-net nginx a container on that network
docker run -d --name web nginx another one, on the default network
docker network connect app-net web add it to app-net too
docker network inspect app-net both are on it now
docker network ls bridge, host and none come with Docker

How it works

Containers on the same user-made network find each other by name: from web, the address http://api reaches the api container. That is how an app talks to its database.

Create one with docker network create NAME, start containers on it with --network NAME, or add a running one with docker network connect.

Syntax

docker network create|ls|inspect|connect|rm [NAME] [CONTAINER]

Options

Option	What it does
`create NAME`	create a network
`--network NAME`	start a container on it (docker run)
`connect NET CONTAINER`	add a running container
`inspect NAME`	which containers are on it, and their IPs
`ls`	list networks

Good to know

Publishing ports (-p) is for reaching a container from your machine; containers on the same network don't need it to talk to each other.
Docker Compose creates a network for each project, so its services reach each other by service name.