---
title: Examples using the Docker Engine SDKs and Docker API
description: Examples on how to perform a given Docker operation using the Go and Python SDKs and the HTTP API using curl.
keywords: developing, api, sdk, developers, rest, curl, python, go
redirect_from:
- /engine/api/getting-started/
- /engine/api/client-libraries/
- /engine/reference/api/remote_api_client_libraries/
- /reference/api/remote_api_client_libraries/
- /develop/sdk/examples/
---

After you
[install Docker](../../../get-docker.md), you can
[install the Go or Python SDK](index.md#install-the-sdks) and
also try out the Docker Engine API.

Each of these examples show how to perform a given Docker operation using the Go
and Python SDKs and the HTTP API using `curl`.

## Run a container

This first example shows how to run a container using the Docker API. On the
command line, you would use the `docker run` command, but this is just as easy
to do from your own apps too.

This is the equivalent of typing `docker run alpine echo hello world` at the
command prompt:

<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
  <li class="active"><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-run-go" data-group="go">Go</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-run-python" data-group="python">Python</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-run-curl" data-group="curl">HTTP</a></li>
</ul>

<div class="tab-content">

<div id="tab-run-go" class="tab-pane fade in active" markdown="1">

```go
package main

import (
	"context"
	"io"
	"os"

	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types/container"
	"github.com/docker/docker/client"
	"github.com/docker/docker/pkg/stdcopy"
)

func main() {
	ctx := context.Background()
	cli, err := client.NewClientWithOpts(client.FromEnv, client.WithAPIVersionNegotiation())
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	reader, err := cli.ImagePull(ctx, "docker.io/library/alpine", types.ImagePullOptions{})
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	io.Copy(os.Stdout, reader)

	resp, err := cli.ContainerCreate(ctx, &container.Config{
		Image: "alpine",
		Cmd:   []string{"echo", "hello world"},
		Tty:   false,
	}, nil, nil, nil, "")
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	if err := cli.ContainerStart(ctx, resp.ID, types.ContainerStartOptions{}); err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	statusCh, errCh := cli.ContainerWait(ctx, resp.ID, container.WaitConditionNotRunning)
	select {
	case err := <-errCh:
		if err != nil {
			panic(err)
		}
	case <-statusCh:
	}

	out, err := cli.ContainerLogs(ctx, resp.ID, types.ContainerLogsOptions{ShowStdout: true})
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	stdcopy.StdCopy(os.Stdout, os.Stderr, out)
}
```

</div>

<div id="tab-run-python" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```python
import docker
client = docker.from_env()
print client.containers.run("alpine", ["echo", "hello", "world"])
```

</div>

<div id="tab-run-curl" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```bash
$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"Image": "alpine", "Cmd": ["echo", "hello world"]}' \
  -X POST http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/containers/create
{"Id":"1c6594faf5","Warnings":null}

$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock -X POST http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/containers/1c6594faf5/start

$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock -X POST http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/containers/1c6594faf5/wait
{"StatusCode":0}

$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock "http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/containers/1c6594faf5/logs?stdout=1"
hello world
```

When using cURL to connect over a unix socket, the hostname is not important. The
examples above use `localhost`, but any hostname would work.

> **Using cURL 7.47.0 or below?**
>
> The examples above assume you are using cURL 7.50.0 or above. Older versions of
> cURL used a [non-standard URL notation](https://github.com/moby/moby/issues/17960){:target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="_"}
> when using a socket connection.
> 
> If you are using an older version of cURL, use `http:/<API version>/` instead,
> for example, `http:/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/containers/1c6594faf5/start`
{: .important}

</div>
</div><!-- end tab-content -->

## Run a container in the background

You can also run containers in the background, the equivalent of typing
`docker run -d bfirsh/reticulate-splines`:

<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
  <li class="active"><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-rundetach-go" data-group="go">Go</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-rundetach-python" data-group="python">Python</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-rundetach-curl" data-group="curl">HTTP</a></li>
</ul>

<div class="tab-content">

<div id="tab-rundetach-go" class="tab-pane fade in active" markdown="1">

```go
package main

import (
	"context"
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"os"

	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types/container"
	"github.com/docker/docker/client"
)

func main() {
	ctx := context.Background()
	cli, err := client.NewClientWithOpts(client.FromEnv, client.WithAPIVersionNegotiation())
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	imageName := "bfirsh/reticulate-splines"

	out, err := cli.ImagePull(ctx, imageName, types.ImagePullOptions{})
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	io.Copy(os.Stdout, out)

	resp, err := cli.ContainerCreate(ctx, &container.Config{
		Image: imageName,
	}, nil, nil, "")
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	if err := cli.ContainerStart(ctx, resp.ID, types.ContainerStartOptions{}); err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	fmt.Println(resp.ID)
}
```

</div>

<div id="tab-rundetach-python" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```python
import docker
client = docker.from_env()
container = client.containers.run("bfirsh/reticulate-splines", detach=True)
print container.id
```

</div>

<div id="tab-rundetach-curl" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```bash
$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"Image": "bfirsh/reticulate-splines"}' \
  -X POST http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/containers/create
{"Id":"1c6594faf5","Warnings":null}

$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock -X POST http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/containers/1c6594faf5/start
```

</div>
</div><!-- end tab-content -->

## List and manage containers

You can use the API to list containers that are running, just like using
`docker ps`:

<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
  <li class="active"><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-listcontainers-go" data-group="go">Go</a></li>
  <li ><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-listcontainers-python" data-group="python">Python</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-listcontainers-curl" data-group="curl">HTTP</a></li>
</ul>

<div class="tab-content">

<div id="tab-listcontainers-go" class="tab-pane fade in active" markdown="1">

```go
package main

import (
	"context"
	"fmt"

	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
	"github.com/docker/docker/client"
)

func main() {
	ctx := context.Background()
	cli, err := client.NewClientWithOpts(client.FromEnv, client.WithAPIVersionNegotiation())
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	containers, err := cli.ContainerList(ctx, types.ContainerListOptions{})
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	for _, container := range containers {
		fmt.Println(container.ID)
	}
}
```

</div>

<div id="tab-listcontainers-python" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```python
import docker
client = docker.from_env()
for container in client.containers.list():
  print container.id
```

</div>

<div id="tab-listcontainers-curl" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```bash
$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/containers/json
[{
  "Id":"ae63e8b89a26f01f6b4b2c9a7817c31a1b6196acf560f66586fbc8809ffcd772",
  "Names":["/tender_wing"],
  "Image":"bfirsh/reticulate-splines",
  ...
}]
```

</div>
</div><!-- end tab-content -->

## Stop all running containers

Now that you know what containers exist, you can perform operations on them.
This example stops all running containers.

> **Note**: Don't run this on a production server. Also, if you are using swarm
> services, the containers stop, but Docker creates new ones to keep
> the service running in its configured state.

<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
  <li class="active"><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-stopcontainers-go" data-group="go">Go</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-stopcontainers-python" data-group="python">Python</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-stopcontainers-curl" data-group="curl">HTTP</a></li>
</ul>

<div class="tab-content">

<div id="tab-stopcontainers-go" class="tab-pane fade in active" markdown="1">

```go
package main

import (
	"context"
	"fmt"

	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
	"github.com/docker/docker/client"
)

func main() {
	ctx := context.Background()
	cli, err := client.NewClientWithOpts(client.FromEnv, client.WithAPIVersionNegotiation())
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	containers, err := cli.ContainerList(ctx, types.ContainerListOptions{})
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	for _, container := range containers {
		fmt.Print("Stopping container ", container.ID[:10], "... ")
		if err := cli.ContainerStop(ctx, container.ID, nil); err != nil {
			panic(err)
		}
		fmt.Println("Success")
	}
}
```

</div>

<div id="tab-stopcontainers-python" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```python
import docker
client = docker.from_env()
for container in client.containers.list():
  container.stop()
```

</div>

<div id="tab-stopcontainers-curl" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```bash
$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/containers/json
[{
  "Id":"ae63e8b89a26f01f6b4b2c9a7817c31a1b6196acf560f66586fbc8809ffcd772",
  "Names":["/tender_wing"],
  "Image":"bfirsh/reticulate-splines",
  ...
}]

$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock \
  -X POST http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/containers/ae63e8b89a26/stop
```

</div>
</div><!-- end tab-content -->

## Print the logs of a specific container

You can also perform actions on individual containers. This example prints the
logs of a container given its ID. You need to modify the code before running it
to change the hard-coded ID of the container to print the logs for.

<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
  <li class="active"><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-containerlogs-go" data-group="go">Go</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-containerlogs-python" data-group="python">Python</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-containerlogs-curl" data-group="curl">HTTP</a></li>
</ul>

<div class="tab-content">

<div id="tab-containerlogs-go" class="tab-pane fade in active" markdown="1">

```go
package main

import (
	"context"
	"io"
	"os"

	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
	"github.com/docker/docker/client"
)

func main() {
	ctx := context.Background()
	cli, err := client.NewClientWithOpts(client.FromEnv, client.WithAPIVersionNegotiation())
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	options := types.ContainerLogsOptions{ShowStdout: true}
	// Replace this ID with a container that really exists
	out, err := cli.ContainerLogs(ctx, "f1064a8a4c82", options)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	io.Copy(os.Stdout, out)
}
```

</div>

<div id="tab-containerlogs-python" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```python
import docker
client = docker.from_env()
container = client.containers.get('f1064a8a4c82')
print container.logs()
```

</div>

<div id="tab-containerlogs-curl" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```bash
$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock "http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/containers/ca5f55cdb/logs?stdout=1"
Reticulating spline 1...
Reticulating spline 2...
Reticulating spline 3...
Reticulating spline 4...
Reticulating spline 5...
```
</div>
</div><!-- end tab-content -->

## List all images

List the images on your Engine, similar to `docker image ls`:

<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
  <li class="active"><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-listimages-go" data-group="go">Go</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-listimages-python" data-group="python">Python</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-listimages-curl" data-group="curl">HTTP</a></li>
</ul>

<div class="tab-content">

<div id="tab-listimages-go" class="tab-pane fade in active" markdown="1">

```go
package main

import (
	"context"
	"fmt"

	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
	"github.com/docker/docker/client"
)

func main() {
	ctx := context.Background()
	cli, err := client.NewClientWithOpts(client.FromEnv, client.WithAPIVersionNegotiation())
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	images, err := cli.ImageList(ctx, types.ImageListOptions{})
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	for _, image := range images {
		fmt.Println(image.ID)
	}
}
```

</div>

<div id="tab-listimages-python" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```python
import docker
client = docker.from_env()
for image in client.images.list():
  print image.id
```

</div>

<div id="tab-listimages-curl" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```bash
$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/images/json
[{
  "Id":"sha256:31d9a31e1dd803470c5a151b8919ef1988ac3efd44281ac59d43ad623f275dcd",
  "ParentId":"sha256:ee4603260daafe1a8c2f3b78fd760922918ab2441cbb2853ed5c439e59c52f96",
  ...
}]
```

</div>
</div><!-- end tab-content -->

## Pull an image

Pull an image, like `docker pull`:

<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
  <li class="active"><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-pullimages-go" data-group="go">Go</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-pullimages-python" data-group="python">Python</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-pullimages-curl" data-group="curl">HTTP</a></li>
</ul>

<div class="tab-content">

<div id="tab-pullimages-go" class="tab-pane fade in active" markdown="1">

```go
package main

import (
	"context"
	"io"
	"os"

	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
	"github.com/docker/docker/client"
)

func main() {
	ctx := context.Background()
	cli, err := client.NewClientWithOpts(client.FromEnv, client.WithAPIVersionNegotiation())
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	out, err := cli.ImagePull(ctx, "alpine", types.ImagePullOptions{})
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	defer out.Close()

	io.Copy(os.Stdout, out)
}
```

</div>

<div id="tab-pullimages-python" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```python
import docker
client = docker.from_env()
image = client.images.pull("alpine")
print image.id
```

</div>
<div id="tab-pullimages-curl" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```bash
$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock \
  -X POST "http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/images/create?fromImage=alpine"
{"status":"Pulling from library/alpine","id":"3.1"}
{"status":"Pulling fs layer","progressDetail":{},"id":"8f13703509f7"}
{"status":"Downloading","progressDetail":{"current":32768,"total":2244027},"progress":"[\u003e                                                  ] 32.77 kB/2.244 MB","id":"8f13703509f7"}
...
```

</div>
</div> <!-- end tab-content -->


## Pull an image with authentication

Pull an image, like `docker pull`, with authentication:

> **Note**: Credentials are sent in the clear. Docker's official registries use
> HTTPS. Private registries should also be configured to use HTTPS.

<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
  <li class="active"><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-pullimages-auth-go" data-group="go">Go</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-pullimages-auth-python" data-group="python">Python</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-pullimages-auth-curl" data-group="curl">HTTP</a></li>
</ul>

<div class="tab-content">

<div id="tab-pullimages-auth-go" class="tab-pane fade in active" markdown="1">

```go
package main

import (
	"context"
	"encoding/base64"
	"encoding/json"
	"io"
	"os"

	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
	"github.com/docker/docker/client"
)

func main() {
	ctx := context.Background()
	cli, err := client.NewClientWithOpts(client.FromEnv, client.WithAPIVersionNegotiation())
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	authConfig := types.AuthConfig{
		Username: "username",
		Password: "password",
	}
	encodedJSON, err := json.Marshal(authConfig)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	authStr := base64.URLEncoding.EncodeToString(encodedJSON)

	out, err := cli.ImagePull(ctx, "alpine", types.ImagePullOptions{RegistryAuth: authStr})
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	defer out.Close()
	io.Copy(os.Stdout, out)
}
```

</div>

<div id="tab-pullimages-auth-python" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

The Python SDK retrieves authentication information from the [credentials
store](/engine/reference/commandline/login/#credentials-store) file and
integrates with [credential
helpers](https://github.com/docker/docker-credential-helpers){: target="_blank"
class="_" }. It is possible to override these credentials, but that is out of
scope for this Getting Started guide. After using `docker login`, the Python SDK
uses these credentials automatically.

```python
import docker
client = docker.from_env()
image = client.images.pull("alpine")
print image.id
```

</div>

<div id="tab-pullimages-auth-curl" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

This example leaves the credentials in your shell's history, so consider
this a naive implementation. The credentials are passed as a Base-64-encoded
JSON structure.

```bash
$ JSON=$(echo '{"username": "string", "password": "string", "serveraddress": "string"}' | base64)

$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock \
  -H "Content-Type: application/tar"
  -X POST "http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/images/create?fromImage=alpine"
  -H "X-Registry-Auth"
  -d "$JSON"
{"status":"Pulling from library/alpine","id":"3.1"}
{"status":"Pulling fs layer","progressDetail":{},"id":"8f13703509f7"}
{"status":"Downloading","progressDetail":{"current":32768,"total":2244027},"progress":"[\u003e                                                  ] 32.77 kB/2.244 MB","id":"8f13703509f7"}
...
```

</div>
</div> <!-- end tab-content -->

## Commit a container

Commit a container to create an image from its contents:

<ul class="nav nav-tabs">
  <li class="active"><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-commit-go" data-group="go">Go</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-commit-python" data-group="python">Python</a></li>
  <li><a data-toggle="tab" data-target="#tab-commit-curl" data-group="curl">HTTP</a></li>
</ul>

<div class="tab-content">

<div id="tab-commit-go" class="tab-pane fade in active" markdown="1">

```go
package main

import (
	"context"
	"fmt"

	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types/container"
	"github.com/docker/docker/client"
)

func main() {
	ctx := context.Background()
	cli, err := client.NewClientWithOpts(client.FromEnv, client.WithAPIVersionNegotiation())
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	createResp, err := cli.ContainerCreate(ctx, &container.Config{
		Image: "alpine",
		Cmd:   []string{"touch", "/helloworld"},
	}, nil, nil, "")
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	if err := cli.ContainerStart(ctx, createResp.ID, types.ContainerStartOptions{}); err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	statusCh, errCh := cli.ContainerWait(ctx, createResp.ID, container.WaitConditionNotRunning)
	select {
	case err := <-errCh:
		if err != nil {
			panic(err)
		}
	case <-statusCh:
	}

	commitResp, err := cli.ContainerCommit(ctx, createResp.ID, types.ContainerCommitOptions{Reference: "helloworld"})
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}

	fmt.Println(commitResp.ID)
}
```

</div>

<div id="tab-commit-python" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```python
import docker
client = docker.from_env()
container = client.containers.run("alpine", ["touch", "/helloworld"], detach=True)
container.wait()
image = container.commit("helloworld")
print image.id
```

</div>
<div id="tab-commit-curl" class="tab-pane fade" markdown="1">

```bash
$ docker run -d alpine touch /helloworld
0888269a9d584f0fa8fc96b3c0d8d57969ceea3a64acf47cd34eebb4744dbc52
$ curl --unix-socket /var/run/docker.sock\
  -X POST "http://localhost/v{{ site.latest_engine_api_version}}/commit?container=0888269a9d&repo=helloworld"
{"Id":"sha256:6c86a5cd4b87f2771648ce619e319f3e508394b5bfc2cdbd2d60f59d52acda6c"}
```

</div>
</div><!-- end tab-content -->
