How to install Docker on Ubuntu

If you’re looking to manage applications in a containerized environment, Docker is one of the best tools available for Ubuntu and other Linux distributions. Docker makes it easier to create, deploy, and run applications using containers, allowing you to efficiently manage software environments.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the steps to install Docker on Ubuntu, highlight some of its key features, and explore why it’s become such a popular tool among developers and system administrators.

Table of Contents

How to Install Docker on Ubuntu

Choose where you want to download Docker from:
- 🌐 Download from the Official Website (DEB package)
- 🐧 Download from Snapcraft (Snap package)
Once downloaded, follow the installation instructions for your chosen format. After installation, you can start Docker from your terminal.

How to Install Docker via Terminal on Ubuntu

Open your terminal.
To install Docker via Snap, use this command:
```
sudo snap install docker
```

For manual installation using the official method:

Update your package index:
```
sudo apt update
```

Install prerequisite packages:

sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common

Add Docker’s official GPG key:

curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg

Set up the stable repository:

echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

Update the package index again:
```
sudo apt update
```
Install Docker:
```
sudo apt install docker-ce
```

After installation, you can verify that Docker is running:
```
sudo systemctl status docker
```

What Is Docker?

Docker is an app that makes it simple and easy to run application processes in a container, which are like virtual machines, only more portable, more lightweight which means they are naturally resource friendly, and more dependent on the host operating system. Docker provides an open platform for developers and sysadmins to build, package, and run applications anywhere as a lightweight Docker container. Docker automates the deployment of applications inside software containers.

Docker Linux Features:

Containerization: Docker allows you to package your applications and their dependencies into lightweight, portable containers that can run on any Linux machine, regardless of the underlying infrastructure. This makes it easy to develop, test, and deploy applications without worrying about differences in the environment.
Resource isolation: Docker provides a high level of resource isolation between containers, so that one container cannot impact the performance or stability of other containers or the host system. This means that you can run multiple applications on the same machine without having to worry about conflicts or resource contention.
Image management: Docker allows you to create and manage images, which are essentially templates for containers. You can use images to quickly and easily create new containers, and you can also share images with others, making it easy to collaborate on projects.
Network management: Docker provides a flexible and powerful networking model that allows you to create and manage virtual networks for your containers. You can use these networks to connect containers together, or to connect containers to the host system or external networks.
Scalability: Docker makes it easy to scale your applications up or down, depending on demand. You can use Docker to quickly spin up new instances of your application when traffic increases, and then shut them down when traffic decreases. This can help you save money on infrastructure costs, while ensuring that your application can handle spikes in traffic.