Image tags and versioning in Docker - Commands & Configuration

Introduction

When you build and share Docker images, you need a way to identify different versions clearly. Image tags let you label images with names and versions so you know exactly which one you are using or sharing.

When you want to run a specific version of an application in a container.

When you need to update your app but keep the old version available for rollback.

When you share images with your team or publish them to a registry like Docker Hub.

When you automate deployments and want to control which image version is deployed.

When you want to avoid using the default 'latest' tag to prevent unexpected updates.

Commands

Builds a Docker image from the current folder and tags it as 'my-app' with version '1.0'. This helps identify this specific build.

Terminal

docker build -t my-app:1.0 .

Expected Output

Sending build context to Docker daemon  2.048kB

Step 1/3 : FROM alpine

 ---> a24bb4013296

Step 2/3 : RUN echo Hello World

 ---> Running in 3c1f2b7d9f3a

Removing intermediate container 3c1f2b7d9f3a

 ---> 5d8b7f3a7c1e

Step 3/3 : CMD ["echo", "Hello World"]

 ---> Running in 9f8a7b6c5d4e

Removing intermediate container 9f8a7b6c5d4e

 ---> 7f9d3a2b1c0e

Successfully built 7f9d3a2b1c0e

Successfully tagged my-app:1.0

→

-t - Assigns a name and tag to the image

Lists all images named 'my-app' with their tags and IDs so you can see the versions available locally.

Terminal

docker images my-app

Expected Output

REPOSITORY   TAG    IMAGE ID       CREATED         SIZE

my-app       1.0    7f9d3a2b1c0e   10 seconds ago  5MB

Tags the existing 'my-app:1.0' image also as 'my-app:latest' so it can be referenced by the common 'latest' tag.

Terminal

docker tag my-app:1.0 my-app:latest

Expected Output

No output (command runs silently)

Uploads the 'my-app:1.0' image to the Docker registry so others can pull this exact version.

Terminal

docker push my-app:1.0

Expected Output

The push refers to repository [docker.io/library/my-app]

1.0: Pushed

Downloads the 'my-app:1.0' image from the registry to use it locally or in deployment.

Terminal

docker pull my-app:1.0

Expected Output

1.0: Pulling from library/my-app

Digest: sha256:abcdef1234567890

Status: Downloaded newer image for my-app:1.0

Key Concept

If you remember nothing else from this pattern, remember: always tag your Docker images with meaningful version numbers to control which version you use or share.

Common Mistakes

Using the 'latest' tag without specifying a version.

This can cause unexpected updates because 'latest' always points to the newest image, which might break your app.

Always tag images with explicit version numbers like '1.0' and use those tags in your deployments.

Not tagging images before pushing to a registry.

Docker will push the image with the default 'latest' tag, which may not be what you want.

Tag your image with the correct version before pushing, e.g., 'docker tag my-app:1.0 my-app:stable' then push.

Summary

Build Docker images with tags to label versions clearly.

Use 'docker images' to list available image versions locally.

Tag images explicitly before pushing to share specific versions.

Pull images by tag to get the exact version you need.

Avoid relying on the 'latest' tag alone to prevent surprises.