How to List Networks in Docker: Syntax and Examples

Use the docker network ls command to list all networks in Docker. This command shows network IDs, names, drivers, and scope for each network.

Syntax

The basic command to list Docker networks is docker network ls. It shows all networks available on your Docker host.

• docker: The Docker command-line tool.
• network: The Docker subcommand to manage networks.
• ls: Lists all networks.

bash

docker network ls

Example

This example runs the command to list all Docker networks and shows typical output. It helps you see network names, IDs, drivers, and scopes.

bash

docker network ls

Output

NETWORK ID     NAME      DRIVER    SCOPE
b1a2c3d4e5f6   bridge    bridge    local
c7d8e9f0a1b2   host      host      local
d3e4f5a6b7c8   none      null      local

Common Pitfalls

Some common mistakes when listing Docker networks include:

• Running docker network ls without Docker running or without proper permissions, which causes errors.
• Expecting to see networks from remote Docker hosts; this command only lists local networks.
• Confusing network names with container names.

Always ensure Docker daemon is running and you have the right permissions.

bash

docker network ls
# Wrong: Running without Docker daemon
# Output: error during connect: This error may indicate that the docker daemon is not running.

# Correct: Start Docker daemon first
sudo systemctl start docker

docker network ls

Quick Reference

Command	Description
docker network ls	List all Docker networks
docker network inspect	Show detailed info about a specific network
docker network create	Create a new Docker network
docker network rm	Remove a Docker network

Key Takeaways

Use docker network ls to list all Docker networks on your local machine.

Ensure the Docker daemon is running before listing networks to avoid connection errors.

The command shows network ID, name, driver type, and scope for each network.

This command only lists networks on the local Docker host, not remote hosts.

Use additional commands like docker network inspect for detailed network info.