How can you list all running Docker containers?

The command to list all running Docker containers is docker ps. This command is specifically designed to display the currently active containers on the host system. When executed, it provides essential information such as container ID, image name, command that is being executed, creation time, status, ports, and container names.

The command operates by querying Docker's internal data structures, which track the state of all running containers. If you wish to see all containers, including those that are stopped, you could add the -a or --all flag (i.e., docker ps -a), but docker ps by itself is solely focused on running containers.

Other commands like docker list, docker status, and docker show do not exist in the Docker CLI as valid commands for listing running containers, which highlights the importance of familiarity with the specific command set provided by Docker. Understanding these commands is essential for effective container management and operational checks in a Dockerized environment.