Docker Images Push and Pull on Docker Hub

Simple Node.js Application + Deploy to Docker Hub

We will create a very simple Node.js web application, create a Docker image, and then upload (push) it to Docker Hub.

Step 1: Create a Project Folder

Open VS Code and create a folder:

node-docker-app

Inside it, create these files:

node-docker-app/

│

├── server.js

├── package.json

└── Dockerfile

 

Step 2: Create server.js

Add this simple Node.js code:

const http = require("http");

 

const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {

  res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "text/html" });

  res.end("<h1>Hello from Node.js Docker App!</h1>");

});

 

server.listen(3000, () => {

  console.log("Server running on port 3000");

});

This program creates a small web server running on port 3000.

 

Step 3: Create package.json

{

  "name": "node-docker-app",

  "version": "1.0.0",

  "description": "Simple Node.js Docker application",

  "main": "server.js",

  "scripts": {

    "start": "node server.js"

  }

}

Since this simple application uses only Node.js built-in modules, we do not need any additional npm packages.

 

Step 4: Create a Dockerfile

Create a file named exactly:

Dockerfile

Add:

FROM node:alpine

WORKDIR /app

COPY . .

EXPOSE 3000

CMD ["node", "server.js"]

Simple Explanation

Command	Meaning
FROM node:alpine	Uses a lightweight Node.js image
WORKDIR /app	Creates/uses /app folder
COPY . .	Copies project files into the container
EXPOSE 3000	Declares port 3000
CMD	Starts the Node.js application

 

 

Step 5: Build the Docker Image

Open the terminal inside your project folder and run:

docker build -t node-docker-app .

Check the image:

docker images

 

Step 6: Run the Docker Container

docker run -d -p 3000:3000 --name node-app node-docker-app

Check the running container:

docker ps

Now open your browser:

http://localhost:3000

You should see:

Hello from Node.js Docker App!

 

 Step 7: Create a Docker Hub Account

Go to:

Docker Hub

Create an account if you do not already have one.

For example, suppose your Docker Hub username is:

your-dockerhub-username

 

Step 8: Login to Docker Hub

In the terminal, run:

docker login

Enter your Docker Hub username and password when requested.

Step 9: Tag Your Docker Image

Docker Hub needs your username in the image name.

Replace your-dockerhub-username with your actual Docker Hub username:

docker tag node-docker-app your-dockerhub-username/node-docker-app:latest

 

Example

If your username is sofficial333:

docker tag node-docker-app sofficial333/node-docker-app:latest

 

Check it:

docker images

Step 10: Push the Image to Docker Hub 🚀

Run:

docker push your-dockerhub-username/node-docker-app:latest

Example

docker push soffical333/node-docker-app:latest

Docker will upload your image to your Docker Hub repository.

Complete Flow

Create Node.js App

        ↓

Create Dockerfile

        ↓

docker build

        ↓

Docker Image

        ↓

docker run

        ↓

Test on localhost:3000

        ↓

docker login

        ↓

docker tag

        ↓

docker push

        ↓

☁️ Docker Hub

 

Pull the Image on Another Computer

Anyone with access to the repository can download it using:

docker pull your-dockerhub-username/node-docker-app:latest

Then run it:

docker run -d -p 3000:3000 your-dockerhub-username/node-docker-app:latest

This is the basic workflow:

Create App → Build Image → Run Container → Tag Image → Push to Docker Hub → Pull and Run Anywhere.