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# Docker Tips: Save Time with this Quick Typing Hack
- URL: https://brianchristner.io/docker-tips-save-time-with-this-quick-typing-hack/
- Published: 2016-03-10T06:41:18.000Z
- Updated: 2024-08-12T19:47:09.000Z
- Author: Brian Christner
- Tags: Docker

I discovered this typing hack while attending DockerCon last year, where a Docker engineer performed a demo. 

I'm a big fan of saving time, especially when it comes to typing, and I was instantly shocked to see this time-saver. I have yet to find this documented somewhere, so it's best to share this knowledge, right?

Have you ever had to type or copy a bunch of IDs for either a container or an image? 

In the Hello World example below, you see the Hexadecimal number **690ed74de00f** in the output of $ docker ps.

`hello-world latest 690ed74de00f 4 months ago 960 B`

Instead of copying or typing the entire ID number, type only the first two characters. In the example above, just typing **69** and "tab" in a docker command will fetch your results.

`$ docker inspect 69`

In the event you have two containers or images with the same first 2 characters, if you do, it's best to go buy a lottery ticket right away and type one more character. That's it I just saved you from having to type the extra 10 characters or copying and pasting.

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