🐳 Using MySQL and MongoDB in Docker

This guide explains how to use MySQL and MongoDB databases inside Docker — including pulling official images, creating containers, and running them with proper configurations.

🧱 What Happens When You Use Databases in Docker

When you use Docker for databases like MySQL or MongoDB:

• You run the database server inside a container.
• Your data is stored inside the container (or on a persistent volume).
• You can connect to it from your host machine or other containers.
• It’s easy to start, stop, and manage multiple databases.

🐬 How to Use MySQL in Docker

⚙️ Step 1: Pull the MySQL Image

Use the official MySQL image from Docker Hub:

docker pull mysql:8.0

🧩 Step 2: Create and Run a MySQL Container

Run MySQL in a container with username, password, and database name:

docker run -d \
  --name mysql-container \
  -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=root123 \
  -e MYSQL_DATABASE=mydb \
  -e MYSQL_USER=myuser \
  -e MYSQL_PASSWORD=mypass123 \
  -p 3306:3306 \
  mysql:8.0

Explanation:

• --name mysql-container → container name.
• -e → environment variables for root password, user, and database.
• -p 3306:3306 → maps container port 3306 (MySQL default) to host.
• mysql:8.0 → official MySQL image.

✅ Once it’s running, you can connect:

mysql -h localhost -P 3306 -u root -p

🧾 Step 3: Persist Data Using a Volume

To keep data safe even after container deletion:

docker run -d \
  --name mysql-container \
  -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=root123 \
  -v mysql_data:/var/lib/mysql \
  -p 3306:3306 \
  mysql:8.0

This stores MySQL data in a Docker-managed volume named mysql_data.

🧹 Step 4: Manage MySQL Container

Stop container:

docker stop mysql-container

Start container:

docker start mysql-container

Remove container:

docker rm mysql-container

🍃 How to Use MongoDB in Docker

⚙️ Step 1: Pull the MongoDB Image

Get the latest official MongoDB image:

docker pull mongo:latest

🧩 Step 2: Create and Run a MongoDB Container

Run MongoDB with a root username and password:

docker run -d \
  --name mongodb-container \
  -e MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_USERNAME=admin \
  -e MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_PASSWORD=admin123 \
  -p 27017:27017 \
  mongo:latest

Explanation:

• MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_USERNAME → admin username.
• MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_PASSWORD → admin password.
• -p 27017:27017 → maps MongoDB’s default port to your local machine.

✅ Connect using Mongo shell or Compass:

mongo -u admin -p admin123 --authenticationDatabase admin

🧾 Step 3: Persist MongoDB Data

To keep MongoDB data even if the container is removed:

docker run -d \
  --name mongodb-container \
  -e MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_USERNAME=admin \
  -e MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_PASSWORD=admin123 \
  -v mongo_data:/data/db \
  -p 27017:27017 \
  mongo:latest

This saves MongoDB data in a Docker volume named mongo_data.

🧹 Step 4: Manage MongoDB Container

Stop container:

docker stop mongodb-container

Start container:

docker start mongodb-container

Remove container:

docker rm mongodb-container