---
name: "docker-container-diff"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "docker"
version: "1:29.9.2-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/docker-container-diff"
---

# docker-container-diff(1)

Inspect changes to files or directories on a container's filesystem

## NAME

docker-container-diff - Inspect changes to files or directories on a container's filesystem

## SYNOPSIS

**docker container diff CONTAINER**

## DESCRIPTION

List the changed files and directories in a container᾿s filesystem since the container was created. Three different types of change are tracked:

| | |
| --- | --- |
| **Symbol** | **Description** |
| **A** | A file or directory was added |
| **D** | A file or directory was deleted |
| **C** | A file or directory was changed |

You can use the full or shortened container ID or the container name set using **docker run --name** option.

## EXAMPLES

Inspect the changes to an **nginx** container:

```
$ docker diff 1fdfd1f54c1b
C /dev
C /dev/console
C /dev/core
C /dev/stdout
C /dev/fd
C /dev/ptmx
C /dev/stderr
C /dev/stdin
C /run
A /run/nginx.pid
C /var/lib/nginx/tmp
A /var/lib/nginx/tmp/client_body
A /var/lib/nginx/tmp/fastcgi
A /var/lib/nginx/tmp/proxy
A /var/lib/nginx/tmp/scgi
A /var/lib/nginx/tmp/uwsgi
C /var/log/nginx
A /var/log/nginx/access.log
A /var/log/nginx/error.log
```

## SEE ALSO

**[docker-container(1)](/docker-container/1.md)**