The top essential Docker commands are:

Docker General Commands

1. docker info – Displays system-wide information about Docker[1]
2. docker --help – Gets help with Docker commands[1]

Docker Registry Commands

3. docker login – Log in to a Docker registry[1]
4. docker logout – Log out from a Docker registry[1]

Docker Image Commands

5. docker build – Build an image from a Dockerfile[1]
6. docker tag – Create a tag for an image[1]
7. docker images – List all Docker images[1][2]
8. docker pull – Pull an image from a registry[1][5]
9. docker push – Push an image to a registry[1]
10. docker save – Save one or more images to a tar archive[1]
11. docker load – Load an image from a tar archive[1]
12. docker rmi – Remove one or more images[1]

Docker Container Commands

13. docker run – Run a command in a new container[1][5]
14. docker ps – List containers[1][2][4]
15. docker stop/start/restart – Stop, start or restart one or more containers[1][5]
16. docker logs – Get log output from containers[1][2]
17. docker exec – Run a command in a running container[1][2][4]
18. docker cp – Copy files/folders between a container and the local filesystem[2][4]
19. docker rm – Remove one or more containers[1]

Docker System Commands

20. docker system prune – Remove unused data[1]

These are some of the most frequently used Docker commands for managing images, containers, registries, and the Docker system itself. Commands like docker run, docker ps, docker images, docker pull, docker exec, and docker build are essential for working with Docker on a daily basis.[1][2][4][5]

Citations:
[1] https://dev.to/tungbq/the-essential-docker-commands-1c23
[2] https://www.upgrad.com/blog/top-essential-docker-commands-you-should-know/
[3] https://docs.docker.com/reference/cli/docker/container/top/
[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/comments/g3p37k/25_basic_docker_commands_for_beginners/
[5] https://www.edureka.co/blog/docker-commands/