How to view Docker Compose logs

When a Docker Compose service exits early, restarts, or appears stuck, the service log is usually the fastest proof of what the container process actually wrote. Compose keeps the service name and replica prefix attached to each line, which helps separate one service from another in a shared project.

docker compose logs reads output from the containers in the current Compose project. It can show all services or a selected service, with enough project context to keep each line tied to the container that produced it.

The command must target the same Compose project that started the containers. A clean log read proves what was emitted, but it does not prove the service is healthy unless the log line is tied to the expected application state.

1. Change into the Compose project directory.

   $ cd /srv/example-stack

2. List the services so the log command targets the right name.

   $ docker compose ps --services
   app
   worker
   db

3. Show the latest log lines for one service.

   $ docker compose logs --no-color --tail=50 app
   app-1  | app started
   app-1  | listening on 0.0.0.0:8080
   app-1  | processing item 42

   --no-color keeps copied evidence readable in tickets and change records.

4. Filter logs to a recent time window when old startup output is not relevant.

   $ docker compose logs --no-color --since=15m app
   app-1  | 2026-06-16T04:50:11Z request completed status=200 path=/health
   app-1  | 2026-06-16T04:51:04Z request completed status=200 path=/api/items

5. Follow the service log during a restart or test request.

   $ docker compose logs --no-color --follow --tail=20 app
   app-1  | app started
   app-1  | listening on 0.0.0.0:8080

   Stop the follow stream with Ctrl-C after the expected line appears.

6. Confirm the service state after reviewing the log signal.

   $ docker compose ps app
   NAME                  IMAGE               COMMAND                  SERVICE   STATUS          PORTS
   example-stack-app-1   registry.example/app:1.0   "/entrypoint.sh"   app       Up 2 minutes    0.0.0.0:8080->8080/tcp