What differentiates docker ps from docker ps -a?

The distinction between the two commands lies in the scope of the containers they display. The command "docker ps" is designed to show only the currently running containers. It provides a concise view of active containers, which is useful for quickly assessing the status of ongoing processes.

In contrast, "docker ps -a" extends this functionality by listing all containers on the system, including those that are stopped. This means that any containers that were previously created, regardless of whether they are active or inactive, will be included in the output. This provides a more comprehensive overview, allowing users to see all container activity history, which can be crucial for debugging or managing container states.

The other choices address aspects that are not accurate representations of what these commands do. For instance, neither command focuses on network information, image details, or resource usage metrics in the ways described. The correct answer highlights the fundamental difference in container visibility between active and inactive states.