| title | notoc |
|---|---|
Reference documentation |
true |
This section includes the reference documentation for the Docker platform's various APIs, CLIs, and file formats.
| File format | Description |
|---|---|
| Dockerfile | Defines the contents and startup behavior of a single container |
| Compose file | Defines a multi-container application |
| CLI | Description |
|---|---|
| Docker CLI | The main CLI for Docker, includes all docker commands |
| Compose CLI | The CLI for Docker Compose, which allows you to build and run multi-container applications |
| Daemon CLI (dockerd) | Persistent process that manages containers |
| API | Description |
|---|---|
| Engine API | The main API for Docker, provides programmatic access to a daemon |
| Registry API | Facilitates distribution of images to the engine |
| Template API | Allows users to create new Docker applications by using a library of templates. |
| Driver | Description |
|---|---|
| Image specification | Describes the various components of a Docker image |
| Registry token authentication | Outlines the Docker registry authentication scheme |
| Registry storage drivers | Enables support for given cloud providers when storing images with Registry |