Reference documentation
This section includes the reference documentation for the Docker platform’s various APIs, CLIs, drivers and specifications, and file formats.
File formats
Dockerfile
Defines the contents and startup behavior of a single container.
Compose file
Defines a multi-container application.
Command-line interfaces (CLIs)
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.
Application programming interfaces (APIs)
Engine API
The main API for Docker, provides programmatic access to a daemon.
Registry API
Facilitates distribution of images to the engine.
Docker Hub API
API to interact with Docker Hub.
DVP Data API
API for Docker Verified Publishers to fetch analytics data.
Drivers and specifications
Image specification
Describes the various components of a Docker image.
Registry token authentication
Outlines the Docker Registry authentication schemes.
Registry storage drivers
Enables support for given cloud providers when storing images with Registry.