Reference documentation
Estimated reading time: 2 minutesThis section includes the reference documentation for the Docker platform’s various APIs, CLIs, and file formats.
File formats
| File format | Description |
|---|---|
| Dockerfile | Defines the contents and startup behavior of a single container |
| Compose file | Defines a multi-container application |
| Docker Cloud Stack file | Defines a multi-container application for Docker Cloud |
Command-line interfaces (CLIs)
| CLI | Description |
|---|---|
| Engine CLI | The main CLI for Docker, includes all docker and dockerd commands |
| Compose CLI | The CLI for Docker Compose, which allows you to build and run multi-container applications |
| Machine CLI | Manages virtual machines that are pre-configured to run Docker |
| UCP CLI | Manages a Universal Control Plane instance |
| DTR CLI | Manages a trusted registry |
Application programming interfaces (APIs)
| API | Description |
|---|---|
| Cloud API | Enables programmatic management of your Docker application running on a cloud provider |
| Docker ID accounts API | An API for accessing and updating Docker ID accounts |
| Engine API | The main API for Docker, provides programmatic access to a daemon |
| Registry API | Facilitates distribution of images to the engine |
| Trusted Registry API | Provides programmatic access to a trusted registry |
Drivers and specifications
| Driver | Description |
|---|---|
| Image specification | Describes the various components of a Docker image |
| Machine drivers | Enables support for given cloud providers when provisioning resources with Machine |
| Registry token authentication | Outlines the Docker registry authentication scheme |
| Registry storage drivers | Enables support for given cloud providers when storing images with Registry |