Reference documentation
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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 |
| 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 |
Deploy and manage Universal Control Plane |
| DTR CLI |
Deploy and manage Docker Trusted Registry |
Application programming interfaces (APIs)
| API |
Description |
| Cloud API |
Enables programmatic management of your Docker application running on a cloud provider |
| 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 |
| UCP API |
Provides programmatic access to a Universal Control Plane instance |
Drivers and specifications